Unlocking the Power of Tea Amino Acids: Health Benefits and Beyond

Why do we drink tea?

The primary purpose of drinking tea isn't just to sustain life or provide nutrition; it's mainly to harness the beneficial components found within tea leaves.

What are these beneficial components?

Beneficial components are substances that, by activating enzymes or other pathways within our bodies, regulate our physiological functions. They help us stay healthy, prevent illness, or even aid in returning our bodies to a state of health if we're already unwell. This is the primary goal of drinking tea.

Which components in tea leaves hold the most beneficial value?

Amino acids, caffeine, and catechins found in tea leaves are known as characteristic components, and they have practical health benefits.

So, what makes them "characteristic"?

They meet three requirements:

1. Uniqueness to Tea: These components are unique to tea leaves and are either absent or present in minimal quantities in other plants. For example, caffeine exists in coffee as well, but it's not exclusive to tea, and tea typically contains higher levels.

2. Water Solubility: These components must be water-soluble. If they can't be extracted by steeping tea leaves in boiling water, we can't consume them, and they can't be considered characteristic components.

3. Impact on the Body: Once consumed, these components should elicit a physiological response. For instance, the alertness we experience when drinking tea is due to the effects of caffeine. The ability of tea to prevent cardiovascular diseases is attributed to catechins, while tea amino acids contribute to relaxation and inner calm.

Today, let's delve into one of these characteristic components found in tea leaves: Amino Acids.

Tea Amino Acids

First, let's clarify two terms: "Tea Amino Acid" and "Tea Tree Amino Acid." These are distinct concepts.

Tea Tree Amino Acid refers to all 26 types of amino acids found in tea leaves. Among these, 20 are related to protein and are known as protein amino acids. The remaining six are unrelated to protein synthesis and are termed non-protein amino acids. Of these six, the most crucial is tea amino acid, making it the characteristic amino acid of tea leaves.

Why is tea amino acid the most important among all amino acids?

Firstly, its content is the highest among all amino acids, constituting over 70% of the total amino acids in tea leaves.

Secondly, tea amino acid contributes significantly to the aroma and freshness of tea leaves. Its water-soluble compounds primarily manifest as freshness and sweetness, helping to suppress any bitterness in tea infusions.

Thirdly, tea amino acid provokes the desired physiological responses in our bodies, promoting overall well-being.

So, what are the benefits of tea amino acids?

Enhancing Immunity

Tea amino acids significantly boost the body's immune system, aiding in resistance against virus invasions. During the SARS outbreak, both domestic and international experts recommended tea consumption to enhance immunity and prevent infectious diseases. Studies in the United States suggest that this effect of tea may be linked to tea amino acids. Professor Jack Bukowski's research team at Harvard Medical School conducted experiments on volunteers, demonstrating that tea amino acids enhance the body's immune system by regulating γ-δT immune cells. This strengthens the body's resistance to disease, potentially by up to five times.

Calming Effect

Individuals who consume tea regularly often report feelings of tranquility and improved mood, thanks to tea amino acids. Research shows that tea amino acids counteract the stimulating effects of caffeine. When tea amino acid levels reach 1740 mg/kg, they significantly inhibit the nervous system's excitement caused by caffeine.

Impact on Neurotransmitters in the Brain

Tea amino acids increase the presence of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, within brain cell mitochondria. Dopamine is crucial for regulating the excitement levels of nerve cells, significantly affecting emotions. Changes in neurotransmitters also influence learning abilities, memory, and more. Consequently, tea amino acids can improve learning capabilities, memory, and intelligence.

Assisting in Tumor Suppression

Tea amino acids are derivatives of glutamine, and tumor cells exhibit much higher glutamine salt metabolism than normal cells. As competitors of glutamine salt, tea amino acids inhibit the growth of cancer cells by interfering with glutamine salt metabolism.

Additionally, amino acids have other effects, such as enhancing beneficial gut bacteria, countering fatigue, combating aging, and exhibiting positive effects during menstruation in females and detoxifying the liver.

In the Chinese, Japanese, and U.S. markets, there are over a hundred different brands of health products primarily composed of tea amino acid extracts. The prices of these products generally range from a few tens to fifty dollars per bottle.

Instead of consuming supplements containing tea amino acids, consider drinking more tea. It not only relieves stress but also boosts your intelligence.