November 2011

Avoid Green Tea If You Have Anxiety

by Adin on November 23, 2011


Anxiety Expert, Palo Alto, Los Altos, Personal Trainer

If your level of anxiety impairs your ability to function properly, I suggest that you eliminate green tea from your diet.

Research from the Department of Chemical Biology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, at Rutgers University shows that green tea inhibits the enzyme COMT (Catechol O-methyltransferase). COMT is an important enzyme which degrades the excitatory neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine.  In simple terms, if you ingest a substance that inhibits the enzyme COMT, you will have higher levels of the neurotransmitters responsible for increasing anxiety.

Dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine are part of a class of neurotransmitters called catecholamines which are secreted by both nervous tissue and the adrenal glands during times of stress or anxiety.

What substance in green tea causes a functional change in COMT?

Green tea contains a component called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).  EGCG is an abundant pholyphenol in green tea and has been found to inhibit COMT.

Other foods to stay away from because they may degrade COMT and or may increase catecholamine levels

According to the National Institute of Health, foods that can increase catecholamine levels include:

  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Bananas
  • Chocolate
  • Cocoa
  • Citrus fruits
  • Vanilla

If you are under high stress, be it physiological or psychological/emotional, consider eliminating the foods listed above from your diet or supplement regimen until your stress resides.  If anxiety is not a problem, the use of green tea or the other foods listed above, in moderation, may be acceptable.

Sources:

PubMed:  Biochem Pharmacol. 2005 May 15;69(10):1523-31.

NIH:  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003561.htm

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