We have something to tell you. One of the ingredients in our scientifically advanced formula is naturally found in green tea. That’s right. Green. Tea. We bet you’re wondering how something found in a drink associated with energy can be used to help you fall asleep. We asked our Chief Product Officer, Rob Bent, to weigh in.
What it is:
L-Theanine is an amino acid naturally found in green tea, but rarely found anywhere else in nature. Let’s back up. Think of amino acids as the building blocks that make up proteins in our body. L-Theanine is unique in that it’s not used by the body to build muscle, but in the brain to promote relaxation.
What it does:
L-Theanine promotes relaxation by increasing alpha wave activity in your brain. Brain waves show how the different parts of your brain are communicating. Beta waves are associated with active consciousness. We’re talking critical thinking, interacting with other people, and even reading this sentence right now. Alpha waves, on the other hand, occur when you’re conscious, but lying down, relaxed, and with your eyes closed.
Why we use it:
The first step in falling asleep is a shift in your brain from mostly beta to mostly alpha wave activity. We like to think of it as tuning the brain to a “sleep adjacent” state. We use L-Theanine in Som to induce this transition, facilitating the natural, healthy process of going to sleep.