Tea and caffeine-how the caffeine in tea affects the body

The Tea Detective
Uncovering and Exploring the Facts About Tea

Caffeine - Tea's Natural Energizer

Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in tea and many other foods and beverages, such as coffee,
soda, and chocolate, just to name a few.

Tea contains half the caffeine (50 milligrams) of
coffee (100 milligrams), and gives tea drinkers a nice
invigorating and uplifting feeling, which is why more
than one-and-a-half billion cups of tea are drunk
each day worldwide, making it second only to water
in popularity.

Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant and
along with theobromine and theophylline, makes up
a family of chemicals called methylxanthines. Each
of the three methylxanthines found in tea act in
slightly different ways inside the body.

Caffeine is the strongest of the three, and affects
the brain and muscles, which is why shortly after
drinking a caffeinated beverage such as tea, a quick
mental boost is experienced.

Theophylline is also a powerful stimulant, but works on different areas of the body, mainly the
healthy function of the cardiovascular system.

Last is theobromine, which functions very much like caffeine and theophylline, but is the weakest
of the three compounds.

Soon after drinking a cup of tea, you'll notice an increased alertness and mood boost, as well as
an increased ability to process information. Research also shows an increase in feelings of well
being, energy, and motivation to work and complete activities.

Other scientific research shows caffeine improves cognitive performance, especially relating to
reaction time, spatial relationships, and certain aspects of memory.

Caffeine has also been shown to have a stimulating effect on kidney function, most likely
because it increases blood flow to the kidneys. It also acts as a mild stimulant to the respiratory
system, with slightly faster and deeper breathing. For this reason some asthmatics are being
treated with caffeine to help ease bronchial spasms.

And there's even good news for competitive (and non-competitive) athletes
who've dreamt of finding ergonomic aids-substances to improve their
physical performance. The caffeine in just a few cups of tea can help
increase both the endurance and intensity of exercise. Research shows
that caffeine increases the levels of fatty acids, which in turn are used
as an energy source, rather than using the body's reserves of glycogen
(the body's stored form of glucose), increasing performance and as much
as doubling the body's endurance levels.

As with everything, though, too much of a good thing can be, well...bad.
Although the amount of caffeine in tea is minimal, it's found in many other
foods and beverages. So, in the course of a day, your caffeine intake can add up. Excessive
caffeine consumption can cause increased urination, diarrhea, heartburn, irritability, and
insomnia. Of course symptoms will vary from one person to another.

Caffeine should also be totally avoided during pregnancy. In fact, if possible it is recommended
that women avoid caffeine entirely for a few weeks before conception. The caffeine levels in tea
also vary. Black tea has the highest caffeine levels, with oolong tea having half as much as
black, and white and green tea only one third as much as black tea. One way to lessen the
amount of caffeine in your tea is to brew it for a shorter amount of time.

To help avoid problems with insomnia, switch to a decaffeinated tea in the evening. Or a nice
cup of chamomile or jasmine tea is a sure way to wind down after a hectic day. Take a quick visit
to Silver Leaf Tea Co., for some great decaf teas. They use an all natural water process that is
chemical free, to remove caffeine.

For a great morning tea, try their decaffeinated Earl Grey Fancy OP tea, or English Breakfast tea,
or for a great "anytime" tea, try their decaffeinated Organic Nilgiri Green FOP tea. And for a
sweet finish to any meal try their decaf Chocolate Chai tea, with a rich chocolaty flavor, aromatic
with cinnamon, ginger root, and green cardamom, that helps to digest heavy, spicy foods.

Tea's versatility is just one of the things I love about it. Whether it's a morning wake-up,
afternoon pick-me-up, or just to relax in the evening or before bed, there's a tea for every time
of day, night, and mood. Enjoy.

For more information and to learn more about tea visit our other pages:

The many health benefits of tea
If after drinking a cup of tea you seem to feel better, it's not your imagination. Tea
contains a long list of beneficial ingredients, including vitamins, minerals, and
antioxidants that help fight everything from colds and flu, to cancer and heart disease.

Visit The Tea Detective sitemap for a listing of all site pages

Can tea really help me lose weight?
Learn how tea helps you lose weight the healthy, natural way. Drinking just three cups of tea a day not
only helps you take off those unwanted pounds, but also provides a powerhouse of other health benefits
as well.

Down and out with a cold or the flu? Then this recipe is for you!
If you've been hit by a cold or influenza virus, this is one tea recipe that will get you back up and on your
feet and feeling rosy again in no time.

Do you feel a cold or the flu coming on? Quick...read this!
It may be hard to believe, but by just drinking a few cups of tea each day, you're boosting your immune
system and warding off illness. Learn how tea helps stop the virus responsible for colds and flu, dead in
its tracks.

No time to brew? Grab a glass of instant or bottle of ready to drink tea.
Following the creation of iced tea, it took nearly half a century for instant tea mix and bottled and canned
ready to drink teas to make their debut. Now days they're easy to find in any number of thirst
quenching flavors and varieties.

How should tea be stored?
Save money by never having to throw away spoiled tea. Learn tea storage tips and how to keep your
tea fresh, preserving quality and flavor.

How can I tell if the tea I'm buying is fresh, quality tea, at a fair price?
Check out these handy tips for buying loose leaf tea before shopping online, by mail order, or from your
local specialty tea shop.

Tea bags - versatility, quality, and convenience all in one.
Learn the history behind the handy, versatile tea bag, and why it's no longer considered to be the poor
cousin of loose leaf tea.

Learn the finer steps to brewing loose tea.
Easy step-by-step instructions and a few helpful tips will have you brewing the perfect cup or pot of tea
the first time, every time.

Do you have a question about tea?
If you've read through our pages and still have a question about tea we haven't covered, please feel free
to visit our questions and contact page and ask away and we'll try our best to find the answer.

For a great selection of quality teas, gifts, and
accessories, visit:
The Tea Detective's Gift of Tea Store

Receive A Guide To Tea, an 88-page book on the history and enjoyment of tea free with your first Adagio Teas order of $19 or more.

An easy-to-use ingenuiTEA teapot, whose ingenious design has been featured in The New York Times, Time Magazine and HGTV.