It’s time for the third ingredient in the “Stress Less for Poker Success” formula. After this one, there are only two more ingredients left before you have the perfect formula for a stress-free life. Ah, you can almost feel the relief now.
Before I dive into the third ingredient, I just want to give you a quick rundown of the first two ingredients.
Personally, I use Rhodiola rosea only in times of intense stress. Usually I will start using it two to three days before the expected stress and continue to use it 3-5 days after it is over. It probably has one of the largest amounts of clinical evidence supporting its benefits in terms of nutraceuticals. In my opinion, it is an excellent and well-studied nutraceutical.
Bacopa is considered my long-term stress supplement. I use it 365 days a year. Helps neutralize the stress of daily life. Besides that, it also has some cognitive enhancement abilities. What it lacks in clinical evidence, it makes up for in real-world commentary. You cannot argue with a supplement that has been used for hundreds of years in Ayurvedic medicine.
L-theanine
I think it is absolutely evident that we live in an energy addicted world today. We can’t seem to get enough power. We have Red Bull, which quickly became a billion dollar drink. Then there was 5 Hour Energy, for those who were thirsty for energy but wanted to avoid caffeine. There are now countless different energy drinks along with hundreds of different energy pills. We are definitely an energy overdose society. Come on people, relax a little.
That’s exactly what the dietary supplement industry predicts for the next few years: a total reversal. Now we will look for more energy, but we WILL NEED relaxation. So they predict that supplements that affect GABA, a relaxing neurotransmitter, will be the next big thing. What caffeine is for energy, GABA is for relaxation. Ativan, Xanax, Restoril, etc. they all work through the GABA receptors in the body. God knows those prescription drugs are already a hot topic.
This is why you will probably hear a lot more about L-theanine in the years to come. In fact, don’t be surprised if a major energy drink starts adding l-theanine to its mix. Get in the habit of looking “enriched with l-theanine for relaxed energy.”
Bottom
L-Theanine is an amino acid most commonly found in tea. In fact, the relaxing effect of tea is primarily the result of l-theanine.
Mechanism of action
It works through a variety of mechanisms. However, the 4 most important to us are:
Its ability to increase levels of serotonin, dopamine and GABA activity. These three neurotransmitters are extremely important for relaxation, mood, and energy.
Its ability to increase alpha brain wave activity. Alpha brain waves are believed to correlate with a relaxed but alert state in humans.
Its ability to counteract some of the negative stimulant effects of caffeine. In fact, a couple of studies have shown that a combination of l-theanine and caffeine is superior to caffeine alone when it comes to mental performance.
Its ability to block the harmful effects of excitatory neurotransmitters that can destroy brain cells.
Dose
The typical dose is 200 mg taken 1 to 3 times a day. I have found that this is almost exactly what I need. I may need a slightly higher dose if I have taken a lot of stimulants during the day. However, always adjust the dose to a dose that works for you. It is extremely safe, so you won’t have to worry about an overdose.
Because I like
It is extremely safe and well tolerated. That is always of the utmost importance.
Like Rhodiola rosea, I don’t use this every day. Usually I will only use it during times of intense stress or when I have consumed a lot of stimulants. I found it to be one of the few supplements that counteracts the negative effects of stimulants. It works.
Also, although there have only been one or two studies to prove this, it supposedly has some cognitive enhancement abilities. As we can all agree, this is a benefit we are looking for.
Why for poker players
Compared to all the nutraceuticals I’ve talked about so far, l-theanine will likely be more beneficial for poker players. Why? I have noticed that poker players are addicted to energy. Caffeine, Red Bull, Ritalin, etc. They are commonly used, especially by online gamers. Energy. Energy. Energy. Take a capsule of l-theanine and it will not only block the negative effects associated with stimulants, but it will also enhance your cognitive enhancement capabilities. This is called synergy.
Poker players must remember that being overstimulated is just as bad as being mentally fatigued. Both can cause mental errors. Playing energetic and overzealous is inferior to playing relaxed and focused. Relaxation is the missing ingredient for the endless amounts of energy products available today. Remember, energy drinks and products on the market today are designed for physical energy (exercising or waking up after a long night), not mental energy. It’s like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
Plus, the typical energy supplement increases your stress response even more. The goal of these products is to put you in that fight or flight mode, also known as stress. Therefore, you are putting an additional amount of stress on your mind. Not good. Remember, stress kills brain cells.
Relax a little man. It may be the answer you were looking for. Balancing relaxation with stimulation is the key to success in anything that requires mental performance.
As always, I will publish the studies in the next few days.