Are you Struggling to Relax of an afternoon ?
Are you Battling fatigue?
You’re not alone. About one third of Australians deal with this at some point in their lives.
Fatigue can because from insomnia, which can do more than just leave you longing for an afternoon nap. It can also lead to weight gain and loss of productivity at work.
If you’re struggling with fatigue, you may be feeling guilty, confused and overwhelmed about how to solve the problem. But there’s one natural solution that’s been shown to be effective: tea. Specifically, green tea and herbal tea.
How Tea Helps with Sleep
Many people assume that herbal tea is the best option for improving sleep, but green tea can be just as effective at promoting better sleep and fighting insomnia. Both can be effective, natural ways to improve sleep quality.
Green Tea and the Power of Theanine
Although green tea has caffeine, it also contains the amino acid theanine. Along with improving brain function, theanine can also promote relaxation and reduce stress.
Theanine is believed to be the main compound that enhances sleep. It works by reducing levels of stress hormones and neuron excitement to help your brain relax.
There is evidence that drinking 3-4 cups of low-caffeine green tea during the day can reduce fatigue while improving sleep quality.
Sleep-Promoting Herbal Tea
Herbal tea is, of course, another great option for improving sleep. Many herbs have sleep-promoting properties, and there’s no need to worry about caffeine.
Some of the top herbal teas for sleep include:
- Chamomile
- Lavender, which
- Valerian
- Peppermint tea
- Lemon balm
- Blended herbal tea
These herbs have compounds that help you relax and ease stress, which makes it easier to fall asleep. Chamomile, for example, has a compound that makes you feel sleepy when it binds with GABA receptors in the brain.
How to Use Green Tea and Herbal Tea to Better Your Sleep
If you’re looking for a natural, easy and inexpensive way to better your sleep, tea is a great option. Herbal and green teas can help you relax, de-stress and even induce sleep.
Choosing the right tea, drinking at the right time and being consistent with your routine will be the best route to success.
Choose the Right Tea
If your goal is to improve your sleep quality, the most important thing you can do is choose the right type of tea.
- Green tea can be great for sleep, but it still contains caffeine. Some types and blends of green tea have more caffeine than others. A blend of herbal and green tea can cut the caffeine content significantly. Decaf green tea is also a great option if you want to want the least amount of caffeine possible.
- Herbal tea eliminates the caffeine factor, but some herbs are better suited for sleep than others. To eliminate the guesswork, look for teas that are labelled for sleep or relaxation. For single-herb teas, choose ones that are known for helping with sleep, such as chamomile, valerian or lavender.
Choosing the right tea is important. Not only does it have to be effective, but it also needs to be a tea that you enjoy drinking. Try different blends, herbs and green tea varieties to find ones that are effective and enjoyable to drink.
Drink at the Right Time
When using tea to better your sleep, make sure that you’re drinking at the right time.
- Green tea: Because of the caffeine content, it’s important not to drink green tea too close to bedtime. Drink in the morning or early afternoon.
- Herbal tea: Drink anytime you wish. Drinking an hour before bed will give the herbs time to work their magic.
Be Consistent
The key to success with anything is to be consistent. If you want to use green tea and herbal tea as a remedy for fatigue and insomnia, make sure that you’re drinking it every day.
Skipping one day can lead to a poor night of sleep. In the case of green tea, it will take some time for the compounds in the tea to build up and have the desired effect.
Green tea and herbal tea can both be effective solutions for fatigue and insomnia. Just remember to choose to follow the plan above to see the results you want.
Our Tea Master Raymond travels extensively every year to source artisinal teas from China, Taiwan and Japan. From Uji-cha to Fukuoka Gyokuro (Japanese teas) to the old Pu'er trees in Yunnan, Longjin sourced from Zhejiang province (Chinese teas) or high-mountain Taiwanese tea.
Raymond knows his tea intimately and he shares his knowledge generously.