The Best Drink For Students
We’ve all been there. It’s 11pm Sunday night and while you could have spent the day writing that Intro to Philosophy paper, you had to catch up on the latest Game of Thrones episode before the premier. Now you have a full night of work ahead of you. Instead of grabbing the first cup of coffee (or worse, Redbull) in sight, why not try a healthier alternative to help you stay focused? That’s right, tea!
It's All In The Science
As it turns out, tea is much better for studying than coffee. Tea contains L-Theanine. L-Theanine is an amino acid which works in combination with the effects of caffeine on the nervous system to create a sense of focused calm. A study by Eschenauer and Sweet concluded that “increased alpha activity in the brain induced by L-Theanine has been associated with increased creativity, increased performance under stress, and improved learning and concentration as well as decreased anxiety.” This is one of the reason Buddhist monks are known to drink tea.
Get Rid of Those Jitters
Caffeine is a stimulant, meaning it causes a reaction in your body that can speed up your central nervous system, making you feel more awake and alert. While caffeine effects everyone differently, for many people it sends a signal through neurotransmitters which tell your body to open blood vessels and increase blood flow. This allows more oxygen to flow to your brain and tissues making your feel more awake. While this may be a good thing for staying up late, an excess amount of caffeine can have unwanted effects often know as the “jitters” or a nervous or anxious feeling that can cause restlessness and can actually keep you from staying focused.
Give Tea A Try
Whenever I had a paper to write or a big test to study for, tea not only helped me focus, but helped me to remain calm and keep my stress level under control. Not to mention how much better it is for you than sugary speciality lattes or chemically flavored energy drinks. So ditch the old cup of joe and give tea a try for you late night troubles. It may just be a life (or GPA) saver!