L-theanine is a natural ingredient that’s hailed as a fuss-free solution when it comes to easing anxiety, reducing stress and aiding sleep. But don’t be put off by its science-y name. L-theanine is easy to add to your daily diet and research has found that it can offer a range of health and wellbeing benefits.
Never heard of L-theanine before? Available in supplement form, it’s ideal to add to your blender if you prefer taking your dose as a nutrient-rich smoothie. However, if you’re a regular tea drinker, then you may have been getting your daily fix of this compound without even realising.
Here’s everything you need to know about this natural healer, including how using L-theanine for sleep could help if you have been struggling to get off at night.
What is L-theanine?
L-theanine is a naturally occurring amino acid, which is found in a number of different types of plants and fungal species.
“When ingested, L-theanine can help to increase levels of the 'happy' chemicals in the brain, serotonin and dopamine,” says nutrition expert Mina Khan. “This means it helps boost our mood and regulates things like sleep, appetite, attention and energy levels. When taking L-theanine, whether in supplement or dietary form, people often report increased feelings of calmness and relaxation. As a result, this can often help to decrease blood pressure and improve the quality and duration of sleep–which a lot of us could do with a little help with.”
L-theanine is naturally found in tea, and often named on the label of specialist sleep teas. “We often find that a cup of tea makes us feel less stressed and gives us a feeling of wellbeing, and that’s thanks to the L-theanine,” says nutritionist Dr. Naomi Newman-Beinart, a specialist in health psychology.
What are the best sources of L-theanine?
Apart from supplements, tea is one of the best sources of L-theanine.
Swapping your usual black tea and going green could be an effortless way to boost your levels of L-theanine. “Green tea has been a popular choice for a number of years due to its high antioxidant levels and low caffeine content,” says Dr. Newman-Beinart. “And now there’s even more reason to add green tea to your shopping list–it contains higher concentrations of naturally occurring L-theanine than black tea.”
A 2016 study by University of Szeged, in Hungary, looked into the amount of L-theanine in each tea type. They found…
- Green 6.56mg
- White 6.26mg
- Oolong 6.09mg
- Black 5.13mg
But to get the benefits of L-theanine, you need to get the right dosage.
“Adults can safely take between 100-400mg of L-theanine per day,” says Dr. Newman-Beinart. To start seeing noticeable changes just from drinking green tea alone, you’d probably need to have around eight to 10 cups a day.
Matcha tea can be a good option, too. “In my opinion, matcha is the best way to get the most out of L-theanine,” says Dr. Newman-Beinart. “Rather than soaking tea leaves and then removing them, matcha is made by grinding the green tea leaves into a powder to make your tea, so you are getting even more health benefits from each sip.”
What are the health benefits of L-theanine?
While it’s still early days, research into the health benefits of L-theanine look positive. Adding L-theanine to your diet could help to:
L-theanine for sleep—does it work?
Using L-theanine for sleep problems hasn’t been fully explored yet, but L-theanine can help with relaxation, which can lead to better sleep. So it's certainly worth adding it to your routine if you want to try to improve your sleep hygiene, and could work well alongside sleep guided meditations.
And, if you're looking to know how to fall asleep fast, then L-theanine could be the answer. “Studies have found that the compound can significantly improve levels of relaxation and that its effects can start to work within just 30 minutes,” says Mina. “This is great news for those who suffer from anxiety and stress and are looking for a natural solution, especially if it keeps them up at night.”
What are the side effects of L-theanine?
Before taking any supplement, it’s important to check first with a medical professional if you’re on any medication or suffer from a health condition, as L-theanine can interact with these. Also, you shouldn’t take L-theanine if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
“Taking L-theanine has not been found to cause much in the way of side-effects, but some people have reported that it may cause mild adverse effects, such as sleepiness or headaches,” says Dr. Newman-Beinart.
And that’s not all. “L-theanine has been found to reduce alertness, which may be problematic for some users,” warns Mina. “Plus, the potential for this substance to reduce blood pressure may also be a risk for those who already have low blood pressure or who are currently taking medication to reduce their blood pressure.”
Best ways to get L-theanine in to your diet
Not sure which l-theanine product to pick? “You can find L-theanine in capsule form, or in its naturally occurring form in green tea,” says Dr. Newman-Beinart.
“Capsules will hold higher concentrations of L-theanine than tea. So, if you choose to try capsules, it is recommended that you start with a lower dose and slowly increase it until you are taking the suggested dose. You may even find that you get the results that you are looking for without needing to take the full dosage.”
We recommend for a dose of L-theanine in your diet:
Whichever one you try, we hope it works for you!
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