Monday, August 9, 2010

Can Tea Help Boost Attention Span?

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - NOVEMBER 08:  A cayci ('tea...Image by Getty Images via @daylife

A new study testing black tea was associated with improvements in attention. This is great news for menopausal women complaining of fatigue and poor attention span.

The new study supports the association between tea and attention, although it did not report any benefits for alertness. The findings of the randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind, cross-over study in the journal Appetite.

The study, led by Suzanne Einöther from sensation, perception and behaviour at Unilever R&D Vlaardingen, recruited 29 healthy regular tea and/or coffee drinkers to take part in the study. The average age was 30.6, 11 were men, and the body mass index was between 20 and 30 kg/m2.

People were randomized to consume a drink containing L-theanine (Suntheanine, Taiyo) and caffeine mixed with iced tea powder in water, or a placebo (water with iced tea powder) separated by between 6 and 14 days, and subsequently completed a cognitive test at baseline, and then 10 and 60 minutes after drinking.

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