Green Tea and L-Theanine: Natural Anxiety Relief

Stress, anxiety and “busy brain,” have become standard in our daily existence. Yet chronic stress and anxiety can lower your immune system (your ability to fight off illness), diminish your quality of life and even lead to depression. L-theanine might be the solution.

The Risks of Anti-Anxiety Medications

This lifestyle mental health crisis has grown to such an epidemic level that most people know at least one person who takes medication to relieve anxiety. Yet along with the benefits of prescription drugs comes a long list of potentially unpleasant, even dangerous, side effects.

Xanax once considered the anti-anxiety golden child can cause: fatigue, tiredness, coordination and memory problems, irritability, and increased appetite. Valium, Klonopin, and Ativan are also commonly prescribed anti-anxiety drugs. Yet long term use of these medications called benzodiazepines, can lead to psychological and physical dependence. Your anxiety might certainly diminish, but you also might begin to forget things, fall asleep at the wheel, gain five pounds, or perhaps develop a serious addiction. Not such a positive trade-off.

Nature’s Anti-Anxiety Solutions Aren’t Always Natural

As more people search for safe, effective alternatives to prescription anti-anxiety drugs, herbs like Kava Kava, Chamomile and Valerian Root continue to step into the spotlight. Although many of these herbs can bequite effective to calm nerves, they’re not exempt from risks and safety warnings. Kava Kava in particular, with extended use and if combined with certain medications or alcohol can cause serious liver damage. And while herbal teas offer a seemingly safe and pleasant way to ease mild anxiety, they may contain herbs that are contraindicated with various medications. Moreover, not everyone wants to or can drink a cup of tea to chill out.

So what can you take to relieve occaisional anxiety that's convenient, non-addictive, doesn't make you tired and won't potentially damage your liver?

Enter the surprise ingredient Asians have been getting in their green tea for centuries: L-theanine.

Green’s Tea’s Hidden Jewel: The Calm Without the Storm

By now most of the world knows about the benefits of drinking green tea. It’s added to supplements, foods, protein bars, weight loss formulas and beverages. Green tea contains a rich source of polyphenols known as catechins, potent antioxidants that may help prevent cancer, retard atherosclerosis, improve mood, and inhibit the growth of bacteria and other pathogens.

But green tea has another naturally occurring compound that’s worthy of attention and praise, the amino acid L-theanine. Although it’s not an antioxidant, L-theanine has been shown to:

• Have a calming effect
• Protect and restore the brain
• Stimulate the immune system, and even make cancer chemotherapy more effective with fewer side effects.
• Induce deep states of relaxation without sedation
• Relieve some PMS and menopausal symptoms
• Increase focused attention and improve learning
• Relieve nicotine addiction
• Prevents jitters caused by caffeine (while increasing mental clarity)
• Promote sleep

Calm and Focused: How Does L-Theanine Work?

L-theanine has several advantages over prescription medications and herbs. It helps you feel calm without feeling drowsy and mentally alert without feeling jittery. And although research to date has been limited, L-theanine has few if any side effects.

According to Carolyn Perrini, CLS, CNC in her article “L-Theanine: How a Unique Anxiety Reducer and Mood Enhancer Increases Alpha Waves and Alertness, “L-theanine acid stimulates the production of alpha brain waves, creating a state of deep relaxation and mental alertness similar to what is achieved through meditation. Second, L-theanine is involved in the formation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, gamma amino butyric acid (GABA). GABA influences the levels of two other neurotransmitters, dopamine and serotonin, producing the key relaxation effect.”

Can I Drink Green Tea to Get The Same Effect?

Because most green teas sold in North America contain less than 10mg of L-theanine per serving and the recommended dose is between 50-200mg, most people don’t drink enough green tea to feel the beneficial effects of L-theanine. Although the maximum safe dosage hasn't been determined, as with every supplement, start with the lowest amount reccomended and gradually increase as needed. In doses of more than 400mg, some people do experience sedation effects.

Is It Safe?

Although there are little known side effects to L-theanine, this might be due to the fact that few clinical studies have been conducted. Talk to your doctor before trying L-theanine If you have kidney or liver disease, other chronic or serious health conditions, allergies, allergies to food, dyes or preservatives. And as with all supplements, be sure to tell your doctor if you're pregnant or breastfeeding before taking L-theanine.

Study Reveals Difference Between Suntheanine® and Other Brands

Dr. Daniel Armstrong, a Caldwell Professor of Chemistry at Iowa State University, and his analysis team reviewed a number of commercially available brands that claimed to contain pure L-theanine. Results revealed that a number of brands contained ingredients other than L-theanine.

"We found all of those tested that are made through chemical synthesis or claiming to be extracted from green tea actually have about 50 per cent present as D-theanine," explains Dr. Armstrong, adding that "the only material that proved to be pure L-theanine was the Suntheanine® brand, produced via biofermentation, which had more than 99.95 per cent L-theanine, our current detection limit".

Suntheanine® is the patented form of L-theanine and the trademark of Taiyo International, the company that originally isolated the amino acid into an effective supplement for consumers

Consider L-Theanine for Anti-Anxiety or Stress Management

Whether you experience periodic episodes of anxiety, chronic anxiety, or have panic disorder, ask your doctor to test your hormones (saliva is more accurate than blood) and neurotransmitter levels to determine if you have an imbalance in either or both areas. Natural hormone replacement therapy or neuro chemistry balancing through supplementation can be an effective and safe alternative to many prescription medications and synthetic hormones.

Resources:

Ed Sharpe. L-Theanine: The Essence of Mellow in a Capsule. The Delano Report, 2003.

Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD. L-Theanine. eMedTv, March 2008.

Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD. Xanax. eMedTv, July 2007.

Carolyn Perrini, CLS, CNC. L-Theanine: How a Unique Anxiety Reducer and Mood Enhancer Increases Alpha Waves and Alertness.

Anti-anxiety drugs aren't always the best solution

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