L-THEANINE
Benefits: L-theanine is an interesting amino acid found in black and green tea. A standard cup of green tea may contain 5-45 mg of L-theanine (higher amounts in matcha). I blend matcha tea with coffee in the morning and have noticed the caffeine jitters are significantly reduced.
Stress reduction – 50 to 200 mg of L-theanine has been shown to promote alpha wave activity – which is associated with a relaxed but alert state.
Blood pressure – for people who consume caffeine, L-theanine has been shown to lessen the degree of blood pressure rise associated with caffeine ingestion.
Sleep – 200 mg of L-theanine at bedtime was shown to decrease time to fall asleep, reduce sleep disturbances and improve sleep efficiency.
Quality: all of the products listed below have been tested by independent labs for contamination and quality.
How much should you take? L-theanine 200 – 400 mg/day is the usual dose and well tolerated.
Safety: very small possibility of decreasing blood pressure – likely due to its relaxation effect. The products below have been shown by independent labs to be free of heavy metals.