L-Theanine is a specific form of an amino acid found primarily in tea - mostly green tea and black tea - and gives it its savoury flavour. It’s also available in both pill and powder supplement forms. Theanine is well known for its calming and relaxing effects.1 While some benefits of L-Theanine are linked to consumption along with caffeine, others have been studied for L-Theanine alone.
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L-Theanine benefits
Energy and focus:
While many of us turn to coffee for a morning boost of energy from caffeine, some people are dedicated tea drinkers or may turn to green or black tea later in the day for a relaxing break. Much research has been done into L-Theanine, in combination with caffeine (how it naturally occurs in regular - non-decaffeinated - tea).1,2 A few other key benefits are...
- L-Theanine, specifically when coupled with caffeine, may enhance weight loss and make it easier to lose weight1
- L-Theanine can induce a more relaxed state: a study in 1999 first found that L-Theanine, for which the only significant food source is tea, can help you to relax3
- L-Theanine can counteract the effect that caffeine has on blood pressure - one study found that L-Theanine in tea worked to lessen the impact that caffeine had on both systolic and diastolic blood pressure2
- L-Theanine may help to support your immune system - the stronger your immune system is, the lower your chances are of becoming sick when exposed to bacteria and viruses4
Get more immune-boosting tips here...
L-Theanine side effects
No adverse side effects have been found with L-Theanine; one study called it “safe and effective” when studying its benefits.6
L-Theanine dosage
The optimum dosage of L-Theanine has not yet been determined; dosage used in research has ranged from 100-500mg.
Take home message
L-Theanine is a powerful, naturally occurring substance that we usually only get in our diet from green or black tea. L-Theanine can benefit relaxation, focus, your immune system, your circulation, and even with weight loss.
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