What happens if you take L-theanine daily?
When taken by mouth: L-theanine is possibly safe when used short-term. Doses of up to 900 mg daily have been safely used for 8 weeks. It isn’t clear if L-theanine is safe to use for longer periods of time. It might cause mild side effects, such as headache or sleepiness. While L-theanine is often used to alleviate anxiety, it can increase feelings of anxiety in some people. This is extremely rare but is most likely caused by the changes the L-theanine has on how the brain deals with serotonin and GABA.Lowers levels of “excitatory” brain chemicals. At the same time, it is increasing chemicals that promote feelings of calm, L-theanine also reduces levels of chemicals in the brain that are linked to stress and anxiety. This may also be a way that L-theanine can protect brain cells against stress and age-related damage.Conclusions. The findings above denote that L-theanine not only reduces anxiety but also attenuates the blood-pressure increase in high-stress-response adults.Research shows that L-theanine supplements can elevate your levels of GABA, dopamine and serotonin, which promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety levels.The short answer is this, though: Ashwagandha works as an adaptogen to support your body’s stress response, whereas L-theanine interacts with brain waves and impacts neurotransmitters to create a sense of calm without causing sedation. If you were going to add just one to your lifestyle, it should be L-theanine.
What’s stronger than L-theanine?
Some studies suggest Suntheanine may have more reliable potency and bioavailability due to its controlled production process. Suntheanine products can make health claims that plain L-Theanine cannot, due to research that has been performed on the Suntheanine form, specifically. In Summary The concentration of L-theanine in your body will reduce by half after about five hours. The effect will also begin to wear off gradually, depending on the dosage and rate of metabolism. The relaxing effect may continue a little longer even as your body metabolizes and expels more L-theanine.You shouldn’t take L-theanine supplements if: You are pregnant or breastfeeding. You’re allergic to green tea. You take sedatives, antidepressants, blood pressure medication, anti-seizure drugs or asthma medication.Key Takeaways Limited evidence exists on the use of ashwagandha and L-theanine; however, combining them does not appear to cause negative interactions, and both supplements are generally considered safe and well-tolerated.If you’re going to take L-theanine to gain more alertness and mental clarity, you should take it during the day,” advises Zumpano. It does seem to do better with coffee or a caffeinated beverage.Therefore, if you’re using L-Theanine to help you sleep, try taking it about 30–60 minutes before bed. You can take L-Theanine either with meals or on an empty stomach. However, if you haven’t recently eaten when taking L-Theanine, you may feel the effects a bit more quickly and intensely.
What’s better, ashwagandha or L-theanine?
Think of it this way. Use Ashwagandha when you’re burned out, overwhelmed, or dealing with chronic stress. Use L-Theanine when you need in-the-moment calm without drowsiness. Some people benefit from taking both: Ashwagandha for long-term balance and L-Theanine for immediate relief. Taking L-Theanine for Anxiety Reduced anxiety: A review of nine published articles showed that taking 200 to 400 mg of L-theanine a day can help reduce anxiety in people exposed to stressful environments.Another study published in the journal of clinical psychiatry focused on people living with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Researchers found that l-theanine decreased anxiety and improved symptoms (3).L-theanine may help reduce stress, and a reduction in stress and increased relaxation can lower the heart rate. In turn, this may help lower blood pressure.When taken by mouth: L-theanine is possibly safe when used short-term. Doses of up to 900 mg daily have been safely used for 8 weeks. It isn’t clear if L-theanine is safe to use for longer periods of time. It might cause mild side effects, such as headache or sleepiness.Some studies suggest that taking an L-theanine supplement may help improve mental alertness, reaction time, and memory.
Who should avoid L-theanine?
Cancer medication: Using L-theanine supplements while undergoing chemotherapy is best done in collaboration with your healthcare provider. Pregnancy or breastfeeding: Pregnant or breastfeeding people should likely avoid L-theanine supplements. While GABA and L-theanine have both been shown to promote relaxation, there are some differences between the two supplements. Efficacy: Taking L-theanine for anxiety might be beneficial over GABA because L-theanine can promote relaxation without causing the drowsiness that GABA supplements tend to.People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should be cautious when taking L-theanine, due to the limited research available for these groups. If you are using sleep medications such as lorazepam (Ativan®), diazepam (Valium®), or zolpidem (Ambien®), talk with your health care provider before taking L-theanine.Summary of Use during Lactation It is probably best to avoid using theanine or l-theanine while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration.Cancer medication: Using L-theanine supplements while undergoing chemotherapy is best done in collaboration with your healthcare provider. Pregnancy or breastfeeding: Pregnant or breastfeeding people should likely avoid L-theanine supplements.Research shows that L-theanine supplements can elevate your levels of GABA, dopamine and serotonin, which promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety levels. A randomized trial from 2019 found that healthy adults who took L-theanine over the course of four weeks had a decrease in stress-related symptoms.
What does L-theanine do for a woman?
However, the cognitive functions for which theanine is effective are unclear. As a supplement, L-theanine supports mental clarity and focused attention without causing drowsiness. It helps calm your mind from overthinking while keeping you alert and composed, making it a perfect ally for those seeking calm focus without agitation.Unlike sedatives, L-theanine doesn’t seem to dull the senses,” he explains. It appears to do this by influencing key brain chemicals linked to mood and relaxation, while also increasing alpha brain wave activity—the kind associated with a quiet, focused mind.Some studies suggest l-theanine may increase alpha waves in the brain associated with relaxation and selective attention, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve sleep quality, though findings are often inconsistent. Potential neuroprotective and anti-seizure effects have also been reported in animal models.L-theanine may impact the production of serotonin and dopamine, the hormones affect the quality of our mood and emotions. It may also affect our levels of the stress hormone cortisol.Some studies suggest l-theanine may increase alpha waves in the brain associated with relaxation and selective attention, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve sleep quality, though findings are often inconsistent. Potential neuroprotective and anti-seizure effects have also been reported in animal models.
What cannot be mixed with L-theanine?
Before taking L-theanine supplements, talk with your health care provider, if you regularly take any medications. Some sleep medications such as diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and zolpidem (Ambien) may interact with L-theanine and cause more drowsiness. Ashwagandha and magnesium have been used to support sleep and reduce stress. Ashwagandha appears to be more effective than magnesium at relieving anxiety, though both supplements show some benefit in aiding sleep.Research shows magnesium may reduce anxiety, stress, and sleep, while L-theanine may aid relaxation but could also increase focus for some people. Addressing overall sleep habits is crucial, as supplements alone may not resolve sleep issues.Research shows magnesium may reduce anxiety, stress, and sleep, while L-theanine may aid relaxation but could also increase focus for some people. Addressing overall sleep habits is crucial, as supplements alone may not resolve sleep issues.L-Theanine may reduce pre-sleep anxiety, while melatonin shifts circadian timing. They serve different purposes. If stress and anxiety keep you awake, L-Theanine may be the better option. If you have trouble falling asleep due to circadian rhythm disruptions, melatonin might be more effective.Many social media users recommend taking a “stack” (or combination) of magnesium and L-theanine supplements for better sleep. Both have been touted for reducing anxiety or stress, and there’s reason to believe they may help some people sleep.
Is L-theanine hard on your liver?
The most recent and highest quality study, published in 2024 2, found that L-theanine has a protective effect on acute alcoholic liver injury in mice, mitigating liver tissue damage and reducing serum levels of liver enzymes. The most recent and highest quality study, published in 2024 2, found that L-theanine has a protective effect on acute alcoholic liver injury in mice, mitigating liver tissue damage and reducing serum levels of liver enzymes.Preclinical studies have reported that L-theanine may reduce brain cell death [6] and oxidative damage [7], and increase levels of protective chemicals [8], but these effects have not been confirmed in humans.When taken by mouth: L-theanine is possibly safe when used short-term. Doses of up to 900 mg daily have been safely used for 8 weeks. It isn’t clear if L-theanine is safe to use for longer periods of time. It might cause mild side effects, such as headache or sleepiness.