Nutri News September 2022

13
Coffee & Tea
One thing that both coffee and tea have
in common is caffeine. Caffeine
improves alertness, performance, mood,
memory, and focus in the short term,
while also supporting long-term mental
function and the retention of new
memories.2,3 In addition to caffeine,
coffee contains a number of
antioxidants and has been shown to
reduce the risk of Parkinson’s and
Alzheimer’s disease when consumed for
a long period of time and in significant
quantities. Furthermore, green tea has
several compounds that solidify its
status as a “brain food,” namely L-
theanine. L-theanine is an amino acid
that increases the activity of GABA: a
neurotransmitter that works to reduce
anxiety and increase relaxation. Green
tea also contains polyphenols and
antioxidants, which may help protect
the brain.
Nuts
Nuts are most widely known for
supporting heart health, but they also
support brain health.2,3 Studies have
shown that consuming nuts regularly
has the potential to improve memory
and lower the risk of cognitive decline.
This is likely due to the composition of
the healthy fats, proteins, antioxidants,
and vitamin E found in most nuts.
Walnuts are of special note because of
their high concentration of omega-3
fatty acids, which were previously
discussed as playing a large role in brain
health.