In recent years, people have been under increasing pressure in life and work. As a result, they have symptoms of anxiety and poor sleep. GABA is one of the shining “star molecules”. Although it is low-key and hidden behind the scenes of nerve conduction and body function regulation, it has huge influence . It soothes our tense nerves and helps us sleep well at night. It quietly regulates blood pressure and protects cardiovascular health. GABA exerts its unique abilities in every corner of the body. Next, let us explore the little-known but wonderful benefits of GABA that are closely related to health.
What is GABA? Scientific Definition
GABA is an amino acid that is functionally an inhibitory neurotransmitter that can produce anticonvulsant and anti-anxiety effects. 30% of human brain neurons contain GABA, which affects almost all neuronal activity. Its importance to humans is unquestionable. Like many other vitamins, once they are found to play an important role in the human body, some people will try to supplement them. Some people try to use GABA as a dietary supplement to improve anxiety, depression, high blood pressure and other problems.
How GABA works
GABA is the most common and most common inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. In layman’s terms: GABA is like a messenger. After being released from a nerve ending, it binds to the corresponding receptor on the synapse of the adjacent neuron, making it impossible for the neuron to generate action potentials and release neurotransmitters in its synapse, thereby not affecting other nerve cells in contact with it. In short, it inhibits the occurrence of action potentials, thereby inhibiting nerve conduction, preventing neurons from overheating, and making people feel calm and stable. This is also the basis for GABA’s role in improving sleep.
Proven benefits of GABA
Benefits of GABA are the following.
Regulates the nervous system
Calming and soothing
GABA can act on brain nerve cells, keeping the activity of brain nerve cells in a quiet state, helping to relieve tension, anxiety, irritability and other emotions, helping people relax their body and mind, improving sleep quality, and having a certain regulatory effect on insomnia, dreaming and other problems.
Anticonvulsant
It can inhibit the excessive excitement of nerve cells. When the nervous system is abnormally stimulated, GABA can play a role in preventing the abnormal discharge of nerve cells, thereby playing an anticonvulsant effect. It has a certain auxiliary therapeutic effect on neurological diseases such as epilepsy.
Improve brain function
GABA can promote brain metabolism, enhance brain blood circulation, increase the activity of brain cells, help improve memory, inattention and other problems, and also has certain positive significance in preventing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Regulate cardiovascular function
Lowers blood pressure
GABA can act on vascular smooth muscle cells to dilate blood vessels, thereby reducing peripheral vascular resistance and achieving the purpose of lowering blood pressure. For patients with hypertension, appropriate supplementation of GABA can help stabilize blood pressure and reduce the damage of hypertension to the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular system.
Protect your heart
It can regulate the nerve conduction of the heart, stabilize the heart rhythm, and reduce the risk of heart diseases such as arrhythmia. At the same time, GABA can also improve the blood supply to the myocardium, enhance the contractility of the myocardium, and have a certain protective effect on heart function.
Other benefits
Promotes growth hormone secretion
GABA can stimulate the pituitary gland to secrete growth hormone, which is essential for the growth of children and adolescents. It is also involved in the regulation of body metabolism in adults, helping to maintain muscle mass.
Regulate gastrointestinal function
GABA regulates the nerve function of the gastrointestinal tract, promotes gastrointestinal motility, improves digestive function, and relieves problems such as indigestion, stomach pain, and bloating. At the same time, it can also regulate the balance of intestinal flora and help maintain intestinal health.
GABA gummies vs other dosage forms (capsules/powders) comparison
Absorption and bioavailability
GABA gummies: They are absorbed quickly, ue to the high rate of gastric acid destruction, the bioavailability is about 30-40%.
Capsules: Capsules need to be absorbed through the digestive system, so the absorption rate is slower. Enteric-coated capsules protect GABA, with a bioavailability of 50-60%.
Powders: Powders are absorbed more slowly and usually require water or other liquids to assist in taking.
Differences in added ingredients
Soft candies: Soft candies may contain gelatin and sugar
Capsules: Capsules are pure GABA with plant cellulose shell
Powder: Powder is usually combined with magnesium powder and L-theanine
Taste
GABA gummies: Soft candy has a better taste and is easy to chew.
Capsules: need to be taken with water, no taste, mainly for drug efficacy experience
Powder: Also needs water to be taken, and needs to adapt to powdered substances
How to choose high-quality GABA gummies?
Content
The national new resource food regulations stipulate that the safe dose of γ-aminobutyric acid is no more than 500 mg per day. The higher the content within the safe dose, the better the effect.
Recipe
The formula should be scientific, and it should contain the core ingredients for bone growth: aminobutyric acid, L-lysine, calcium, hydrolyzed egg yolk powder, etc. The bone nutrients are more comprehensive, more cost-effective, and more worry-free. At the same time, it should be selected without the addition of hormones, sucrose, preservatives, etc., so that children can eat it with more peace of mind.
Patent
Whether the product has a patent certificate, etc.
Dosage form
Generally, liquid solutions are preferred as they have better bioavailability and absorption rate and are more convenient for children to consume than tablets or powders.
Taste
If it tastes good and children like to eat it, they will stick to it for a long time and parents will be less worried.
FAQ
Is there a downside to taking GABA?
Causes stomach discomfort: GABA has certain effects of relaxing the body and mind, helping sleep, etc., and can help improve problems such as poor sleep or insomnia. If taken in excess, it will generally exceed the body’s digestive capacity, causing indigestion, and usually induces abnormal symptoms such as nausea and bloating.
Significant nerve inhibition: After taking large doses of this substance orally, the central nervous system is significantly inhibited, which may cause symptoms such as drowsiness and weakness.
Induce allergic reactions: If you are allergic to the substances contained in this item, oral intake may cause allergic reactions such as skin erythema, papules, redness of the skin, sore throat, and difficulty breathing.
GABA safety precautions (5 contraindications)
Do not use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or young children (because the safety is unknown)
Don’t use if you have liver or kidney dysfunction (because the safety is unknown)
Do not drive, operate machinery or engage in hazardous work after taking the medicine
Don’t use with sedatives, hypnotics, or alcohol (it may cause interactions)
You can’t use if you suffer from bipolar disorder or depression
How to take GABA? How much should I take?
The best time to take GABA is 1 to 2 hours before going to bed. Considering that everyone’s work and lifestyle are different, it is not necessary to take it during the day or at night. When you finish a hard day and feel that it is time for your body to rest, you can supplement GABA.
What’s special is that not only before going to bed, but also during daily activities when facing important and critical moments that require complete calmness and concentration, you can replenish GABA in advance to help you perform better.
The recommended daily intake of GABA for healthy adults is 250-500 mg, and the upper limit is 500 mg. In addition to taking enough GABA, if you can also combine it with a variety of effective compound ingredients, such as calcium, magnesium, sesame, tryptophan, asparagus extract, etc., it can help improve the overall effect!
Conclusion
In short, GABA supplements and foods containing GABA can help prevent or treat diseases by slowing down certain neural activities in the brain, reducing tension, releasing anxiety, and improving sleep. People need to pay attention to the dosage and frequency when taking it, and proper consumption is conducive to improving anxiety and sleep.
