Experts estimate that roughly 30 percent of adults in the US either have experienced, or will experience, some type of anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. To help address stressful situations, the human body relies on a network of specific hormones, chemical compounds and neurotransmitters that have the shared ability to respond to stress by helping the body return to a calm, relaxed state. This natural stress response produces a hormone known as cortisol, which is also commonly referred to as the “stress hormone”.
While this hormone is a required component of the body’s natural stress response, too much cortisol can actually be detrimental to whole body health. Under normal conditions, the body would produce just the right amount of cortisol during stressful situations to address increased adrenaline and promote feelings of relaxation. However, frequent and extended periods of stress can lead to an overproduction of cortisol and lay the groundwork for a condition known as chronic stress. Fortunately, certain chemical messengers like L-Theanine offer further support for a healthy stress response by promoting feelings of calm and relaxation.
What is L-Theanine?
L-theanine is an amino acid that does not occur in the body naturally, but it is commonly found in certain types of tea leaves and mushrooms. This powerful amino acid can be obtained from a variety of prepared teas, including white, black and green. Amino acids are molecules that are needed by the body for the production of proteins, which is why they are often referred to as the “building blocks of life”. L-theanine does support the production of cortisol, but that is just one of the several chemical compounds that L-theanine helps the body produce.
How Can L-Theanine Support the Body’s Stress Response and Promote Mental Clarity?
L-theanine is known to support a healthy stress response and optimal cognitive function, and it can actually do so through multiple avenues.
Promoting Optimal Sleep Cycles
L-theanine’s ability to promote feelings of calm and anxiety are a direct result of its role in the production of dopamine, serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). All of these chemical messengers have been recognized for their ability to promote feelings of calm, which can be especially effective in supporting proper sleep health.
Healthy sleep cycles can be a major factor in the intensity and duration of stress levels when the body is faced with adverse situations. A single night of poor sleep can make navigating the following day difficult due to the feelings of fatigue and increased stress. When poor sleep quality becomes a regular occurrence, these feelings of stress and fatigue can increase and lead to chronic stress. When the body is experiencing chronic stress, sleep loss and elevated stress levels constantly contribute to one another in a negative feedback loop relationship.
Reducing Feelings of Anxiety and Fear
GABA, like L-theanine, is an amino acid and chemical messenger. GABA, however, is known as an inhibitory neurotransmitter due to the fact that it blocks certain chemical signals from entering the central nervous system. More specifically, GABA blocks the feelings of fear and anxiety, both of which contribute heavily to elevated stress levels.
By assisting the body with GABA production, L-theanine can support an optimal response to stressful situations.
Enhancing Focus and Overall Cognitive Function
Reducing stress while promoting feelings of calm and relaxation go a long way towards promoting optimal focus and mental clarity. L-theanine provides further cognitive support by increasing alpha brain wave activity. Research has shown that increased alpha activity not only coincides with non-drowsy feelings of relaxation, but that it is also known to promote enhanced focus and alertness.
Supporting Other Aspects of Comprehensive Wellness with L-Theanine
While L-theanine is best known for its ability to support optimal stress response and sleep cycles by promoting feelings of relaxation and calm, this powerful anti- inflammatory has been recognized for supporting other aspects of whole body health.
Immune Function
Like other anti-inflammatories, L-theanine has been known to support optimal immune function. More specifically, L-theanine actually helps regulate the body’s immune response by regulating immunoprotective neurotransmitters known as cytokines.
Weight Loss
L-theanine is known to have a savory umami flavor, especially when consumed in tea. Umami flavor has been recognized for its ability to help suppress food cravings.
Cardiovascular Function
Supporting optimal cardiovascular function is a positive byproduct of L-theanine’s influence on weight loss and the body’s natural stress response. By reducing stress and helping maintain a healthy amount of body fat, L-theanine has the potential to reduce the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure) and major cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke.
Support Optimal Cognitive Function and Stress Reduction with Customized Care
Since the body cannot produce L-theanine on its own, the nutraceutical industry has developed a variety of products like L-Theanine Support to deliver this powerful anti- inflammatory amino acid to the body on a consistent basis. This professional grade nutraceutical was developed by the experts at EVEXIAS Health Solutions with a patented form of L-theanine known as Suntheanine® to mimic this amino acid without the unnecessary caffeine found in tea. To further promote optimal stress response and cognitive function, the practitioners at EVEXIAS also offer a range of integrative therapies that include lifestyle management guidance and hormone therapy. Discover the nearest EVEXIAS Health Solutions provider today to learn more about the many ways to support optimal whole body health.
