Theanine

In short, Theanine is health food for the brain. 
Also known as L-Theanine, it is found in the world’s most popular beverage second to water – green and black tea!  Discovered in Japan in 1949, tea laboratories there found a way to extract it from the leaves of the kyokuro plant that contain­­­ high amounts of Theanine.  The United States too have discovered trace amounts of Theanine in edible mushrooms.  It is manufactured in tablet form and taken as a dietary supplement. 
The properties of Theanine primarily affect the functioning of the brain where alpha wave activities influence the mental state of relaxation. It promotes calmness, relaxes the mind without inducing drowsiness, and helps to relieve anxiety and stress.  It increases the production of the hormone dopamine which is responsible for the feelings of well-being.  It can also be used as a natural remedy to anti-anxiety medications since it has the ability to cross the body’s blood-brain barrier, a protective filter that prevents certain compounds from entering the brain. As a substitute it eliminates side effects, specifically drowsiness, that is commonly associated with these medications. It protects the brain cells from damage and begins the repair process by producing proteins that are necessary for new cell growth.
A Chinese study has shown that drinking tea and maintaining a high level of Theanine reduces the risk of a stroke by 40%, and counter-acts its negative symptoms such as memory loss and brain tissue damage.  Theanine, in combination with caffeine, has been found to boost mental capabilities by improving creativity, concentration and alertness, speed and accuracy in certain mental tasks, and reducing distraction during a memory exercise - all without the jitters of high caffeine intake.  Though studies have primarily focussed on its stress-relieving and calming agents, they do not preclude other possible health benefits ranging from cancer and stroke prevention to weight loss. Green tea also contains antioxidant that fights cancer and heart disease. Research with mice have found that Theanine successfully shrink tumours and lower blood pressure. 
Many people innocently speak of having “a relaxing cup of tea” without the knowledge that their state of mind really is affected by the Theanine in their tea!

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