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Destress with L-theanine: this amino acid may calm you
in 30 minutes or less without drowsiness
As it is digested in your small intestine, L-theanine stimulates your brain's production of alpha waves, which make you feel relaxed but alert and not drowsy. L-theanine also helps you stay relaxed by stimulating your body to produce other calming amino acids, such as dopamine, GABA, and tryptophan.
You may benefit from L-Theanine supplementation if:
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You often feel anxious for no reason
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You sometimes feel “free-floating” anxiety
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You frequently feel “edgy,” and it’s difficult to relax
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You often feel a “knot” in your stomach
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Falling asleep is sometimes difficult
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It’s hard to turn your mind off when you want to relax
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You occasionally experience feelings of panic for no reason
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You often use alcohol or other sedatives to calm down
I just can't turn my mind off and relax...
If your mind can’t relax, neither can your body—no matter how exhausted you feel. So, if you’re lying in bed thinking about the bills, the rising cost of fuel and food, worrying about the grandkids, or even looking forward to the days ahead—it’s impossible to fall asleep.
The amino acid L-theanine helps to “turn down the dial” on your thoughts so you, your mind and body can relax. And two exciting preliminary studies are showing us exactly why. They suggest that L-theanine helps increase alpha-wave activity in your brain—the exact same process that occurs when you’re sleeping.
Stress and anxiety are debilitating conditions that upset the balance of our hormones leading to a loss of our well-being, performance, and even lifespan. Stress impairs the immune system, leaving us vulnerable to opportunistic infections, and can cause depression.
Benefits of L-Theanine
L-theanine has a significant effect on the release or reduction of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, resulting in improved memory and learning ability. L-theanine may also influence emotions due to its effects on the increased release of dopamine. L-theanine reduces brain serotonin concentration by either curtailing serotonin synthesis or increasing degradation in the brain.
The regulation of blood pressure is partly dependent upon catecholaminergic and serotonergic neurons in both the brain and the peripheral nervous system. Studies on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) showed an impressive blood pressure lowering effect with L-theanine. The lowered blood pressure effect was dose-dependent with the highest test dose creating the most significant drop. L-glutamine was used as one of the controls. (3)
Preliminary studies report that L-theanine has been found to increase the anti-tumor activity of some chemotherapeutic agents (doxorubicin and idarubicin) and to ameliorate some of the side effects of these drugs. It appears to increase the inhibitory concentration of these drugs in the tumor cells, although the mechanism is not known. At the same time, L-theanine decreased oxidative stress caused by these agents on the normal cells, possibly due to its mild antioxidant activity. In this regard, L-theanine has been shown to inhibit lipid peroxidation, catalyzed by copper, in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in vitro. (4)
Documented Safety - Hundreds of studies exist showing the many health benefits of green tea and has been consumed for thousands of years by billions of people. But what makes it the most consumed beverage in the world after water is its pleasant taste and relaxation effect. Both of these qualities—and more—can be traced to a unique, neurologically-active amino acid in tea called L-theanine (gamma-ethylamino-L-glutamic acid).
L-theanine is considered to be safe based on its historical use as a component of tea and on favorable toxicology studies. It is estimated that a heavy tea drinker (6-8 cups daily) will consume between 200 to 400 mg of L-theanine daily. There are no dietary limits on L-theanine intake by the Japan Food Additive Association. In 1964, the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare approved L-theanine for unlimited use in all foods, with the exception of infant foods.
L-Theanine Dosage Recommendations: L-theanine is most effective in the range of 50-200 mg, with the effect being felt within 30 minutes and lasting for 8-10 hours.
References
1. Kakuda T, Nozawa A, Unno T, et al. Inhibiting effects of theanine on caffeine stimulation evaluated by EEG in the rat. Biosci Biotechno Biochem 2000; 64:287-293.
2. Mason R. 200 mg of Zen; L-theanine boosts alpha waves, promotes alert relaxation. Alternative & Complementary Therapies 2001,April; 7:91-95
3. Juneja LR, Chu D-C, Okubo T, et al. L-theanine a unique amino acid of green tea and its relaxation effect in humans. Trends Food Sci Tech 1999; 10:199-204.
4. Yokozawa T, Dong E. Influence of green tea and its three major components upon low-density lipoprotein oxidation. Exp Toxicol Pathol 1997; 49(5):329-335. |
