If you want to be someone in this world, you have to be able to balance your stress with your success. Entrepreneurs are always on the edge of their seats, always working hard to make their next move. If you're not a little stressed, you're probably not pushing the limits enough.
However, there's a fine line between pushing yourself to new heights and experiencing burnout. We need pressure to thrive, but you don't want to be overwhelmed by anxiety. Successful entrepreneurs know how to manage their stress levels so that they can still perform at the highest level. And one of the best ways is with L-Theanine.
What is L-Theanine?
L-theanine is a potent nootropic that has been used in traditional Asian teas for centuries. It naturally occurs in tea leaves, so it's in green tea, black tea, oolong tea, matcha powder, and mushrooms!
But it's important to note that drinking a cup of tea isn't going to change your life instantly. Studies reveal it takes between 200-400 milligrams of L-Theanine to decrease stress and anxiety. You only get roughly 25 mg per cup of green tea. Who has time to drink ten cups of tea every day? L-theanine supplements are therefore a popular choice, and thankfully Simply Nootropics Elevate has got you covered with an ideal dose as part of your daily stack.
How does L-Theanine work?
L-Theanine is an amino acid. It closely resembles L-glutamic acid but has the opposite effect. L-glutamic acid is an excitatory neurotransmitter, meaning it causes neurons to fire and send messages through the brain. L-Theanine, however, is an inhibitory neurotransmitter. This means it blocks L-glutamic acid from being excitatory and has a calming effect.
Why is too much glutamate a problem?
What's important to remember is that the excitatory nature of glutamate isn't as fun as it sounds. Primarily, glutamic acid is responsible for the body's internal systems that produce stress, anxiety, and the "fight or flight" response. Too much glutamate can overstimulate neurons and contribute to negative feelings of anxiety, stress and restlessness. And we already get an excessive amount of glutamate in our diets. It's one of the bad things about MSG (monosodium glutamate) found in fast food and processed meats. Glutamate can also cause neurotoxicity by overstimulating nerve cells, resulting in the death of brain cells.
How does L-Theanine help counteract L-glutamate?
L-Theanine blocks this overstimulation, creating a more relaxed, mindful state. Because they appear similar, L-Theanine binds to the exact same glutamate receptors, inhibiting the stress response from happening. It's like a shield that promotes bulletproof zen. But that's not all: it's not just playing the defence. L-theanine proactively increases GABA, serotonin, and dopamine production in the brain. These are all powerful stress relievers that help keep us cool, calm and collected on a chemical level.
Get in the Alpha Zone With L-Theanine
L-Theanine increases Alpha brain waves, which are associated with creativity, focus and deep meditation, or what is known as "being in the Zone" or a flow state. We love the zone at Simply Nootropics; it's a key part of our mission statement, and it's what makes us tick. You know the feeling: the positive state of mind when everything just fits together and you feel unstoppable in your thinking and focus, and anything's possible.
Flow is especially important for entrepreneurs who need to manage stress levels while constantly innovating new ideas on the go. We'll publish a special blog on nootropics and Flow States soon (so make sure that you subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of this page for updates and more!), but for right now, here's what you need to know:
What is Flow?
The term "flow state" refers to a mental condition in which a person is fully energised and hyper-focused on an activity. It was most famously described by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in his research on the flow state and creativity (Csikszentmihalyi's book is a must-read for unleashing creativity, peak performance, and enjoying success).
It's that buzz of maximum mental performance and finding the perfect sweet spot between being challenged but not overwhelmed. You can experience flow states in sport, art, business and more. Any task where you need to be totally in the moment and able to concentrate and focus.
Being able to reach flow states is beneficial to entrepreneurs because it encourages creative thinking, productivity, and innovation. It's the ability to tune out the stressors of the world and focus on the work in front of us. As Steve Jobs said: 'Flow follows focus. The state can only arise when all of our attention is directed at the present moment.'
How L-Theanine Can Help You Achieve Flow States
L-Theanine can help you get into the flow state by creating a relaxed, stress-free environment in which you're free to focus on the task at hand. It's like having a brainstorming session without the storm - all calm seas.
Recent studies show that L-Theanine improved cognitive performance on a task that required creativity and focus. It's believed that by reducing stress, L-Theanine frees up the cognitive load, leading to more creative solutions. L-Theanine can also help you stay in the flow state for longer periods of time by reducing anxiety and stress responses that might otherwise pull you out of the moment.
Zen monks have been using the effects of L-Theanine for centuries to induce calm focus for Flow during meditation. In a world that's constantly trying to distract us, L-Theanine is a powerful tool for anyone looking to attain maximum focus and productivity. It's one of the main reasons we include it in our Simply Nootropics Elevate blend. Step into a more relaxed mental space that's perfect for getting things done with L-Theanine.
