L-Theanine The Stress Amino Acid:
Stress is one of the most common problems found among an increasing number of individual in today’s world. Anxiety, lack of sleep, digestive problems and heart diseases are some of the major outcome of stress. Various researches have been conducted to find out a solution for stress relief during the last few decades. A handful of such studies reveal that green tea helps ease stress to a great extent.
Green tea gains its stress relieving quality due to the presence of a compound called L-Theanine. Being an amino acid, it has constructive effect on body. This compound is primarily found in green tea leaves and is known to add a savory flavor to the tea. It is also naturally found in some mushrooms but in lower quantities as compared to green tea.
Can L-Theanine from green tea ease stress?
A research conducted in Japan in 2009 shows the effect of green tea in lowering psychological distress. 42,093 individuals participated in the study with an age of 40 years and above. Participants who had an average consumption of five or more cups of green tea per day showed lower psychological distress as compared to those who had one to two cups of green tea each day. This shows that the active ingredient, L-Theanine present in it helps reduce stress when taken in right quantities.
Another research was conducted to compare the effect of caffeine and caffeine plus L-Theanine showed positive effect of the ingredient in increasing cognition and enhancing mood. During the study, participants were placed in three different groups; caffeine, caffeine plus L-Theanine and placebo. Several tests were conducted on the individuals before and after the study and at the baseline. It was found that participants with caffeine plus L-Theanine had an increase ability to perform brain tasks.
This shows that the compound have positive effects on brain.
L-Theanine has a property to cross blood-brain barrier and can affect functioning of brain. This helps in releasing stress. This is the reason why green tea helps in enhancing mood and increases alertness. People who are under stress can become a victim depression and other related disorders. Moreover, depression invites other vulnerable diseases. It is thus, essential to keep stress away through natural means. The high antioxidant levels found in green tea also helps keep away may diseases.
L-Theanine is also present in an extracted form as supplements but studies shows that the amount of it present in a cup of green tea can help in easing moderate stress. It is natural, safe and can be taken regularly for visible results. Increased dosage of the compound may be used to treat high levels of stress, anxiety and other related disorders. Higher dosage of the compound could be harmful and should be undertaken under medical supervision.
Side effects
There are no or few possible side effects known, for the intake of L-Theanine in moderate amounts. There can be an increase in functionality of other medicines when taking them along with L-Theanine. For example, patients who are already taking medicines for sleeplessness, hypertension and anxiety may experience an increased effect of their medicine. Though a cup of green tea having this active ingredient does not pose any treat to the body or mind and is the best way to ward off stress in a natural way.
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