Drinking caffeinated tea can improve men's response to stressful situations via hormonal regulation according to a new study published in the journal Psychopharmacology.
In the study 75 men were randomized to drink a caffeinated tea or a non-caffeinated tea for a total of 6 weeks while avoiding any other caffeinated beverages, coffees, or teas.
After the 6 week period each of the men were given a series of tests that were designed to raise their stress levels. Variables such as heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol in their blood were measured several times following the tests.
They found that the acute reaction to stress was similar in both groups. There was no immediate difference in heart rate, blood pressure, or blood cortisol levels between the men. However, after just 50 minutes the men who drank the caffeinated tea had much lower cortisol levels. On average cortisol fell almost 50 percent compared to just over 25 percent in the non-caffeinated tea group.
The authors concluded that men who drink a caffeinated beverage on a regular basis may respond to stressful situations better, especially in terms of recovery. They also noted that the men in the caffeine group reported feeling more relaxed after the tasks than their counterparts.
A prolonged reaction to acute stress, seen as chronically elevated cortisol levels, can be a factor in the development of many chronic conditions including diabetes and heart disease. If follow-up studies can repeat these results, tea may be able to reduce the occurance of the above mentioned conditions.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on October 10, 2006 01:17 PM
