Healthy Aging and Green Tea

Retirement Income and Green Tea

writes, "While there are hundreds of research studies that support the use of green tea, most people drink it because it has a pleasant flavor and a relaxing effect. This relaxing effect is due to the presence of a neurologically active amino acid, L-theanine, found almost exclusively in tea plants (Camellia sinensis), in Xerocomus badius mushrooms and in certain species of genus Camellia, C. japonica and C. sasanqua. It is L-theanine that gives tea its characteristic, slightly brothy, umami taste.

Research has affirmed that L-theanine, in its pure form, at levels between 50 - 200 mg, not only creates a sense of relaxation—without drowsiness—approximately 30-40 minutes after oral ingestion, but that it accomplishes this by two different pathways. First, it directly stimulates production of alpha brainwaves. This creates a state of deep relaxation and mental alertness, such as is achieved by meditators. Second, L-theanine appears to have a role in the formation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma amino butrylic acid (GABA). GABA blocks release of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, and therefore may have a key role in the relaxation effect.

The presence of L-theanine in tea leaves was discovered by Japanese researchers in 1949 and its chemical structure was determined to be L-glutamic acid-ã-monoethylamide. The L-theanine content of certain teas often correlates with the grade of tea. High-grade Matcha green tea—one of the most expensive types of green tea—has the greatest percentage of L-theanine. Gyokuro and Sencha green teas also contain fairly high amounts, between 26 and 46 mg of L-theanine per cup of tea. However, other kinds of non-green tea also have high L-theanine contents. These include Ceylon Pekoe from Sri Lanka, Darjeeling, and Earl Grey from China. The amount of L-theanine in tea depends on a variety of environmental factors, including climate, rainfall and sunlight where the tea plant is grown.

Even though scientists were aware of the physical and neurological benefits associated with drinking tea, until 1990 there was no economically viable method for producing L-theanine. That is, extracting the amino acid from the leaves was a difficult, expensive and inefficient process: it took a lot of tea leaves to yield a small quantity of L-theanine.

However, in 1990, food scientists at Taiyo Kagaku, in Japan, developed an enzymatic process for making a compound chemically identical to the L-theanine found in tea leaves. The process required slow fermentation and took four months to make one batch. Still, pharmaceutical grade (>99% isomerically pure) L-theanine is the result, and it does not require a mountain of tea leaves. The new product was patented and trademarked as Suntheanine®.

In 1999 research on L-theanine was undertaken by scientists at the Laboratory of Nutritional Biochemistry, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, the University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan. The scientists were able to confirm several unique properties of L-theanine: in addition to facilitating relaxation, L-theanine may also have applications in: 1) controlling hypertension; 2) improving learning performance; 3) heightening mental acuity; 4) promoting concentration; 5) reducing the negative side effects of caffeine; and, 6) supporting the immune system. L-theanine (Suntheanine) has numerous health benefits and has been shown to be safe, based on 100% favorable toxicology studies.

As one who enjoys spending time with Wild Divine and Healing Rhythms I can state that L-theanine enhances my ability to relax and focus, and I am able to accomplish the various tasks almost effortlessly.

For example, within Healing Rhythms’ “Ion Grapher”, I am able to visually monitor heart response, coherence spectrum, skin response, heart rate and average heart coherence. Without the benefit of L-theanine and its alpha-inducing relaxation response, the colors of the coherence spectrum fluctuate between green, turquoise and blue. However, when I drink a cup of green tea—to which I have added L-theanine— and breathe along with the movement of the butterfly wings, I am in the solid dark blue range consistently. My heart rate is low and steady; the graphic displays show that I am deeply relaxed.

Within Healing Rhythms’ “Self Exploration” menu, I become much more adept within the Rock Garden; I am able to float the little rocks in and stack them up fairly easily, since holding a relaxed, steady concentration is enhanced when I am in a Buddha mind.

L-theanine is gaining popularity in the United States and is available from a variety of national consumer brands, including, Country Life, Enzymatic Therapy, GNC, Jarrow Formulas, KAL, Natrol, Natural Factors, Now Foods, Solaray, Solgar, Swanson Health Products and The Vitamin Shoppe. As well, Suntheanine has recently been affirmed for its safe use in food and beverage products, such as chocolates, teas and drinks. In Europe, Japan, Taiwan and Korea some 50 such products are already available: beverages, ice cream, jelly, candy and chewing gum—all created to induce relaxation.

Although we live in times that are often stress- and anxiety-provoking, L-theanine (Suntheanine) can provide healthful, effective and safe alternative.

Russ Mason, M.S.

Want to Purchase Suntheanine to Take With Your Green Tea?

GNC is one. Please click here to purchase suntheanine.

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Please notice the shiatsu massaging cushion when you get to that page. I have tried a shiatsu massaging table before, and it is an interesting experience. Can you imagine sitting at your computer for hours, building your website, and then stepping across the room for a cup of alpha wave enhancing Suntheanine and a shiatsu massage, all in the comfort of your home?

The massage cushion would pay for itself in a week at my massage therapists going rate of $60.00 per hour.