7 Reasons to Replace that Cup of Java With a Cup of Earl Gray

by Wade Meredith on February 13th, 2007

Tea, Earl Grey, Hot.

Traditional tea, as opposed to herbals like chamomile, can provide an all-natural boost that’s a lot easier on you than coffee or, worse, most “energy drinks.”
It shares coffee’s pick-me-up appeal but has an amino acid, L-theanine, that causes its naturally occurring caffeine to have a milder, steadier effect that peaks after 60 minutes or so and falls to half strength over the next four to six hours.
Tea expert Paul Holmgren describes the effect as a “more friendly, approachable boost” than coffee’s.
Tea’s powerful antioxidants, called catechins, may be able to repair certain types of cellular damage that can lead to cancer.
Observational studies in Asia, where folks drink as many as five cups a day, point to a possible connection between green tea and reduced cardiovascular disease.
Traditional tea is gaining traction with the endurance set, as marathoners carry diluted bottles on long runs.
“Recent animal studies suggest that green tea’s combination of caffeine and a polyphenol called EGCG has the potential to improve endurance,” says University of Miami sports nutritionist Lisa Dorfman.

Further Reading:
This is your life on caffeine [internal link]
Men’s Journal - The Athlete’s New Brew

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