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What is L-Theanine?

Stress and anxiety have become the norm in our daily existence. Yet this chronic stress and anxiety that we have become so accustomed to can deteriorate your immune system, which can consequently lead to a poor quality of life and even lead to depression. L-theanine might be the best option in this scenario. This lifestyle mental health crisis has grown to such an epidemic level that most of us know at least one person who is under medication to relieve anxiety. Sure, anti-anxiety medications are readily available, but these have many potential risks and are more often than not addictive. The benefits of prescription drugs comes at a price, in the form of a long list of potentially unpleasant, even dangerous, side effects. The amino acid L-theanine may offer a safer and better option.

Xanax, once considered the best anti-anxiety drug, can cause fatigue and tiredness, problems with coordination and memory, irritability, and increased appetite. Valium, Klonopin, and Ativan are also popular and often prescribed anti-anxiety drugs. However, using these drugs (benzodiazepines) in the long run can lead to dependence, and like all medications, can damage the liver with extended use. As more people search for better, safer, and more potent options to prescription anti-anxiety medications, herbs like Kava Kava, Chamomile and Valerian Root have gained the attention of many. Although many herbs can do the job of calming nerves, they’re not entirely free from risks and safety warnings. Kava Kava for example, when used for a long time and with certain medications or alcohol, can lead to serious liver damage. For herbal teas, as safe and pleasant as they are in easing mild anxiety, they may contain herbs that can work against various medications.

So what can you use to relieve anxiety that's convenient, non-addictive, and safe for your liver? Enter the ingredient many Asians have been enjoying in their green tea for centuries: L-theanine. By now most of the world knows about the health benefits of drinking green tea. It’s added to supplements, foods, protein bars, weight loss formulas and beverages. Green tea is an abundant source of polyphenols known as catechins, effective antioxidants that may help prevent cancer, retard atherosclerosis, elevate mood, and control the growth of bacteria and other pathogens. But green tea has another naturally occurring compound that’s worthy of attention and praise, the amino acid L-theanine. Although it’s not an antioxidant, L-theanine has been shown to have a calming effect, protect and restore the brain. stimulate the immune system, and even make cancer chemotherapy more effective with fewer side effects, induce deep states of relaxation without sedation, relieve some PMS and menopausal symptoms, increase focused attention and improve learning, relieve nicotine addiction, prevents jitters caused by caffeine (while increasing mental clarity), and promote sleep.

L-Theanine is an amino acid which can be found naturally in green tea (Camellia sinesis) and other species of Camellia, as well as edible bay boletes mushrooms (Xerocomus badius). It has been demonstrated to promote relaxation and a restful state without causing drowsiness or addiction. It is suggested that L-Theanine can encourage certain neurotransmitters and alpha waves produced by the brain which produce a calming effect. In Japan, Theanine is often added to soft drinks and chewing gum for its relaxing properties. L-Theanine works by triggering an increase in alpha-brain waves, electrical brain activity commonly present when you are very relaxed, helping you to be in a better mood. Individuals who take L-Theanine supplements are noted to have more alpha-brain wave activity in the brain which is sign of enhanced relaxation.

In a nutshell, Theanine is a naturally occurring non-protein amino acid found naturally in tea leaves that can promote mental and muscular relaxation, manage anxiety, improve mental focus and concentration, and enhance creativity. It can also support healthy blood pressure levels that are already within normal range, and can encourage deep sleep.

What is L-Theanine used for and who uses it?

L-theanine has numerous advantages over prescription medications and herbs. It gives you the best of both worlds by helping you feel calm without drowsiness, and mentally alert without feeling jittery. Although research to date has been limited, L-theanine has few if any side effects. According to Carolyn Perrini, CLS, CNC in her article “L-Theanine: How a Unique Anxiety Reducer and Mood Enhancer Increases Alpha Waves and Alertness, “L-theanine acid stimulates the production of alpha brain waves, creating a state of deep relaxation and mental alertness similar to what is achieved through meditation. Second, L-theanine is involved in the formation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, gamma amino butyric acid (GABA). GABA influences the levels of two other neurotransmitters, dopamine and serotonin, producing the key relaxation effect.” Theanine also helps increase levels of dopamine, another brain chemical with mood-enhancing effects, which can result to reduced blood pressure.

L-theanine helps promote a mild, restful, relaxed state without diminishing daytime alertness. Stress impairs our ability to fight off illness, leaving us susceptible to opportunistic infections, and can cause depression. People under stress can manage many of its harmful effects by supplementing with L-theanine. L-theanine mitigates and controls the harmful effects of stress and anxiety without the numbing or sedating effects found in many other calming supplements. L-theanine directly stimulates the production of alpha brain waves, and in line with this, as measured by increased generation of alpha-waves, Theanine has earned a reputation for promoting mental and physical relaxation, and decreasing stress and anxiety without inducing drowsiness. By increasing the brain's output of alpha waves, theanine may control anxiety, increase mental focus, improve concentration, and promote creativity.

Theanine may also enhance learning and cognitive ability, as well as sensations of pleasure, by affecting dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitters in the brain. L-theanine may also affect emotions due to its impact on the increased release of dopamine. Apart from all those benefits already mentioned, Theanine has been found to be increasingly associated with therapeutic benefits in the areas of cardiovascular health and cancer treatment. Theanine helps to reduce the side effects and enhance the antitumor efficacy of chemotherapy. L-theanine has shown some anticancer effects and an ability to positively modulate the activity of some anticancer drugs.

How pure is your L-Theanine?

This pharmaceutical grade amino acid L-Theanine is assayed by the manufacturer to be 101.2% pure product (titration assays according the HPLC standards employed typically range between 98% and 102%). You will receive a double sealed labeled bulk polyethylene bag containing this white powder product. It has no additives, fillers or anti-caking agents included. This L-Theanine Powder was synthetically produced from mineral sources and is therefore both vegetarian and vegan. No animal product was used in the production of this product.

Because most green teas sold in North America contain less than 10mg of L-theanine per serving and the recommended dose is between 50-200mg, most people don’t drink enough green tea to feel the beneficial effects of L-theanine. This L-Theanine powder is a free form of the amino acid L-Theanine meaning that it is the most basic form without any additional chemical groups attached. This free form L- Theanine is therefore somewhat more potent and concentrated with L- Theanine than all other L- Theanine analog molecules.

What are some of the common effects of L-Theanine?

Theanine is a safe and effective dietary supplement for effectively reducing stress/anxiety by inducing relaxation. Clinical studies have also shown that Theanine effectively increases focus, concentration, and learning, lowers blood pressure, lowers PMS symptoms, reduces tension and muscle pain, modulates mood, and reduces the effects of caffeine.

What is the daily suggested dose of L-Theanine?

FDA recommends a maximum dose of 1200 mg daily, with single dose amounts usually varying from 50mg to 200mg, depending upon individual needs. Most people that take L-Theanine regularly find that the calming and relaxing effects usually last for about 4 hours. A level 1/8th teaspoon will yield a dose of approximately 244 milligrams and should be sufficient for most people when taken two to three times per day. You can see the full bulk density/volumetric conversion chart for L-Theanine here. Although the maximum safe dosage hasn't been determined, as with every supplement, start with the lowest amount recommended and gradually increase as needed. An effective dosage of L-Theanine is between 50 and 200 mg daily, as required. Individuals with high stress levels may increase their dosage of L-theanine to at least 100 mg, with no more than 600 mg being taken in a six hour period.

As always, if you have concerns or questions, consult a physician or a health care professional before taking any supplements. Before taking any kind of medicine, check with your doctor to ensure that the supplement you want to take is right for you. You may be allergic or you may have a sensitive stomach which may raise the need for special instruction as far as dosage goes.

Safety, Precautions, and Potential side effects of L-Theanine

At this time, there are no known adverse effects of L-theanine. Studies done on rats have shown that even repeated extremely high doses of theanine cause little to no harmful psychological or physical effects. Although no problems have been reported in case reports or clinical studies, it does not mean that side effects are not possible with L-Theanine. In doses of more than 400mg, some people experience sedation effects. Just for good measure and to be on the safe side, talk to your doctor before trying L-theanine, especially if you have kidney, liver, or other chronic diseases or serious health conditions, as well as allergies to food, dyes or preservatives. As with all supplements, be sure to tell your doctor if you're pregnant or breastfeeding before taking L-theanine. If you experience any L-theanine side effects, make sure to notify your healthcare provider, as he or she may want to report these problems. You should also let him or her know if you develop something that does not seem right during supplementation with L-theanine. While it may not be a side effect of L-theanine, your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose and treat the problem.

The information at Purebulk.com is NOT a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not use any dietary supplement as a replacement for conventional care, or as a reason to postpone seeing a doctor about a medical problem. Tell all your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

Taste, solubility, and suggested preparation of L-Theanine

This product dissolves quickly in water and has a very mildly bitter taste comparable to green tea. Just mix your usual dose with water, hot tea, or juice, and drink. One point to keep in mind is that the body needs a supply of all the amino acids in order to effectively create and utilize proteins so if you intend to supplement any of the amino acids it is of paramount importance that you have a balanced intake of all the other amino acids. Being deficient in even one amino acid will lower the efficiency of all the other amino acids in your body.

L-Theanine is used in the following Proprietary Formulas

Suntheanine® (the patented form of L-theanine and the trademark of Taiyo International, the company that originally isolated the amino acid into an effective supplement for consumers), German American Technologies Jetfuel, MuscleTech Alpha Amino Prototype 216, Anabolic Addiction Phenom V1, NxLabs AminoVol, NxLabs Methyl Ripped Hardcore, BioSynergy L-Theanine, Cognitive Nutrition L-Theanine, Enzymatic Therapy L-Theanine, Natrol Theanine, NOW L-Theanine, Olympian Labs L-Theanine

References & Further Research

L-Theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress responses
Because the characteristics of l-Theanine suggest that it may influence psychological and physiological states under stress, the present study examined these possible effects in a laboratory setting using a mental arithmetic task as an acute stressor. The results showed that l-Theanine intake resulted in a reduction in the heart rate (HR) and salivary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) responses to an acute stress task relative to the placebo control condition. Moreover, analyses of heart rate variability indicated that the reductions in HR and s-IgA were likely attributable to an attenuation of sympathetic nervous activation. Thus, it was suggested that the oral intake of L-Theanine could cause anti-stress effects via the inhibition of cortical neuron excitation.

Time for tea: mood, blood pressure and cognitive performance effects of caffeine and theanine administered alone and together
Although both contain behaviorally significant concentrations of caffeine, tea is commonly perceived to be a less stimulating drink than coffee. At least part of the explanation for this may be that theanine, which is present in tea but not coffee, has relaxing effects. There is also some evidence that theanine affects cognitive performance, and it has been found to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive rats. To study the subjective, behavioral and blood pressure effects of theanine and caffeine administered alone and together, in doses relevant to the daily tea consumption of regular tea drinkers. Caffeine increased self-rated alertness and jitteriness and blood pressure. Theanine antagonized the effect of caffeine on blood pressure but did not significantly affect jitteriness, alertness or other aspects of mood. Theanine is a physiologically and behaviorally active compound and, while it is unclear how its effects might explain perceived differences between tea and coffee, evidence suggests that it may be useful for reducing raised blood pressure.

Neuroprotective effect of gamma-glutamylethylamide (Theanine) on cerebral infarction in mice
In this study, the neuroprotective effect of gamma-glutamylethylamide (theanine) on the ischemic brain damage in a middle cerebral artery occlusion model in mice was examined. Theanine (1 mg/kg) significantly decreased the size of the cerebral infarcts 1 day after the occlusion. In contrast, theanine did not affect the cerebral blood flow, brain temperature and physiological variables (pH, pCO(2), pO(2) and hematocrit) in this model. These results suggest that theanine directly provides neuroprotection against focal cerebral ischemia and may be clinically useful for preventing cerebral infarction.

L-Theanine for International Customers

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