Looking to unwind without falling asleep, lower stress without losing your cool and lessen anxiety while still giving enough fucks? L-theanine is a little amino acid that has a big impact.
If you've ever experienced excessive exhausting stress, you've probably already started to consider your choices. Regular exercise, dietary adjustments, and daily meditation are all beneficial, but if you've started looking into supplements, you've probably already come across L-Theanine.
This amino acid appears to be omnipresent these days, yet there isn't much information available about it. Here's a breakdown of what it is, where it comes from, and how it affects your brain –– especially, how it may help you boost your memory and focus.
L-theanine is an amino acid present in green tea leaves as well as various mushrooms, such as bay bolete...Green tea leaves, namely Camellia sinensis, contain L-theanine in their natural state. Despite the fact that this plant has been utilized in Chinese medicine for thousands of years, it was only discovered in 1949 by scientists. However, a cup of tea does not contain the same quantity of L-Theanine as a single supplement (about 20mg) and hence does not deliver the same advantages.
L-theanine is an amino acid, but not a protein (proteins are built up of amino acids), and it is not created naturally by the body. It looks a lot like glutamate, another amino acid, but it has the exact opposite action. Glutamate is the most prevalent amino acid in our diet and works as an excitatory neurotransmitter, but it is also responsible for many of our bodies' internal stress reactions. L-Theanine may bind to the same receptors as glutamate, but because it is an inhibitor, it can block those same stress reactions, resulting in a reduction in stress levels.
It also has the power to "enhance the flavor of processed meals and drinks" by functioning as a signal for proteins to communicate directly to the brain about the availability of vital nutrients.
The capacity of L-theanine to penetrate the blood-brain barrier allows it to operate, resulting in a calmer, more focused, less stressed and better rested individual.
Continue reading to learn why L-theanine should be invited to your inner celebration.
Research proves that L-theanine can help improve your overall health.
The top 7 ways it can help you are listed below.
While the amino acid is known as L-Theanine, Suntheanine is a proprietary variant of the component that has been developed to ensure optimal efficacy.
It has been clinically tested and is widely regarded as the preferable alternative since it is more concentrated and hence can be taken in fewer dosages, as well as being purer in terms of quality. Suntheanine, on the other hand, is not a green tea extract; rather, it is created by a procedure that replicates the natural process in green tea leaves.
When we can't focus, we tend to blame external circumstances (noisy neighbors, distracting surroundings), but the truth is that many of the reasons for our inability to focus are within our own head. Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Theta, Delta and Infra-Low are five different types of brain waves that are directly responsible for how our neurons communicate with each other, forming the foundation for our emotions and ideas.
The speed and frequency of our brain waves alter based on how we are feeling and what we are doing. When the slower brain waves are dominant, we feel tired, slow and drowsy. When the higher frequencies are intense, we feel awake and stimulated. The brain waves can be classified as Infra-Low, Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta and Gamma, in order of slowest to quickest. The slowest brain waves are infra-low, whereas the fastest is Gamma. However, when it comes to L-Theanine, Alpha and Beta are the two most crucial amino acids to pay attention to.
Beta waves are the most common during a conscious, awake state, and they help us focus on what we're doing. When our beta levels are too high, though, we may experience anxiety, feeling worried and unable to relax. Alpha brain waves have a role here. Alpha brain waves are linked to sensations of creativity, relaxation, and rest, as well as improved mental coordination, attentiveness, mind/body connection, and learning.
L-Theanine has been shown in studies to increase Alpha Waves in the brain while decreasing Beta Waves, resulting in an optimally concentrated mentality. In separate research, those who combined L-Theanine with caffeine were able to enhance cognition and general alertness, making it an excellent choice for people searching for concentration advice.
GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, is a relaxing amino acid that acts as a neurotransmitter. Recent L-Theanine research has found a clear link between L-Theanine and higher GABA levels, indicating that ongoing supplementation may aid with anxiety and stress.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter and a vasoconstrictor, meaning it narrows blood vessels. It helps to keep our moods and emotions of happiness in check and an imbalance can lead to depression and excessive nerve cell activity. L-theanine has also been examined for its capacity to increase serotonin levels, which may aid in the regulation of emotions, concentration, alertness and sleep.
Our bodies require nitric oxide to operate properly. It works as a transmitter and is very vital for our cardiovascular health. Nitric oxide relaxes constricted blood arteries, allowing more blood and oxygen to pass through the heart. The endothelium, or the inner surface of your arteries, may create nitric oxide, which is diminished when plaque forms. Because nitric oxide aids in the normal flow of blood through our arteries, it lowers the likelihood of a stroke. Scholars have even proposed that supplementing with L-Theanine immediately after a stroke can assist to lessen the damage and severity.
A racing mind can frequently get in the way of a restful night's sleep. L-Theanine helps your mind quiet down by increasing GABA, serotonin, and dopamine levels, allowing you to relax and gently drift off. Reason being, it has the power to increase Alpha waves which are directly linked to a calm and relaxed mind. As a result, you can enjoy a good night's sleep when your anxiety and stress levels are under control with L-Theanine.
The administration of 400 mg of theanine resulted in significantly greater sleep percentages and effectiveness ratings in research including 98 boys aged 8 to 12 who were formally diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
40 patients with schizophrenia were given 400mg of theanine per day in addition to their normal medication and then compared to another 20 patients who were given a placebo. At the end of the 8 week period, the patients who had received theanine had lower anxiety, lower cortisol measures, lower dysphoric mood measures (i.e feelings of anger, depression, irritability), and increased levels of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). BDNF is a growth hormone for the brain and helps the growth and repair of neurons as well as synaptic plasticity, or the ability to be able to form new connections to learn things.
20 patients suffering from major depressive disorder were given 250mg of theanine per day for 8 weeks, in addition to their current medication. At the end of the 8 week period, the researchers found that the patients scored lower on markers of depression, had lower anxiety, better quality sleep, and had improved cognitive function and memory scores.
L-theanine has been found to boost cognitive function and alertness when added to coffee in the morning.
Caffeine jitters are much minimized because of their capacity to keep anxiety at bay and lower your resting heart rate.
To summarize this article, L-theanine/ SunTheanine advantages extend beyond stress and anxiety reduction. It can also aid in the improvement of focus, learning, and memory, among other things. With that said, we've included SunTheanine in our Mushroom Infused coffee blends because of its brain advantages.
SunTheanine is 100mg in each serving, coupled with other natural nootropics and adaptogens designed to improve your overall health.
