What is L-theanine, and what is it used for? L-theanine (also called theanine or sometimes r-glutamylethylamide) is an amino acid that impacts nerve impulses in the brain and the release of neurotransmitters, including GABA.
It is known as natural anxiolytic because it can have a calming, sedative effect on the body and mind without making you feel drowsy — which is why it’s often used to reduce anxiety, hyperactivity and sleep-related problems.
Most people don’t acquire a lot of theanine from their diets since it’s not available in many commonly eaten foods. It’s a unique amino acid because it’s not used to form proteins — unlike many other amino acids, such as l-carnitine, leucine, lysine, methionine or tryptophan — and is not used to make enzymes.
The greatest sources of L-theanine in our diets are green, black and white teas — but because most people don’t drink very large quantities of tea on a daily basis, L-theanine supplements can be beneficial.
Actually Theanine is an amino acid found in tea and some mushrooms. It comes in two forms: L-theanine and D-theanine. L-theanine is the most common form. It has been studied to calm down, improve immunity, lower blood pressure and lipids, and regulate brain neural signaling pathways.
Today we are mainly talking about L-theanine.
L-theanine (N-ethyl-l-glutamine) or theanine is a major amino acid uniquely found in green tea. Clinical studies demonstrated that l-theanine reduces stress, improves the quality of sleep, diminishes the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, heightens mental acuity, and reduces the negative side effects of caffeine. These clinical effects are directly related to l-theanine’s ability to stimulate the production of α-brain waves (a state often achieved by meditation and characterized by relaxation with greater mental focus and mental alertness) as well as reduce β-waves (associated with nervousness, scattered thoughts, and hyperactivity).
theanine is a non-protein amino acid mainly found naturally in green tea and some mushrooms. Theanine is related to glutamine and is speculated to increase levels of GABA, serotonin, and dopamine. Theanine may also interact with Kainate and NMDA receptors for glutamate. Theanine has been available as a nutritional supplement marketed to reduce stress, produce feelings of relaxation, and improve mood. And l-theanine is fast-acting. Generally, the effects are felt within the first 30 minutes and have been shown to last up to 8 to 12 hours. Based on the results of clinical studies, it has been established that l-theanine is effective in the range of 50 to 200 mg.
L-theanine shows promise in improving sleep quality in children with ADHD. This amino acid is known to reduce anxiety, increase concentration, improve sleep quality, and stabilize mood without sedation. It also improves cerebral dopaminergic activity.
Theanine supplements are generally available as tablets and capsules in doses between 50 and 200 mg. Although theanine is present in most green teas, the amount is unpredictable. Generally, two to three cups of green tea may contain between 30 and 50 mg of theanine.
