Methods to Overcome Insomnia and Anxiety - Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)
Sleep, like air, food, and water, is a basic need for our survival. Most people spend more than one-third of their lives sleeping. Adequate sleep not only eliminates fatigue and restores energy but also improves immunity, memory, and health. So, what is γ-aminobutyric acid?
Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non-protein amino acid that is not required for protein synthesis.
As an important inhibitory neurotransmitter, it is mainly found in the human brain and spinal cord. It is a crucial neurotransmitter in the nervous system, and its important function is to make people feel "calm."
Gamma-aminobutyric acid can bind to and activate anti-anxiety brain receptors, then work synergistically with other substances to prevent anxiety-related information from reaching the brain's signaling areas, fundamentally playing a role in calming the nerves and reducing anxiety.
Japan has conducted extensive research on gamma-aminobutyric acid, and clinical findings indicate that it has a certain regulatory effect on human blood pressure, sleep, and mood, allowing people to relax more before sleep and significantly improve sleep quality.
Is it necessary to supplement gamma-aminobutyric acid?
Gamma-aminobutyric acid is an amino acid that can be synthesized by the human body and is commonly found in legume foods.
Currently, due to nutritional deficiencies, imbalances, aging, and other issues, the level of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the human body continues to decline, and conditions such as excessive mental stress, anxiety, depression, and tension are becoming increasingly severe.
When people suffer from mental and sleep disorders, they need to supplement gamma-aminobutyric acid for targeted regulation.
What is the safe amount to consume normally?
Safety experiments in populations indicate that gamma-aminobutyric acid rapidly degrades in the body and can cross the blood-brain barrier to enter the brain. Daily supplementation of 100mg of gamma-aminobutyric acid for 12 weeks showed no abnormalities; short-term oral doses of up to 18g were well tolerated by the body with no significant side effects.
In fact, gamma-aminobutyric acid is a non-protein amino acid. It plays a very beneficial role in our health. It is also a good way to relieve some physical and mental stress for adults who are fatigued and under significant mental pressure. So what are the benefits? Let's find out.
1. Promotes Sleep
One of the main functions of gamma-aminobutyric acid is to promote sleep, especially for those who suffer from insomnia or vivid dreams at night. The improvement effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid will be more direct, leading to better sleep quality without increasing sleep fatigue, and they will feel more energetic the next day.
2. Calming
Gamma-aminobutyric acid also has a stabilizing effect on the nerves. Regardless of the cause of mental agitation, it can be used to regulate, relieve psychological stress, and adjust emotions. Medical scientists have proven that GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system and one of the important neurotransmitters in brain tissue. So if you have mental stress, you might consider trying it.
3. Protects the Liver and Kidneys
Gamma-aminobutyric acid can also improve and protect the liver and kidneys. Especially for those who drink alcohol regularly, it has some effects of sobering up and detoxifying. However, it is believed that if you want to protect your body, you should drink in moderation.
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