L-Theanine: Take a Chill Pill

I've been using L-theanine supplements periodically for a few years now. And a lot of us get it through one of our favorite beverages, green tea. What's l-theanine? Here's what Wikipedia has to say:

Theanine is an amino acid, commonly found in tea (infusions of Camellia sinensis), that can produce a feeling of relaxation. Theanine produces these effects by increasing the level of Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production. Theanine affects the levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. It also inhibits glutamic acid excitotoxicity.

Theanine is most readily available in green tea and can also be purchased as a supplement. Unusual for an amino acid, it crosses the blood-brain barrier in animal studies. It is also theorized that the GABA-binding properties of theanine reduce the caffeine buzz delivered in black tea versus that of coffee. It also promotes alpha wave production in the brain. Alpha waves are commonly associated with a state of alert relaxation. Theanine is not removed by the decaffeination process because it is not an alkaloid.

What's all that boil down to? L-theanine is espoused by the Life Extension Foundation as a vehicle to help reduce stress and fight free radicals. I've even heard it called "zen in a bottle".  I wouldn't go quite that far, but it may come in handy in certain circumstances.

If these claims are true, L-theanine might be useful as a supplement to help take the edge off a very stressful day. Readers of this site will no doubt have an arsenal of breathing techniques and hypnotic triggers set for relaxation and stress reduction. So maybe we don't need supplemental l-theanine at all, especially if we're getting small amounts of it through drinking tea.

I decided that its potential was interesting enough to begin tracking information about l-theanine like I'm tracking resveratrol, omega 3 (fish oil) and green tea for life extension and peak performance. While none of this information is validated by the FDA, for informational purposes we might want to keep an eye on supplements of this nature.