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Articles (Total : 114)

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• Prostate Cancer and Zinc – Can Zinc Be Overdone? 3 Aug 2009 • How Hostile Bacteria Take Up Unwanted Residence 17 Jul 2009 • Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss 16 Apr 2009 • Introducing the Wellness Resources Daily Prenatal Multi Vitamin 8 Feb 2010 • Pregnancy Cautions: Caffeine, Stress, & Depression. 6 Nov 2008 • What is the Leptin Diet? 12 May 2009 • Using Nutrition to Help Perceive and Combat Swine Flu 14 Sep 2009 • Another Thyroid Risk: Did Your Mom Smoke While Pregnant? 27 Jan 2009 • What’s in Your Multiple Vitamin? Minerals, Detecting Real Quality. 20 Feb 2009 • The Swine Flu – Are Pigs to Blame? 1 May 2009 • DHEA Helps Older Women Build Spinal Bone Density 24 Jun 2009 • Low Vitamin C Impairs Early Brain Development 5 Sep 2009 • Tips for Cardiovascular Health 3 Feb 2009 • Omega 3 Fatty Acids Prevent Serious Mental Health Problems 6 Feb 2010 • Brave Oxford Researchers Say Tamiflu is Not for Kids 18 Aug 2009 • Massive Brain Drugging of Children Now Underway 11 Aug 2009 • DHA, Krill Oil & Green-Lipped Mussel – Which is Best? 23 Feb 2009 • Six Months of Smoking is Adequate for Significant Brain Damage 20 Aug 2009 • Is Obama Bailing Out Big Pharma’s Bursting Bubble? 4 Feb 2009 • More Proof that Statins Damage Muscles in Many People Taking Them 9 Jul 2009 • The Narrow Scope of Flu Vaccine Usefulness 9 Sep 2009 • The Top 10 Health Breakthroughs of 2008 5 Jan 2009 • Guar Gum: The Fiber with a Swagger 9 Jan 2009 • Gamma Tocotrienol in the War on Cancer 25 Jun 2009 • A Healthy Lymph System is Vital for Flu Fighting Immunity 6 Oct 2009 • The Facts on Magnesium Stearate 9 Apr 2009 • ADHD Linked to Early Life Instability & Sleep Problems 8 Dec 2009 • McCain’s Anti-Supplement Bill Appears Dead – For Now 8 Mar 2010 • hyroid Problems, Alzheimer’s, and Cognitive Decline 23 Jun 2009 • A Path Back From Addiction & Mental Health Problems 11 Aug 2009 • High Intake of EPA/DHA Reduces Risks for Cardiovascular Disease 22 Feb 2010 • Flawed SELECT Study Attacks Vitamin E 30 Oct 2008 • Is Itching a Risk Factor for Cancer? 25 Aug 2009 • Top Thyroid Stories of the Past Year 21 Jan 2009 • Vitamin D is Needed to Fight and Prevent the Flu 10 Mar 2010 • What Are Your Baby Fat Cells Doing? 16 Jun 2009 • Startling Evidence of Brain Decay at Age 39 22 Oct 2008 • Oprah’s Crazy Talk – Bioidentical Hormones – Helpful or Harmful? (Part 1) 22 Jun 2009 • The FDA’s Peramivir H1N1 Swine Flu Experiment 26 Oct 2009 • Folic Acid and Vitamin D Help Allergies and Asthma 12 May 2009 • Are Vaccinations Causing Early Alzheimer’s? 19 Nov 2008 • Talk About Pulling The Plug On Grandma 25 Aug 2009 • Teen Sleep Problems Lead to Depression & Drug Abuse 28 Oct 2008 • Glial Cell Function Vital for Learning 1 Oct 2009 • Thyroid, Adrenals, & Immunity – A Clear Path to Surviving Swine Flu 6 May 2009 • How PCBs Damage the Developing Brain 22 Apr 2009 • Overweight People Need Extra Antioxidants for Exercise 25 Jun 2009 • Quality Fish Oil 13 Mar 2009 • Abnormal Brain Structure in Schizophrenia 2 Mar 2010 • BDNF Prevents and Reverses Alzheimer’s Disease 11 Feb 2009 • Grape Seed Extract Restores Insulin Sensitivity 19 Jun 2009 • The Poorly Developing ADHD Brain 2 Mar 2010 • Statin Use Speeds Onset of Coronary Adverse Event Hospitalizations 9 Jul 2009 • How the FDA, Big Pharma, and Doctors Cause Injury for Profit 3 Nov 2009 • Coenzyme Q10, Statins, and Heart Health 26 Feb 2009 • The Failure Empire: Bob Greene Rakes It In, Oprah Fails 28 Jan 2009 • Michael Jackson is Not Alone 9 Jul 2009 • Candida Problems Evolving 9 Apr 2009 • Pregnant Women at Higher Risk for Severe Swine Flu 29 Jul 2009 • An Emerging Fiber Breakthrough for Weight Management 17 Jul 2009 • Laughable Type II Diabetes Research Shines Light on Medical Ineptitude 18 Aug 2009 • Steve Jobs’ Wasting-Away Health Problem 7 Jan 2009 • Omega 3 Oils Slow Aging by Preserving Telomeres 6 Feb 2010 • Oprah’s Weight Is National News – Again 10 Dec 2008 • Bone Drugs Cause Serious Atrial Fibrillation 30 Oct 2008 • Surprisingly High Cancer Risk from CT Scans 15 Dec 2009 • Quercetin: A Rising Star for Nerves, Immunity, and Metabolism 26 Oct 2009 • Low Vitamin D Contributes to Thyroid Problems 11 Nov 2008 • Monsanto’s Toxic and Mutated World – Is Sugar Safe to Eat? 26 Oct 2009 • Pantethine – Boost Your Brain, Cardio Health, Metabolism, and Detoxification 11 Feb 2009 • Desperate Big Pharma Push to Double Statin Sales 13 Nov 2008 • Big Pharma & Friends Poised for Massive Profits from Health Care Reform 27 Jul 2009 • Steep Escalation in Minority Obesity and Breast Cancer 3 Aug 2009 • Common Phthalate Exposure Linked to ADHD 8 Dec 2009 • Oprah’s “Crazy Talk" – Bioidentical Hormones – Helpful or Harmful? (Part 2) 25 Jun 2009 • New Science Questions Theory of Antidepressant Drugs 30 Oct 2009 • Scientists Document How Coumadin Increases Disease Risk 1 Oct 2009 • Hayflick Comments on Aging 1 Jul 2009 • Jump Start Your Weight Loss in 2009 21 Jan 2009 • Utilizing Quality Calcium for Health 19 Mar 2009 • Oprah’s Thyroid Problem Explained 21 Jan 2009 • Noni as a Natural Immune Booster 6 Oct 2009 • Health Costs Relating to Obesity Skyrocket 29 Jul 2009 • Immunometabolism: The New Frontier 31 Jul 2009 • Natural Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss 16 Apr 2009 • Exercise Tips for Fighting the Swine Flu 6 Oct 2009 • Can Vitamin D Help Prevent H1N1 Swine Flu from Spreading? 20 Oct 2009 • Prostate Cancer & the Androgen Receptor – A Clearer Picture of the Problem 11 Aug 2009 • What is Leptin? 21 Jan 2009 • Low Iron Can Cause Chronic Pain 23 Oct 2009 • The Amazing New World of HDL Cholesterol 10 Dec 2008 • Vitamin D – A Gene-Regulating Super Nutrient 6 Nov 2008 • New Insights on Addiction, Mood, Memory, and Cognitive Ability 1 Oct 2009 • Antidepressants Strongly Linked to Heart Disease 11 Mar 2009 • Obama Tries to Sneak Major Health Care Reform into the Stimulus Bill 16 Feb 2009 • Niacin: Can It Help Your Cardio Health? 20 Nov 2008 • The Colorful History of Colloidal Silver & Other Silver Compounds 6 Oct 2009 • Common Traits of the Long Lived 9 Apr 2009 • Leptin Now Directly Linked to the Pleasure of Food & Human Behavior 18 Aug 2009 • Citizens Win Huge Supreme Court Victory over Big Pharma and the FDA 5 Mar 2009 • Health Scandal of the Decade – Monsanto’s GMO Perversion of Food 25 Jan 2010 • Theanine – A Nutrient for Relaxation 28 Oct 2008 • Swine Flu Tip – Don’t Be Your Own Petri Dish 30 Apr 2009 • Avandia is Killing Americans, FDA Negligence Comes Front and Center 22 Feb 2010 • Mainstream Sounding Alarms on Alternative Thyroid Treatments 9 Apr 2009 • Snacking is Damaging Health; Mrs. Obama is Off Target 2 Mar 2010 • Tamoxifen Shockingly Found to Cause Aggressive Breast Cancer 5 Sep 2009 • Cold Weather Mood Shock: Avoid the Winter Blues 13 Jan 2010 • Tamiflu Causes Delirium and Suicide in Children 1 May 2009 • Glutamine Helps Stomach Ulcers 24 Jun 2009 • Will Drinking Milk Help You Live Longer? 29 Jul 2009 • Which Whey to Go 20 Oct 2009 • Obesity and the Path to Heart Disease 20 Nov 2008 • The New Flu Vaccine Hype is Over-Rated 14 Sep 2009

Theanine is the active component of green tea responsible not only for its taste but also for its relaxing effects. In 1999 a method for concentrating a purified form into a dietary supplement was perfected (Suntheanine). Brain cells are known to generate electrical pulses from their cell surfaces called brain waves. It was demonstrated in humans that 40 minutes after taking theanine (50 mg to 200 mg) relaxing alpha waves were generated in various brain regions, an effect that may last up to 12 hours.

Theanine is a derivative of glutamic acid, a neurotransmitter naturally found in your brain. It has been shown to influence the formation of the relaxing neurotransmitter called GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid). Research on theanine has continued over the years and an impressive body of science shows both safety and effectiveness of this nutrient.

Theanine Supports Cognitive Performance and Focus

It has been shown that theanine’s influence of the alpha band of brain wave activity produces a relaxed, yet non-drowsy state of mind. This has recently been shown to improve focus ability on a given task over a period of time, the opposite of being attention deficit.

The ability to sustain mental focus is partly due to brain activation or stimulation, and partly due to the activation occurring with adequate “relaxed mental reserves” in place. Many nutrients like B-vitamins support brain activation. Caffeine is a commonly used brain activator in our society, and the combination of a small amount of caffeine (50 mg, ½ cup of coffee) combined with theanine have been shown to improve performance on cognitively demanding tasks. In the absence of adequate relaxed mental reserves focus is replaced by distraction, irritability, or mental fatigue.

An animal study has demonstrated that theanine enhances learning and memory. A cell study shows that theanine was able to protect nerve cells from the powerful rotenone toxin. Another animal study confirms that theanine reduces oxidative stress in brain cells, helping the brain to offset free radical damage.

Collectively, these studies indicate that theanine is helpful for maintaining a more relaxed, yet focused state of awareness that is conducive to learning. At the same time, the nutrient helps protect against factors that cause brain stress.

Theanine and Weight Management

I have pointed out the importance of having a baseline of relaxation to support weight loss (offsetting excess cortisol), which includes getting adequate quality sleep. Stress, agitation, and irritation are known to throw a monkey wrench into metabolic function and the proper burning of calories. Many people think that if they just go faster they will burn more calories. Anyone living on caffeine knows that this is not the case. 

One animal study supports that theanine may be helpful as part of a weight management program. Another animal study showed that theanine supported healthy triglyceride metabolism in the liver – which is of course very important for enhanced calorie metabolism and leptin function.

Theanine and Sleep

Theanine does not make you drowsy, sleepy, or tired when taken during the day. However, part of preparing your mind to go into deeper sleep is first getting into a more relaxed state – which theanine clearly supports. Once you are relaxed you are more likely to enter brain wave states associated with deeper sleep.

Various stressors tend to rev-up or wind-up your nerves, tending to keep you up even when you may be physically tired. The wear and tear of such stress tends to deplete the “relaxed reserves” in your nervous system.

Taking theanine during the day may help you be more relaxed when you arrive at bedtime, and taking some before bed may also help you to relax so that you find it easier to get to sleep and stay asleep.

A preliminary human sleep study with theanine found improved quality of sleep as subjects reported an absence of feeling exhausted and a reduced need for sleep.

Our Sleep Helper product, which may be used during the day to help relax or at night to assist sleep, contains 100 mg of Suntheanine per capsule with other synergistic nutrients.

Author: Byron J Richards CCN

Byron J. Richards, Founder/Director of Wellness Resources, Inc., is a Board-Certified Clinical Nutritionist and a world renowned natural health expert. He has been a charter professional member of the International and American Associations of Clinical Nutritionists (IAACN) since 1991.

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Web: http://www.wellnessresources.com

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