The science of tea’s mood-altering magic

Researchers are discovering how the ingredients in a cup of tea can lift mood, improve focus and perhaps even ward off depression and dementia.

1. Natasha Gilbert
   1. Natasha Gilbert is a freelance writer in Washington DC.

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   For centuries, people across the globe have testified to the relaxing and invigorating qualities of tea. The traditional calming effects of the plant Camellia sinensis have elevated the drink, which is produced from its leaves, to a role beyond quenching thirst — it is drunk as an aid for meditation, to help soothe the nerves or simply to unwind. But although the mental-health benefits of C. sinensis are common knowledge among tea drinkers, scientists are only now beginning to examine how tea exerts its effects on mood and cognition.

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   Nature 566, S8-S9 (2019)

   This article is part of Nature Outlook: Tea, an editorially independent supplement produced with the financial support of third parties. About this content.

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