L-Theanine
Benefits of L-Theanine
- Mental performance
- Relaxation
- Sleep
- Form: Amino Acid
- Food source: Tea, particularly green tea.
What is L-Theanine?
L-Theanine is an amino acid found mainly in tea. Unlike most amino acids, it isn't used to build proteins.
What does the research say about L-Theanine?
L-Theanine has been researched for its effects on chemical messengers in the brain such as serotonin and dopamine, and on the hormone cortisol. Serotonin and dopamine are involved in mood, and cortisol affects how our body deals with stress.
When faced with stressful situations, the balance of hormones in our body is important. Having too much or too little of a specific hormone can affect how clearly we think or leave us feeling tired. A systematic review has looked at L-Theanine and stress in human clinical trials.
L-Theanine has also been studied in relation to relaxation at the end of the day. Researchers have looked at its effect on GABA, a calming messenger in the brain, and a study of GABA combined with L-Theanine looked at how quickly sleep began and at sleep stages. L-Theanine has also been studied for its effect on alpha brain waves, which are linked with a relaxed but alert state. Another trial looked at sleep quality and sleep satisfaction.
Like other amino acids including L-Tyrosine, L-Theanine has been studied for its role in cognitive function. Taken together with caffeine, it has also been studied for focus during demanding tasks.
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Why it's in Stay Calm®
L-Theanine is an amino acid known for its calming and anxiolytic properties; it promotes relaxation without causing drowsiness, making it an ideal ingredient for managing stress and improving focus. L-Theanine works through multiple pathways in the brain, modulating neurotransmitter activity and enhancing alpha brainwave production, which is associated with a calm yet alert state.
Promotes delta brainwave activity: Combining L-Theanine and magnesium combination increases delta brainwave production, which induces a state of relaxed alertness and mental clarity and induces deeper sleep. These compounds also increased the levels of GABA, serotonin, and other key receptors in the brain, which help with relaxation and sleep.
Reduces cortisol and heart rate: L-Theanine lowers cortisol levels and heart rate during stress, promoting physical and emotional relaxation.1
Why it's in Vegan Nights®
L-Theanine, a non-protein amino acid found in tea, has been studied for its potential benefits on sleep quality and duration.
L-Theanine tnteracts with neurotransmitters: Research suggests that L-Theanine influences sleep-wake cycles by interacting with neurotransmitters such as GABA, serotonin, and dopamine.2 L-theanine’s effects on sleep are thought to be mediated by its ability to increase the expression of GABAergic, serotonergic and glutamatergic receptors.2 This increase in receptor expression is associated with decreased electrocorticography (ECoG) frequency, increased amplitude and enhanced delta wave powers.2
Reduces sleep onset latency: A study published in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience found that L-theanine supplementation reduced sleep onset latency and improved sleep quality in healthy adults.3
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