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How Stress Essentials Calm Works

Stress and anxiety can wreak havoc on the body, brain, and immune system. Stress Essentials Calm combines the amino acids L-theanine (as Suntheanine®) and GABA to support relaxation without drowsiness.

L-theanine was first discovered as one of the bioactive constituents of green tea leaves that cause a relaxed but alert state. L-theanine is highly bioavailable and can easily cross the blood-brain barrier, helping it to support healthy stress response through relaxation and promote various aspects of cognitive health.

Suntheanine has been shown to promote an alert state of relaxation without drowsiness by increasing alpha brain waves and decreasing beta brain waves. In 2019, a randomized, controlled study evaluated the impact of L-theanine on cognitive function in healthy adults. After supplementing with L-theanine, participants had improved scores in executive function and verbal fluency.

In addition, another study found that L-theanine may improve the quality of sleep because of its ability to relax the body without contributing to daytime drowsiness. Suntheanine® also helps to improve focus and mental clarity without the negative side effects of caffeine. It can also work synergistically with caffeine in supporting healthy cognitive functions.

The other ingredient is GABA, a neurotransmitter that is the primary inhibitor of the central nervous system in humans. GABA is synthesized in the brain by the decarboxylation of glutamate. Research may suggest that GABA administration supports increases in alpha waves and decreases beta waves in the brain, promoting healthy and balanced moods.

GABA also supports restful sleep by affecting serotonin levels during the sleep/wake cycle. L-theanine and GABA work together to support quality sleep through calming effects. L-theanine supports the production of serotonin and helps GABA support a healthy bodily response to stress. Serotonin is then converted to melatonin in the brain, which in turn supports restful sleep.