L-theanine for anxiety

Ingredient Spotlight: L-Theanine (“Nature’s Xanax”) for Anxiety Relief

A Natural Mood Booster 

L-Theanine is an all-natural supplement that has been shown to relieve anxiety, increase focus, and improve sleep, among other benefits. It is an amino acid that cannot be produced by the human body and is found most abundantly in tea leaves. L-Theanine is considered a "relaxing" amino acid because it promotes calmness and well-being and is a great mood booster. 

 

L-Theanine Improves Mood, Attention Span, and Memory 

L-Theanine helps to improve mental performance by increasing alpha brain wave activity, a brain frequency associated with relaxation. It also increases the production of a brain chemical (neurotransmitter), GABA, that helps us respond to stress and feelings of fear while regulating serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain. GABA helps calm the central nervous system and boost our feel-good brain chemicals. Serotonin is often referred to as the "happy hormone" because it affects our ability to feel happy and relaxed. Dopamine is often referred to as the "motivation hormone" because it helps regulate our energy levels and motivation.

In addition to its effects on mood, L-Theanine also has some cognitive benefits. L-Theanine has been shown to improve attention span and reaction time, focus, and it is also known to improve memory function. Studies found additional benefits when paired with coffee. L-Theanine has been shown to smooth some of the negative effects of caffeine, decreasing that “jittery” feeling, while still providing a boost of energy and focus.

 

How to Boost L-Theanine

A great way to get a healthy dose of L-Theanine is drinking green tea because it has the highest natural content. However, if you don't like green tea or you don't want to drink large amounts of it, you can also get L-Theanine in supplement form. These supplements are typically made from synthetically produced L-Theanine, but they are just as effective as the natural form. 

If you're looking for a natural way to relieve anxiety or improve your mood, L-Theanine might be worth a try. This all-natural supplement has few side effects and can be taken in many different ways. So give it a shot and see if it works for you!

 

Recommended Dose 

You will find that a calming effect takes place within 30-45 minutes after taking L-Theanine. A standard does of L-Theanine ranges from 50 to 200 mg and typically lasts around 8-10 hours. Many find that moderate anxiety symptoms improve with a dosage of 200 mg one to two times daily, while more extreme anxiety symptoms may benefit from multiple dosages of 200 mg taken several times throughout the course of a day. 

 

bekome Supplement with L-theanine Proven to Reduce Anxiety

Did you know that bekome's all-natural Peace of Mind blend includes therapeutic levels of L-Theanine? It also contains vitamins (Magnesium Glycinate and B6), Passionflower, and a Probiotic. These ingredients help to balance the production of our mood-boosting brain chemicals and provide a calming effect without unwanted side effects.

Anxiety supplements, bekome

Click here to purchase. 

 

Resources

  • Sussex Publishers. (n.d.). L-theanine reduces symptoms of anxiety. Psychology Today. Retrieved November 22, 2022, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/integrative-mental-health-care/201703/l-theanine-reduces-symptoms-anxiety#:~:text=The%20anti%2Danxiety%20effect%20of,%2Dbeing%20(Mason%202001). 
  • https://www.healthline.com/health/gamma-aminobutyric-acid

Written by Camila Smith, LCSW