If you have trouble falling asleep or wake up in the night, the key is to find out what kind of imbalance you have, and correct it. Last week we looked at imbalances one and two. Here are numbers three to five:
3. Mind keeps racing:
There is a natural solution for this problem: green tea. Green tea contains the amino acid L-theanine that blunts the stimulating effects of caffeine and has an overall calming effect. Studies show that L-theanine helps increase alpha-wave activity in your brain and creates the same state of relaxation you feel with meditation.
4. Not enough serotonin:
Serotonin is your body’s natural ‘feel good’ neurotransmitter. It helps regulate your mood and appetite. This deficiency can cause you to struggle with worry, anxiety, obsession and low self-esteem.
One of the best ways to reverse a serotonin deficiency is to take a natural amino acid called 5HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan). By taking 5-HTP, you can bypass the conversion of other molecules and directly produce more serotonin. Supplementing with B vitamins helps boost your serotonin. Your body can’t make neurotransmitters like serotonin without them. That’s why you need vitamin B3 (niacinamide) and vitamin B6.
5. GABA deficiency:
GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid) is your body’s most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter. It is the cornerstone of your body’s calming system. Think of GABA as the ‘brakes’ when it comes to neurotransmitter activity.
The obvious way to increase GABA is to supplement with GABA, but it is important not to take too much. In addition to an appropriate amount of GABA, you should also supplement with the building blocks of GABA, which are amino acids.
Amino acids are able to cross the blood-brain barrier and go straight to the brain where GABA is created.
Taurine is one of these important amino acids and helps increase GABA without any adverse side effects. Taurine is also an excellent stress buster.
