For most folks wanting to feel more alert and focused they reach for coffee, that straight source of high caffeine. While that can do the job for some people, it is not always the most effective way to increase focus and concentration. Those who are not coffee drinkers, looking to drink less coffee, want to stop using energy drinks. Herbal tea can be a great alternative for increased alertness and natural morning energy.
So which cup of tea is best to reach for when it comes to getting that energy boost for your mind and increasing your brain function for better memory and concentration? Let’s dive into the teas and their health benefits for your mind.
Tea vs Coffee for Focus
Now I’ll start by saying they both have their benefits. Coffee is great for helping if you are looking for a pick me up and to boost energy levels in the short term. While tea provides a more sustainable energy with a focus on mental focus and concentration. Each provides different benefits as well as mg of caffeine. It truly depends on what you need at that moment, typically I try to reach for tea as I prefer the lower caffeine and don’t love the post caffeine crash that comes with a cup of coffee.
Does tea really help improve brain function?
Simply put, yes it does. How so? Teas that are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories help with improving mental clarity, work performance and your mood. They help with improving blood flow, providing amino acids to the brain. The best two teas that really help with improving brain function the most are green tea and peppermint tea. They provide natural energy, increase mental alertness and improve your memory recall. In addition they’re helpful when you’re sick and have brain fog, or when experiencing low level pain.
Peppermint Tea
A cup of peppermint tea can be just the pick me up you and your brain need! It helps with increasing alertness, and helps with increasing focus and attention. Its invigorating aroma is perfect for stimulating you awake, and the taste of mint helps awaken your senses as well. If you’re having a late night study session peppermint tea is perfect for not only your brain health but helping you fight fatigue and stay awake. It’s a caffeine-free tea that you can easily add into your daily routine at work, school or home to improve focus. Peppermint tea is a great herbal tea that you can add milk to! Next time you’re looking for help with cognitive functioning – reach for a cup of peppermint tea.
Green tea
A cup of green tea is a powerful aid that not only helps wake you up and give you an energy boost but helps with memory and focus. On average it’s recommended 1-2 cups of green tea per day, given its caffeine content. This also depends on the type of green tea you are consuming as some contain more caffeine than others. Green tea helps with boosting a feeling of calm which increases your ability to focus. The main reasons why green tea can do this is caffeine and l-theanine. It also contains EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) which helps with increasing one’s ability to learn and retain information such as long-term memory. It can help you banish mental fatigue quickly.
White tea
A cup of white is loaded with antioxidant properties as well as contains caffeine that helps you stay alert and awake. This is ideal for keeping up your energy levels and focus while studying, completing work tasks or other items requiring focus. White tea is often a caffeinated tea, it’s considered in the middle of the amount of caffeine for tea. This type of tea typically can have a bold flavour and has been noted to help some folks with weight loss. Good news is you can incorporate this into your daily routine without taking on that post caffeine crash. White tea has been shown to help with slowing memory loss and may help against Parkinson’s disease.
Matcha Tea
Matcha green tea is a great option for those who are looking for a coffee level caffeine replacement. Although unlike coffee it does offer more for your health such as being beneficial to your cholesterol, blood pressure and brain function. Why is matcha good for brain function and improving focus and concentration? The caffeine. It doesn’t require the same amount of sugar as a pop. However it will give you the same boost of energy and improve cognitive performance as if you drank multiple caffeine pop beverages. It is recommended to not exceed 3 cups of matcha tea daily given the amount of mg of caffeine.
Earl Grey Tea
Looking for help with increasing your attention span? Earl grey is a black tea, which means it contains levels of caffeine that help with focus and concentration and is one of the best teas for focusing. Earl grey tea has a calming effect which help with getting your mind in a state ready to focus and zero in on the task at hand. This makes for a great morning tea for those wanting to have a morning focus and boost of energy for concentrating. Similar to matcha tea this should be drunk in moderation given the caffeine levels. It’s recommended no more than 3 cups a day.
Ginger Tea
A cup of ginger tea can help with improving your focus and concentration without the caffeine that can be found in some other teas. Ginger tea is a herbal tea and focuses on improving brain function and reducing brain fog. Ginger is naturally a powerful anti-inflammatory that helps the brain reduce swelling and inflammation to help promote calmness and aid in positive brain health. It is recommended to not exceed 4 cups of ginger tea a day. Ginger tea can also be powerful at helping with nausea and upset stomach symptoms.
Summary
There you have it for the best tea for focus and energy. Tea is a great way to increase your focus and help you with achieving greater concentration with tasks. While most of us reach for sugary drinks loaded with caffeine, teas provide a healthier alternative while still packing a energy boost needed for your brain. Which tea are you looking forward to giving a try? Remember to be mindful of your caffeine intake. Speak to your medical team if you have questions about tea/caffeine interactions with your medications/treatment plans.