L-THEANINE

L-Theanine is a unique amino acid found in the green tea plant Camellia Sinensis. Theanine acts as a precursor to dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is the second largest brain chemical by volume and plays a vital role by inhibiting the brain's ability to access adrenaline. By preventing the brain from accessing adrenaline, cortisol release is inhibited. When cortisol is produced in excess over a prolonged period, it can have profound negative effects. Inflammatory mediators can be activated, blood sugar remains elevated and sodium is retained by the cells fueling hypertension caused by stress. Instead of promoting the conversion of protein and fatty acids into energy, cortisol directs everything to be stored as fat, causing the accumulation of belly fat. Chronically elevated cortisol lowers serotonin, the brain's largest chemical representing eighty percent of the volume of the forty brain chemicals. Headaches, memory, attention span and most importantly sleep are affected. Sustained elevated cortisol damages the myelin sheath that protects the sixty thousand miles of nerve in the body. Now anything that travels the nervous system, including the herpes family of viruses, psoriasis, eczema, shingles and ADHD can now manifest. Elevated cortisol depletes available DHEA. which is responsible for producing the 50% of the estrogen and testosterone the adrenal glands produce. With the loss of DHEA women can experience more pronounced menopausal symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats and bone loss. Theanine is the key to lowering cortisol by preventing adrenaline from triggering its release and it rewards you by stimulating relaxing alpha waves in the brain. Now the brain can prioritize thoughts, improve concentration and increase learning ability. At night theanine has the effect of calming the brain, helping to shut down the thought process that keeps so many people from falling asleep.