Today’s need for calm and stress relief
During the long period of that we’ve been living with Covid, people have naturally sought out products that support their overall health and immunity. Industry research today however reveals that another key concern drives demand: Covid has affected families, the economics of life and created deep feelings of uncertainty about the future. Thus the need for products that support natural, balanced stress relief have become the #1 demand category.
The benefits of AlphaWave L-Theanine and Alpha brain waves
Facing the pressures that we find built into life and work today, we need to be more relaxed and calm, yet more focused and alert than ever. How do we achieve this productive state, the balance between calm and energy, between running and resting?
We know that most sedatives make us slow and sleepy, stimulants such as caffeine make us edgy and nervous; neither state is ideal for facing the challenges of today. How do we resolve these contrasting states of mind?
Studies have found that L-theanine is able to cross the blood-brain barrier [2], and confirmed its ability to create a sense of relaxed and wakefulness. This is achieved primarily through L-theanine’s ability to directly increase alpha brain wave activity. Alpha activity is also associated with increased creativity, increased performance under stress, improved learning and concentration, as well as decreased anxiety [3]. L-Theanine is also involved in the formation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, gamma amino butyric acid (GABA)[4].
Through these pathways, L-theanine has been shown to reduce mental and physical stress [5], and to improve cognition and mood in a synergistic manner with caffeine [6].
Why AlphaWave L-Theanine?
AlphaWave L-Theanine is a highly purified and GRAS affirmed source of this material from Ethical Naturals Inc (ENI). Over the last ten years it has grown to become the trusted source of L-theanine, carried by a number of leading brands in the US.
The benefits of AlphaWave L-Theanine have also been confirmed by clinical study. The first double-blind, placebo controlled clinical study was conducted at The Wellington Sleep Investigation Centre, University of Otego, Wellington, New Zealand. It confirmed the benefits of Alphawave: ‘The Effects of AlphaWave L-Theanine on Relaxation, Clarity and Cognitive Function’. This study found that:
- AlphaWave showed (by EEG) a clear indication of beneficial effects on tonic alpha power that measures relaxed wakefulness.
- Values for anxiety and tension decreased greater than placebo.
- AlphaWave reduced fatigue greater than placebo.
- Significantly reduced heart rate, an indication of stress reduction.
A second, expanded, triple-blind, placebo controlled AlphaWave clinical study has now been completed, and it further confirmed significant benefits in stress reduction. The results of this study will be published in the near future.
Other qualities of Alphawave L-theanine
Alphawave is produced in a proprietary process that results in a highly purified product, standardized to not less than 98% L-theanine. It contains none of the D-theanine that is often a component in other sources of L-theanine. ENI also confirms, through patent attorney review, that this manufacturing process doesn’t infringe any of the existing patents for the manufacture or use of L-theanine. All Alphawave material is tested and supplied through ENI’s NSF Certified facility in Redwood City, California.
A US manufactured granular form AlphaWave works specially well for tableting and encapsulating applications. For beverage use AlphaWave is also GRAS affirmed and dissolves rapidly into a tasteless and odorless solution.
Cal Bewicke, CEO of Ethical Naturals states: ‘We’ve been supplying AlphaWave L-theanine to the industry for about ten years now, and it has been extraordinary to see how the popularity of this product has grown through the key national brands that offer it to consumers. It seems that the calming experiential nature of the product, as well as the science behind it, is what has assured its success. Experiential, energized calming effects seem to be what people need more than ever right now, and I’m pleased that we can provide these benefits.’
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References:
[1] Cartwright RA, Roberts EAH, Wood DJ. Theanine an amino acid of N-ethyl amide present in tea. J Sci Food Agric, 1954:597-599.
[2] Kakuda, T., et al. (2000). Inhibiting effects of theanine on caffeine stimulation evaluated by EEG in the rat. Biosci Biotechno Biochem 64, 287-293.
[3] Eschenauer G, Sweet BV, Pharmacology and therapeutic uses of theanine. Am J Health-Syst Ph 2006;63:26-30
[4] Mason, R. (2001). 200 mg of Zen; L-theanine boosts alpha waves, promotes alert relaxation. Alternative & Complementary Therapies 7, 91-95.
[5] Kimura K., et al (2007). L-Theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress responses. Biol Psychol 74 (1), 39–45.
[6] Haskell, C.F. et al. (2008). The effects of l-theanine, caffeine and their combination on cognition and mood. Biol Psychol 77 (2), 113–2