Theanine Guide

L-theanine is a really interesting substance that seems to defy logic. How can a substance both increase focus and calmness at the same time? Well, the simple answer is that it was designed to provide those twin actions. God knew what He was doing.

Again, to get sufficient theanine for therapeutic effects (not just the relaxation of a good green tea), this amino acid needs to be manufactured or extracted. The leader in this area is Taiyo Kagaku Co. of Japan.

This firm won the Food Ingredient Research Award for development of their variety of L-theanine, called Suntheanine, at 1998 Food Ingredients Europe exhibition. Just think, that was 10 years ago and perhaps you're just now hearing about it! Science is moving quickly, but some information doesn't move at the same pace - sadly enough.

In any case, all the theanine shown in the story is Suntheanine. The companies represented in the story can be remembered by a simple acronym: NOW SEVEN which stands for:

NOW Foods - 60 capsules either in 100 mg. or 200 mg dosages

Swanson Health Products - 60 caps at 100 mg. dosage

Enzymatic Therapy - 60 and 180 caps at 100 mg. dosage

Vitamin Research Products - 90 capsules at 100 mg. dosage

Eat well!

Natrol - 60 tablets at 75 mg each

These companies also have theanine-containing products for stress and/or sleep: Vitamin Research's Allay and Herbal Sleep, Swanson's Natural Sleep Formula and Ultimate Stress Pills, NOW's Mood Support, and Enzymatic Therapy's Sleep Tonight!