You might say that L-theanine is nature’s Xanax—once the potent amino acid is consumed, studies show most people feel considerably calmer and more focused within 30 minutes. (And unlike yoga or meditation, you don’t have to leave your desk to feel its reputed effects.) The ingredient is believed to be so safe and powerful, in fact, that it’s popping up in all sorts of cool wellness products. It’s taking over the vitamin aisle, where you can buy straight-up L-theanine capsules or find it mixed with other active ingredients—Nootrobox and Olly are just two of the brands that utilize it. It’s also being added to functional beverages like Just Chill and Neuro Bliss, both of which claim to aid in stress reduction and concentration. Why is L-theanine suddenly popular—and will it actually help you calm down? Here’s what you need to know. So what is L-theanine, exactly? “It’s an amino acid that’s naturally found in high amounts in tea leaves,” says Taryn Forrelli, a naturopathic doctor by training and vice president of innovation at Olly.
“There’s been a lot of research that shows it stimulates alpha waves in your brain, which are associated with a relaxed, focused, but awake state of mind.”When combined with caffeine—like in green tea or in supplements with other all-natural uppers like B vitamins—Forrelli says it helps “create clean energy, without the crash and burn afterwards.” On the other hand, if it’s mixed with melatonin, magnesium, or other sleep-inducing substances, it can help you quiet your mind and catch a snooze. An antidote to anxiety But its biggest superpower, by far, is stress relief. Well+Good Wellness Council member Frank Lipman, MD, frequently prescribes it to overtaxed and anxiety-riddled patients because, he says, “it has the ability to calm the body without compromising mental clarity.” And it reportedly kicks in just as fast as prescription chill pills (minus the side effects), usually keeping you calm for a few hours. “The research shows that L-theanine works in as little as 30–60 minutes,” says Forrelli.
(She recommends a dose of 50–200mg for therapeutic benefits—a cup of black tea, by contrast, contains 20mg of L-theanine, while green tea has even less.) “It’s not one of those things where you sit around for a week wondering if it’s working—it takes the edge off of any type of stress you might be feeling in the moment.” (One of my Well+Good colleagues can vouch for this—she’s been taking Olly’s new Goodbye Stress gummies and says, “I’ve been popping them left and right, and they actually make a difference!”) Is it too good to be true? Of course, like any supplement, you shouldn’t down L-theanine with abandon. Dr. Lipman recommend you avoid taking it with other sedatives, and if you’re pregnant, nursing, or on cholesterol medication you should check with your doctor before supplementing with it. But overall, Forrelli says, reducing your stress levels is going to have benefits beyond just the mental and emotional. “Stress is very destructive to the body, and it’s one of those things that you can easily forget about,” she says.
“But if you tune into it and take action, it’s really going to improve your overall quality of life.” So, seriously—take a chill pill. L-theanine’s not the only thing that will put you into a better state of mind—check out the five mental health-boosting supplements that a doctor thinks you should take. Or you could always strap on some wearable tech to help manage your stress levels.The health benefits of Vitamin B5, also known as Pantothenic Acid, include the alleviation of conditions like asthma, hair loss, allergies, stress and anxiety, respiratory disorders and heart problems. It also helps to boost immunity, reduce osteoarthritis and signs of aging, increase resistance to various types of infections, stimulate physical growth, and manage diabetes and skin disorders. Vitamin B5 is widely known to be beneficial in treating serious mental disorders like chronic stress and anxiety. A healthy diet should contain an appropriate amount of Vitamin B5 to ensure good health and proper functioning of all the organ systems.
It performs a wide variety of functions in our body, including the production of neurotransmitters in the brain, the fabrication of steroids, and the extraction of fats, proteins and other vital nutrients from food. In a nutshell, the essence of Vitamin B5 affects every important aspect of maintaining your health. The most common and irritating symptom of Vitamin B5 deficiency is burning foot syndrome, in which a person experiences lack of feeling in their feet, accompanied by intense inflammatory pain. Along with this comes a constant feeling of fatigue and weakness throughout the body. Other major symptoms include insomnia, anemia, vomiting, contraction of muscles and abnormal skin developments. The most important sources of Vitamin B5 include mushrooms, broccoli, cabbage, legumes, salmon and collard green. There are other significant sources for this water soluble vitamin, including foods like eggs, fish, brewer’s yeast, nuts, milk and dairy products like cheese. You can also obtain the vitamin from wheat, peanut, soybeans, molasses and collard greens.
Vitamin B5 acts as a synthesizer of many important components required by the human body. For instance, it is essential for the formation of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, amino acids and antibiotics, while also stimulating adrenal hormones. Vitamin B5 has the reputation of reducing stress and other serious mental problems like anxiety and depression, which ensures fitness of mind. It does this by regulating the hormones responsible for causing these mental conditions. Vitamin B5 has an impressive record of keeping the human heart in normal working condition. It regulates the level of cholesterol and also helps in controlling blood pressure. Vitamin B5 helps in reducing body fatigue and weariness and it sets the metabolic activities of the entire body on the right track. This means that this vitamin is capable of increasing the stamina of the human body to perform various tasks in an efficient and healthy way. This is a massive benefit of this vitamin, especially from the point of view of active individuals and athletes.
More than anything else, Vitamin B5 helps to keep the skin healthy and attractive in appearance. It also helps to delay the appearance of premature aging signs on the skin like wrinkles and age spots. Studies have also shown that Vitamin B5 plays an important role in the pigmentation of hair and prevents it from losing its color until you are well into your older years. Since Vitamin B5 belongs to the group of water soluble vitamins, it does not add any type of toxic substance to the human body, thereby proving to be beneficial and effective for people from every age group and either gender. Vitamin B5 is very good at strengthening the immune system of the human body. This helps us fight against a number of infections and diseases. To decrease the chances of your body contracting something dangerous, be sure that your white blood cell count is maximized and your immune system is functioning properly by eating foods that are rich in vitamin B5. Vitamin B5 helps to relieve the human body from a number of detrimental problems like asthma, autism candedeases, osteoarthritis, Parkinson’s disease, premenstrual syndrome and many more.