By Chelsie • 2 Comments
Even if you have not heard of it, you will be very interested in it once you learn about all the benefits of L-theanine. L-theanine is an amino acid that is abundant in green tea, and it is one of the reasons that green tea is a touted as being a wonderful beverage to consume. Yet, as healthy as green tea is, the many benefits of L-theanine have lead researchers to learn more about this amino acid, and what they have found is quite amazing.
Researchers have discovered that 50 milligrams of L-theanine helps relax people and bring down stress levels without causing drowsiness. While 50 milligrams is more than the 20 milligrams of L-theanine that is found in one cup of green tea, it is possible to take supplements. However, if you drink a lot of tea, you may already be experiencing the relaxing benefits of L-theanine.
One of the remarkable qualities of L-theanine is that, while it reduces stress levels, it also increases alertness. However, because it does relax people, the alertness that L-theanine provides is calm and focused instead of the jittery attention that coffee can cause. If you are wondering how L-theanine increases alertness, you will be interested to know that it increases alpha activity in the brain, which enhances mental alertness and focus.
Taking L-theanine supplements or drinking large amounts of green tea can prevent damage to brain cells. In addition to preventing damage to brain cells, L-theanine also the ability to increase the production of new brain cells by promoting the release of a protein that promotes nerve growth.
Since L-theanine has such a profound effect on the brain, it is probably not hard to believe that it can improve memory. Researchers have discovered that L-theanine can enhance the memory of healthy people. They have also found that people with mild cognitive impairment can experience memory improvement by taking L-theanine. In one study, participants with mild cognitive impairment showed memory improvement by taking 1,680 milligrams of L-theanine a day for 16 weeks.
L-theanine can help ward off cardiovascular problems in two different ways. Firstly, it acts as an antioxidant and prevents the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol. Secondly, L-theanine promotes nitric oxide production, which helps with blood vessel dilation and can decrease blood pressure.
L-theanine increases the production of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that increases a sense of well-being. Dopamine controls the pleasure centers of the brain, and when levels of this neurotransmitter increase, you experience a positive effect in your mood.
L-theanine has been found to increase the ability of some cancer medications to fight cancer. Researchers have found that L-theanine multiplies the amount of cancer medications in cancer cells, and it decreases the concentration of the medicine in healthy cells. Due to these findings, researchers believe that L-theanine has a promising future in cancer treatments.
Because of its many wonderful health benefits, many people have started taking L-theanine supplements. L-theanine supplements have been found to be very safe, but it is always best to talk to a doctor before taking new supplements. However, if you want to enjoy some of the benefits before talking to a doctor, you can certainly enjoy some green tea. Would you consider supplementing with L-theanine?
Sources: ltheanine.net, healthyeating.sfgate.com, med.nyu.edu, psychologytoday.com