Theanine a unique amino acid which helps you relax

L-theanine is an an amino acid which is unique in that it is almost exclusively only found in the plant that is used to make tea. All teas come from the same plant Camellia sinensis, and depending on how the producers treat the leaves after cultivation determines which of the four basic types of true tea are black tea, oolong tea, green tea and white tea you are drinking. The leaves to produce White tea are un-wilted and unoxidized, Green tea are wilted and unoxidized, Oolong are wilted, bruised, and partially oxidised and Black tea are wilted, crushed, and fully oxidised. The advantage of drinking tea as a calming agent is that there are no side effects and importantly there tea will not cause drowsiness, tea is the second most popular beverage in the world, second only to water.

This unique amino acid L-theanine also referred to simply as theanine and also known as Suntheanine, has been studied and found to produce relaxation and calming effects it is suggested it produces these effects by increasing the level of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) production, caffeine decreases GABA production. Theanine also increases brain serotonin, dopamine, GABA levels and has micromolar affinities for AMPA, Kainate and NMDA receptors. [1] People suffering from stress, anxiety or depression can try this product.

L-theanine crosses the blood brain barrier, this ability allows it to inhibit glutamic acid excitotoxicity, this is the pathological process by which nerve cells are damaged and killed by glutamate and similar substances. Glutamate induced neuro toxicity is a major cause of degenerative brain diseases like Multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease.

Other reported benefits of L-theanine are improving memory and learning capabilities, its antioxidant properties, healthy cardiovascular function and lowering blood pressure.

In one study taking 200mg of L-theanine showed that alpha waves, one type of brain waves, commonly detected by electroencephalography (EEG) or magnetoencephalography (MEG) and predominantly found to originate from the occipital lobe during periods of waking relaxation with the eyes closed. were observed from the back to the top of a person's head the occipital and parietal regions of the brain, and were detectable after 30 minutes. [2] The alpha waves are responsible for relaxation, superlearning, memory and relaxed focus.

People under stress can prevent many of the harmful effects of stress with L-theanine without becoming sedated in the process. L-theanine does not cause drowsiness or promote sleep, because this amino acid does not produce theta waves in the brain.

References:

1. ^ a b Nathan P, Lu K, Gray M, Oliver C (2006). "The neuropharmacology of L-theanine(N-ethyl-L-glutamine): a possible neuroprotective and cognitive enhancing agent". J Herb Pharmacother 6 (2): 21–30

2. Mason R. 200 mg of Zen; L-theanine boosts alpha waves, promotes alert relaxation. Alternative & Complementary Therapies 2001,April; 7:91-95