L-Theanine

Scientific name: Gamma-ethylamino-L-glutamic acid

L-Theanine is a unique amino acid found in the tea plant.

L-Theanine is a non-protein amino acid which takes up 50% of the total free Amino Acids in the green tea plant. L-Theanine is famous for its ability to increase Alpha Waves (associated with a feeling of calm and mental alertness).

Theanine is related to glutamine, and can cross the blood-brain barrier. Because it can enter the brain, theanine has psychoactive properties. Theanine has been shown to reduce mental and physical stress, may produce feelings of relaxation and improves cognition, and mood.

L-Theanine may help relieve stress by inducing a relaxing effect without drowsiness. L-theanine as been shown to promote the generation of alpha-brain waves, an index of relaxation. It may also boost natural resistance to microbial infections and perhaps even tumors. Researchers suggest further isolating and refining L-theanine from tea to use it as a drug to boost the infection defense of the body.

Theanine is speculated to produce these effects by increasing the level of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production. Theanine increases brain serotonin, dopamine, GABA levels and has micromolar affinities for AMPA, Kainate and NMDA receptors.

L-Theanine may also help the body's immune response to infection by boosting the disease-fighting capacity of gamma delta T cells.