The Benefits of L-Theanine
L-theanine, an organic chemical found in green tea, can help relax the mind without inducing sleepiness and make certain chemotherapy drugs more effective. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center warns against overconsumption as too much green tea consumption could interfere with its absorption by certain chemotherapy medicines.
Studies have demonstrated that theanine can improve attention by decreasing reaction times in FPCPT tests and increasing correct responses in omission tasks. It can also enhance immune system health by increasing AMPK activity and upregulating mRNA expression of PFK, CPT1, IRS, and IL-1b (54).
Stress Management
L-Theanine is an amino acid naturally present in tea leaves and some mushrooms and has been found to provide numerous health benefits, helping reduce stress and anxiety levels. One fundamental way that L-Theanine reduces stress is by increasing the production of nitric oxide from your body, helping relax narrowed blood vessels while increasing blood flow; this, in turn, may prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular problems from happening. Furthermore, it acts as a natural mood stabilizer and potentially improves immunity against common illnesses.
L-Theanine can also help ease stress by decreasing specific responses in the brain caused by high levels of glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter. Too much glutamate increases stress hormone production and heart rate – two triggers for anxiety. L-Theanine may limit these effects by decreasing glutamate release while increasing the activity of GABA receptors to relieve pressure and reduce stress without sedating anyone.
Many studies have demonstrated the efficacy of L-Theanine in relieving stress and anxiety. However, research in this area remains limited for various reasons, such as studies with small sample sizes or subjective results, making it hard to apply them directly in real-world situations. Furthermore, some of these animal experiments might not translate to humans either.
Recent human research demonstrated that people taking 200 mg of L-Theanine daily experienced significant reductions in stress symptoms and improved cognitive performance after four weeks compared with placebo participants. This is the first research project ever to examine stress symptoms and attention in healthy subjects taking L-Theanine regularly.
Better Sleep
L-theanine is an amino acid naturally present in tea and several species of mushrooms. As a dietary supplement, L-theanine may help reduce stress and promote sleep; some studies even suggest its calming properties may come from helping lower levels of anxiety-inducing chemicals in your brain while simultaneously increasing those associated with relaxation and alertness.
L-Theanine has been shown to increase alpha brain waves associated with calmness and focused attention. Furthermore, L-Theanine may improve sleep quality by increasing serotonin and GABA production – two neurotransmitters regulating the sleep-wake cycle. Research also indicates it can reduce stress-induced effects by lowering heart rate, blood pressure, and specific hormone levels.
Tea with L-Theanine can help people try to sleep better, but they must select a non-caffeinated variety. Studies have demonstrated that taking too much L-Theanine may decrease its relaxing properties and lead to feelings of drowsiness; combined with caffeine, it can cause high blood pressure – not an ideal combination for anyone suffering from heart issues or other health concerns.
L-Theanine may be why many insomniacs rely on nightly tea drinking to improve sleep quality, with research indicating its use can significantly enhance restful slumber in both humans and animals. Notably, one study demonstrated that L-Theanine promoted sleep and reduced resting heart r, providing-ding additional evidence that its relaxation effects impact the body and mind alike.
Melatonin, valerian root, and lemon balm have all been shown to improve sleep quality; for optimal results, it should also be combined with medications meant to promote restful slumber, such as sedatives. However, any stimulants should not be taken with it. Talk with your physician about an optimal dosage and any concerns about taking theanine.
Better Focus
L-Theanine is an effective mood regulator, helping your brain increase serotonin and dopamine levels and improving your ability to focus. Furthermore, L-Theanine promotes feelings of well-being while strengthening concentration. Theanine, an amino acid found in green tea, can have a soothing, mood-enhancing effect by encouraging electrical brain activity associated with relaxed and happy states while blocking glutamate receptor activation. Many people find that drinking green tea — in particular — helps alleviate stress, improve focus and concentration, and provide energy. Life Extension offers high-quality natural sources of this rare amino acid in our 100 mg REM Sleep formula and clear and focused supplement.
Recent research showed that L-theanine could improve attention and working memory by modulating mood-related neurotransmitters. Published in 2021, this research demonstrated how regular consumption of l-theanine could enhance cognitive function – particularly when combined with caffeine.
L-Theanine can be obtained through drinking green tea, but taking a supplement that has been scientifically proven to reduce anxiety and boost focus is ideal. Look for products containing L-Theanine, magnesium, B vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids, as these ingredients have all been shown to reduce anxiety and promote focus.
Theanine also works to maintain a robust immune system, providing essential protection from viral infections and other threats. It promotes healthy immune cells, which play an integral role in protecting against pathogenic bacteria and managing inflammatory reactions contributing to chronic illnesses.
Taken regularly, L-Theanine supplements can help you feel more relaxed, increase concentration levels, boost mental performance, and provide restful sleep. Green tea and wide other varieties of tea contain L-Theanine; to incorporate more into your diet and improve restful sleep, it would also be wise to include green tea caffeine along with L-Theanine to achieve alertness without the jitters as well as five other brain supporting B vitamins into Clear & Focus from Life Extension as an example.
Better Memory
Theanine may aid memory by increasing the production of certain brain chemicals. Furthermore, it helps decrease levels of the excitatory neurotransmitters glutamate and norepinephrine, which help reduce stress and anxiety and protect against memory loss. Moreover, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) increases, promoting feelings of calm.
One study demonstrated that L-theanine helped lower blood pressure increases associated with mental stress. Furthermore, it increased alpha brain waves associated with wakeful relaxation, selective attention mechanisms, and arousal. Your mind produces these waves during meditation, daydreaming, or learning new tasks.
L-theanine enhances cognitive function by increasing working memory. Working memory refers to our ability to switch focus between tasks and process visual information quickly and effectively. Studies have revealed that taking L-theanine, either alone or with caffeine, increases attention span and reaction time during tests of working memory and improves accuracy.
L-theanine has been found to produce more significant effects on working memory than either caffeine or placebo, yet its exact mechanisms of action remain unknown. One possibility could be that L-theanine blocks glutamate from binding with neurons, thus increasing GABA levels; dopamine and serotonin levels also rise while norepinephrine drops significantly.
L-theanine, a naturally occurring amino acid found in green tea, is also available as a supplemental product and taken on its own or combined with caffeine or B vitamins to promote alertness. You may take L-theanine either every morning or as needed.
Always seek a high-quality product from a reputable company when taking Theanine supplements. The Food and Drug Administration doesn’t strictly regulate dietary supplements, so it is wise to do your research; many products that claim they contain L-theanine may include other substances, such as Guarana or Yohimbe, which haven’t been subject to studies to determine effectiveness or safety.
