We can all agree that coffee is a gift from the gods. Caffeine has a lot of benefits: it tastes great, it keeps us awake, and it has positive effects on our health and thinking. It’s a shame about the negative side effects, though.
The feeling of having had too much coffee is one that most coffee drinkers are familiar with. Caffeine in high doses can be problematic for humans.
Overconsuming can lead to effects such as an elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, anxiety, and feeling jittery. We thought that having to work around potential issues was just a part of the coffee lifestyle, but we recently found out that this isn’t the case.
We have recently discovered an amino acid that can be taken with caffeine in order to reduce the negative side effects while still amplifying the positive effects, such as a quicker reaction time, better performance on mental tasks, and more energy (without the anxiety).
Although it may sound unbelievable, it is actually true. I’m talking about the non-protein amino acid L-Theanine.
Coffee and L-Theanine
Coffee with the nootropic L-Theanine has been proven to improve mental performance and reduce anxiety.
More About L-Theanine
- L-Theanine is one of the components of tea and has a whole host of mental and health benefits. The presence of Theanine explains why we get the positive effects of caffeine from tea, without the jitters that can accompany coffee. This is true even when the caffeine concentration in a tea and coffee serving is the same.
- L Theanine is also found in some species of mushrooms. Apart from these two sources, Theanine is mainly consumed in supplement form.
- L-Theanine is known as a nootropic. A nootropic is basically defined as a neuro-enhancer that has no side effects.
Coffee and Nootropic
Most people do not consider caffeine to be a nootropic, even though some people still believe it is one. This means that nootropics can’t have any negative side effects. While caffeine can improve cognitive performance, too much coffee can be detrimental.
In other words, we would have to drink a lot of coffee for it to be harmful. It is almost impossible to overdose on coffee. consuming too much caffeine is easy when taking it in pill form.
Nootropic Coffees
While coffee isn’t technically a nootropic, many people mix it with powerful nootropics to make various nootropic coffees. Coffee and Theanine is a very popular combination.
Caffeine in Combination with L-Theanine
L-Theanine and Stress
Essentially, L-Theanine is a stress reducer. This is good for mental performance. In clinical trials, stress and corticosterone have been shown to decrease mental performance.
While caffeine does cause a temporary spike in adrenaline levels, it is not considered to be harmful in moderation.
Drinking coffee in moderation can have positive cognitive effects, but over-consumption can lead to stress, which inhibits mental performance and memory.
This text is saying that L-Theanine in combination with caffeine can improve mental performance without being inhibited by anxiety or stress.
Gaba and Adenosine Receptors
Caffeine prevents adenosine from binding to its receptors. Adenosine is what is responsible for making us tired. Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, preventing the feeling of sleepiness.
L Theanine releases GABA, a different neurotransmitter. GABA is a neurotransmitter that has the opposite effect of caffeine and helps to relax the body. I’ve found that taking L Theanine before bed has greatly improved the quality of my sleep.
L Theanine and Blood Pressure
L Theanine has been shown in studies to be effective in reducing blood pressure. The stimulant effect of caffeine makes it a good partner for L-theanine.
This research is exciting because it suggests that Theanine may help people with high blood pressure. This could mean that people with high blood pressure would not have to take as many blood pressure medications.
The combination of coffee and L Theanine has more cognitive benefits than caffeine in isolation due to several factors.
L Theanine is not surprising marketed as a dietary supplement to accompany coffee. Coffee drinkers who are sensitive to the effects of caffeine may find the theanine/coffee combination particularly useful.
Coffee and L Theanine Dosage
To get the most benefits from these two substances, it is recommended to have a 1:2 ratio of coffee to L Theanine. This means that 200 mg of L-theanine is equal to 100 mg of caffeine. This is the amount of caffeine you would find in a cup of coffee.