Green Tea - a Surprising Cure for Insomnia

Do you need a cure for insomnia? Well, add "insomnia cure" to green tea's ever growing list of health benefits. I know, the conventional wisdom is that since green tea contains caffeine then it should be avoided if you have insomnia.

The good news is that if you drink a few cups of regular green tea throughout the day and decaffeinated green tea at night, this can have a significant impact on whether or not you fall asleep at night.

Why can green tea be a cure for insomnia?

The main reason that green tea can help cure insomnia is because of the l-theanine content. L-theanine is an amino acid found in the Camilla sinensis plant which is where green tea comes from. (Black tea, oolong tea, and white tea also comes from Camilla sinensis.)

L-theanine has been well researched and has been shown to help reduce stress and anxiety and promote a restful sleep. Though green tea does contain caffeine, the l-theanine content of the tea helps balance the caffeine out. By day, green tea helps keep you alert. By night, it helps promote sleep and even helps you fall asleep.

How should you take green tea for insomnia?

Though l-theanine is available in supplement form it is best to drink regular green tea throughout the day and a cup of decaffeinated green tea at night before bed. Though the l-theanine prevents you from getting that "jittery" feeling from caffeine, it still makes you feel alert.

Keep in mind, however, that green tea also has diuretic properties. Transaltion? You'll wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom especially if you have more than one cup. Drink the green tea at least an hour before bedtime to minimize the diuretic affects.

Should you create a sleep ritual with green tea?

You can also create a sleep ritual involving your green tea which will also help encourage sleep. Your ritual can involve things like reading before bed, drinking your cup of decaf green tea, and taking a hot bath. Keep the ritual the same night after night and it will help encourage sleep.

There are also psychological benefits to having a cup of something warm before bed. Just like the rest of your sleep ritual, drinking a cup of tea can help combat insomnia just by suggestion alone.

If you have trouble sleeping, you may consider trying green tea as a cure for insomnia. Just be sure to drink decaffeinated tea before bed so that you can reap the benefits of the l-theanine content without the caffeine.

Author: Wikipedia
Title: Theanine
Site Title: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theanine