Keeping your brain healthy is essential for focus, memory, and overall cognitive function. What you drink in the morning can have a surprising impact on your brain, helping to boost mental clarity, reduce inflammation , and support long-term brain health.

While most people think of coffee when it comes to morning drinks, Dr. Robert Love, a neuroscientist, revealed another “amazing” drink you shouldn’t sleep on when it comes to brain health ! Read on for more information.

Matcha

Love reveals that matcha is the AM beverage you should be drinking for improved cognitive function . Matcha is great for brain health because it contains a unique combination of caffeine and L-theanine, which helps enhance focus, alertness, and cognitive function without the jittery effects of coffee.

It’s rich in antioxidants , particularly catechins, which help protect brain cells from oxidative stress, reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Matcha also supports better mood and mental clarity by promoting the production of dopamine and serotonin, making it a powerful drink for brain health.

“Matcha is basically a green tea on steroids. It’s the whole green tea leaf, but it’s ground up,” Love says. “So with regular green tea, you soak it in water and drink the water,” but when you actually eat the whole tea leaf, “it is 10 times more powerful regarding antioxidants than green tea.”

Green tea in general is “terrific” for your brain, as Love cites a recent Japanese study that found that “those who drank two cups of green tea or more a day had a 43% reduction in their symptoms of dementia,” noting that matcha is “a lot more powerful than green tea because it contains more caffeine and L-theanine.

The bottom line

When it comes to morning beverages that support brain health, matcha outshines coffee. Its unique blend of caffeine and L-theanine provides sustained focus and alertness without the jitters, while its powerful antioxidants protect brain cells and could even reduce the risk of dementia. It’s a smart choice for anyone looking to start their day with a brain-boosting edge!