L-Theanine and GABA
As a follow-up to the last post on caffeine it seems only logical to take a look at two other bioactive compounds in tea: GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid) and L-Theanine. In contrast to the stimulating effects of caffeine, these two substances both have calming, mentally relaxing properties and the combined yin and yang, so to speak, leads to tea drinkers noticing a unique state of "alert relaxation" that is impossible with coffee, cola or energy drinks. Long before tea was a recreational beverage, it was consumed by monks in China who appreciated it for this very quality. These days the interest in GABA and L-Theanine is enough that one can find them sold in isolated pill form in any vitamin store; however, due to the synergistic relationship they have with each other and the hundreds of other compounds in tea, we truly believe that simply drinking a cup of tea is the best way to go when adding these compounds to your diet. Let's take a closer look at the specific qualities of each substance below:
GABA: A substance that primarily functions as an inhibitory neurotransmitter by protecting over-excited neurons. Research shows it can counteract the damaging excitatory effects of the amino acids glutamate (found in dietary MSG and soy sauce) and aspartate (from the artificial sweetener aspartame). There is also research being done to show that GABA is effective at relaxing arteries and helping to lower blood pressure. Interestingly enough, Japanese and Taiwanese tea growers have recognized for some time that they can increase the levels of GABA in tea by increasing the amount of nitrogen in the plant's growing environment, and so these days it is common to see green and oolong teas specifically marketed for their GABA content.
L-Theanine: An amino acid derivative found in all tea, but primarily in green tea and especially the Japanese ceremonial green Gyokuro. Its primary effect is to increase GABA levels in the brain (see above) as well as the "feel good" neurotransmitter dopamine, which can lead to an increase in mood and concentration. Research shows that theanine on its own is a useful sleep aid which may account for the relaxing, stress reducing quality of drinking tea, despite the caffeine content of the leaf.
Tags: Tea and Health
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