Better quality sleep

It has long been shown that compounds in green tea can induce a relaxed state that may make sleep come more easily. But a recent study carried out in Tokyo by the National Institute of Mental Health is the first human study to show that L-theanine--an amino acid found in green tea--can enhance the actual quality of sleep in young men.

Test subjects had fewer nightmares and awakened more refreshed. Sleep quality was assessed by interviews on waking, self-reported questionnaires and a wrist actigraph to record bodily movements during sleep. However, only 22 subjects were tested, and further research is required to prove the hypothesis.

The Japanese study will be presented October 5-9, 2004 at the 17th Congress of the European Sleep Research Society in Prague, Czech Republic.

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