>Thank you for having me as a witness today, your honors, my esteemed green colleague, and also my..my blue colleague. Thank you! I have prepared a short speech for you today.
>Though tea is superior to coffee for myriad reasons, I will focus my testimony on one aspect only: the amino acid L-theanine. While both coffee and tea contain caffeine, L-theanine is found naturally in green tea and, contrarily, is absent from coffee. We, therefore, may use the elusive amino acid's presence or lack thereof as a point of comparison between our competing beverages.
>Caffeine on its own is perhaps most noticeably associated with its neuro-stimulating effects, increased alertness, and cognitive performance at the expense of elevated heart rate and blood pressure. You may be content to accept these side effects as a coffee drinker. HOWEVER, there is another path, offered by our favorite beverage of tea. L-theanine, once again found naturally in tea, antagonizes caffeine in such a way as to reduce the negative effects while boosting the positive.
>L-theanine regulates the central nervous system, increasing the release of dopamine, inhibimating..inhibiting glutamate reuptake, decreasing norepinephrine, and increasing serotonin. That's right, L-theanine antagonizes caffeine, lowering blood pressure while coffee continues to elevate and elevate again. Further, L-theanine increases alpha brain wave activity, which is associated with creativity, improved learning, and decreased anxiety.
>Tea bests coffee in terms of variety, taste, and health. But you need look no further than L-theanine to prove tea's dominion over coffee.
>I rest my case. Thank you!
