Need to lift your mood? Sip a cup of green tea. In this Health Smarts video, Kevin Soden, MD, explains how antioxidants in green tea may help boost production of the feel-good brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine to prevent depression.
Hi, I'm Dr. Kevin Soden. Here's a little tip to lift your mood, fix a cup of green tea. Green tea is packed with anti oxidants, and known for its many health benefits. Now one study has found that people who reported drinking four or more cups of green tea a day are also less likely to experience mild or severe depression.
In the study, coffee and other types of teas didn't have the same emotional benefit as green tea. So why does green tea help you stay happy? Well it's not entirely clear. But researchers suspect a type of amino acid called threonine, that could be the cause. Its found in high levels in green tea.
In animal research, this compound increased the brain supply of serotonin and dopamine. Both are mood boosting chemicals that make you feel good. So drink up. For more ways to live healthy, watch all our smart tips right here.
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