When you’re under stress and anxiety for days — or even weeks or months — you’re at risk for numerous health effects. Such risks may extend to your body and mind, as well as your emotional well-being. Anxiety may even lead to an inflammatory response in the body, which has been associated with numerous chronic health issues.
There is a natural way to reduce anxiety with two very powerful and effective Amino Acids called GABA and L-Theanine.
WHAT IS GABA?
GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid) is an amino acid that serves as the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter between nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.1 It plays a role in how people experience anxiety, fear, and stress. GABA acts to slow or block certain nerve signals in the brain, sometimes reducing feelings of anxiety. 2
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.
Gaba L-Theanine is used to help prevent and treat conditions, including: 1
- Anxiety, depression and other mood-related disorders
- Insomnia and trouble sleeping
- Cognitive loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
- High blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Substance dependence
- Improves focus in ADHD
- Increases levels of growth hormone
- Relieves symptoms of PMS
WHAT IS L-THEANINE?
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 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.
WHAT DOES IT DO?
Gaba L-Theanine promotes relaxation and facilitates sleep by contributing to several changes in the brain. L-theanine elevates levels of GABA, as well as serotonin and dopamine. These chemicals are known as neurotransmitters, and they work in the brain to regulate emotions, mood, concentration, alertness, and sleep, as well as appetite, energy, and other cognitive skills. L-theanine promotes relaxation and facilitates sleep by contributing to a number of changes in the brain:
- Boosts levels of calming brain chemicals.
- Lowers levels of “excitatory” brain chemicals.
- Enhances alpha brain waves which are associated with a state of “wakeful relaxation”. 4
TOP BENEFITS OF GABA: 5
- Relieves Anxiety
- Improves Sleep
- Reduces Depression Symptoms
- Relieves Symptoms of PMS
- Decreases Inflammation
- Improves Focus in ADHD
- Increases Levels of Growth Hormone
TOP BENEFITS OF L-THEANINE: 6
- Improving Sleep
- Reducing Stress and Anxiety
- Enhancing Attention, Focus, Memory and Learning
- L-theanine may help boost other cognitive skills
- Helping maintain a healthy weight
L-THEANINE vs. GABA 7
- L-theanine can help to stimulate production of the inhibitory, relaxing neurotransmitter called GABA.
- GABA, like serotonin and dopamine, is known as a neurotransmitter. It helps regulate emotions, moods, concentration, motivation and alertness.
- GABA is known to have calming, anti-anxiety effects, making it beneficial for lifting your mood and preventing nervousness or hyperactivity. By increasing GABA, this is one way that L-theanine has calming effects. By elevating GABA, L-theanine may help to reduce symptoms of depression, such as fatigue, changes in appetite, insomnia and lack of motivation.
- Some anti-anxiety medications work by mimicking the effects of GABA, but these are commonly associated with drowsiness. What makes L-theanine so attractive as a calming agent is that it doesn’t impair motor skills or make you to feel tired. In fact, it can increase alertness and promote relaxation at the same time.
Sources:
- https://draxe.com/nutrition/l-theanine/
- https://www.verywellhealth.com/gaba-5095143
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4728665/
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sleep-newzzz/201708/what-you-need-know-about-l-theanine#:~:text=L-theanine%20elevates%20levels%20of%20GABA%2C%20as%20well%20as,well%20as%20appetite%2C%20energy%2C%20and%20other%20cognitive%20skills
- https://nootriment.com/gaba-benefits/
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sleep-newzzz/201708/what-you-need-know-about-l-theanine#:~:text=L-theanine%20elevates%20levels%20of%20GABA%2C%20as%20well%20as,well%20as%20appetite%2C%20energy%2C%20and%20other%20cognitive%20skills
- https://draxe.com/nutrition/l-theanine/


