Travelling has become easier and easier, with long-haul flights taking you to the next adventure. However, a long flight can also mean stress, anxiety, and fatigue, especially for frequent jetsetters. From the crowded airport to your hotel, it can take you a long time before you get some restorative sleep.
For this reason, you should get all the help you can take, whether it be a travelling pillow or a calm supplement. In particular, L-theanine has been found to have amazing benefits on the mind and body, especially for travellers who seek to obtain calmness, focus, and overall well-being during journeys around the globe. Let’s find out how exactly it works.
Understanding L-Theanine
L-Theanine is an interesting amino acid that promotes relaxation and mental clarity, which is especially useful while you’re travelling. It’s considered a unique amino acid because it's not commonly found in dietary protein sources like meat or dairy, but in tea leaves and a few other select plant species. For this reason, it is highly valued for its exceptional capacity to induce a calming state without causing fatigue. Also, it's an excellent supplement for preserving focus, attention, and clarity even during stressful flights or travels.
So, how does L-Theanine make it happen? Well, it primarily functions by increasing alpha brain wave activity. These alpha waves are linked to a calm, focused state that is similar to what you could have during meditation or other periods of intense concentration. The calm supplement L-theanine promotes a feeling of calmness and focus by increasing these alpha waves, which in turn helps to soothe the mind and body.
This relaxing effect can be quite helpful for travellers, particularly for people who are prone to worry or anxiousness when travelling long distances or on aeroplanes. L-theanine can assist them in maintaining a sense of calm and serenity so they can avoid feeling nervous or overwhelmed during the journey, and even manage to get some restorative sleep.
L-Theanine, Your Serotonin Booster
This amino acid not only works with alpha brain waves, but also with a bunch of other useful neurotransmitters in the brain, such as GABA and serotonin. These neurotransmitters play key roles in regulating mood and stress levels, and by enhancing their activity, the calm supplement L-Theanine can help reduce feelings of stress and tension.
In particular, L-Theanine is a precursor to GABA, which is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain responsible for promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety. By increasing GABA levels, the calm supplement L-Theanine helps to quiet the mind and induce a state of calmness, making it easier to cope with the various stressors associated with travel.
Additionally, L-Theanine has been shown to enhance serotonin levels in the brain, the famous “happy hormone” that we’re all looking to boost. The calm supplement L-Theanine actually does it, because it increases serotonin activity, promoting feelings of relaxation and well-being.
Fighting Jet Lag
Jet lag is the infamous enemy of travellers, disrupting our internal body clock and our sleep patterns. When we travel across multiple time zones, our circadian rhythm, or body’s natural clock, struggles to adjust to the new schedule, leading to many unpleasant symptoms like fatigue, insomnia, and difficulty concentrating.
Fortunately, L-Theanine also helps regulate the body's natural clock, known as the circadian rhythm, which governs our sleep-wake cycle. By promoting a sense of relaxation and tranquillity, L-Theanine can help travellers synchronise their internal clock with their new environment, making it easier to adjust to different time zones and minimise the effects of jet lag.
Enhancing Focus and Mental Clarity
Beyond its reputation as a calm supplement, L-Theanine also helps to improve brain function by increasing alpha brain wave activity, which is associated with a state of relaxed alertness and heightened mental clarity. This stimulation of the brain's alpha waves creates an optimal state for focused attention and creative thinking. It might even help you complete that crossword you've been working on so hard.
But that's not all. Once again, the increase of serotonin and GABA caused by L-Theanine also helps with focus, attention, and mood regulation. By promoting the release of these neurotransmitters, L-Theanine helps improve brain function, memory, and overall mental well-being, making it an invaluable ally for everyone who’s trying to stay focused even when the plan goes through some turbulence.
How to Incorporate L-Theanine into Your Travels
Incorporating this calm supplement is very easy. Let’s see how:
- Pre-Flight Preparation: take L-Theanine supplements before your flight to help calm pre-flight jitters and promote relaxation during air travel.
- In-Flight Support: bring L-Theanine capsules or tablets with you on the plane to combat stress and anxiety during the flight. Pairing L-Theanine with a cup of green tea can provide an extra boost of relaxation.
- Post-Flight Recovery: use L-Theanine to ease the transition to a new time zone and fight jet lag symptoms. Take L-Theanine supplements before bedtime to support restorative sleep and aid in adjusting to local time.
What else? Here are some bonus tips to keep your travels stress-free. Take a moment to practise deep breathing. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and pack essential comfort items such as a travel pillow, eye mask, or soothing essential oils to help you feel at ease. Also, try disconnecting from digital distractions and listen to calming music or nature sounds to create a peaceful atmosphere, so you’re really living in the moment.
For the ultimate zen experience, we recommend combining L-Theanine with other powerhouse ingredients like L-Tryptophan, Tart Cherry Extract, and Passionflower Extract. Our Sleep Formula is specially crafted to bring you deep, restorative sleep while nourishing your brain health. For your life journey (and your actual journeys), Simply Nootropics’ Sleep Formula has got you covered. Here's to safe travels and sweet dreams!
