4 Reasons to Take Gaba Daily
Not many people are familiar with GABA. So what is it? GABA or Gamma-aminobutyric acid is a neurotransmitter that helps send messages between the brain and the nervous system. This nonprotein amino acid is found in almost every prokaryotic (lacks organelles or internal membranes) and eukaryotic (having a nucleus and internal membranes) organism. It is a large part of the pool of free amino acids actually.
Gaba is a bioactive compound that may be found in foods. In plants, it acts in the Krebs cycle and helps with energy production. For humans, it is a powerful neural signal transmitter. Gaba has been located within tomatoes, tea, soybeans, brown rice (germinated) and others. Fermented foods are a particularly good source of this vital amino acid product. Even sourdough bread is a great source of GABA.
In mammals, GABA should be found in high concentrations in the brain. In fact, somewhere between 60% and 75% of the brain synapses are GABAergic.
Our bodies naturally produce in our brains to reduce nerve cell activity. So why should you be taking GABA daily?
IMPROVES SLEEP
GABA has a calming effect and can naturally help induce sleep by making your nerves less excitable.
GABA helps to protect the neurons from cell death. This will assist the brain during sleep’s detoxification and clean-up functions.
One of the side-effects of drugs such as gabapentin is sleepiness. Gabapentin acts on one of the GABAergic receptors. Both baclofen and gabapentin have demonstrated the ability to protect neurons from cell death as well.
Multiple studies have looked at GABA with regard to sleep improvement and the results are very promising.
REDUCE ANXIETY
Since GABA mainly works to reduce nerve excitability, it has been linked to reducing the feelings of anxiety and fear. Some anxiety disorders have been associated with low levels of GABA. GABA is effectively a way to tamp down the excitable effects of a different neurotransmitter, glutamate. GABA has been used to treat problems such as depression and sleeplessness. Obviously, lack of sleep would enhance the detrimental symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax or Valium, strongly bind a certain GABA receptor actually. The threshold for seizure, anxiety, panic and stress response are all regulated by certain GABA receptors. Other GABA receptors manage mood, pain and memory. Scientists believe that most of the effects of GABA on the brain actually happen in the peripheral nervous system.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
GABA supplements are sometimes used as a natural method to lower blood pressure. Poor sleep and sleeping disorders have been known to contribute to higher blood pressure and hypertension.
Animal studies have also shown that ingestion of GAGA-rich foods will decrease blood pressure. GABA-enriched fermented soybean diets lowered blood pressure. As well GAGA-rich green tea also reduced blood pressure in hypertensive rats. Similar findings have been seen in human studies as well. An intervention with fermented milk, holding between 10 to 12mg of GABA, reduced BP in hypertensive adults. Another study showed that supplementation of just 80mg of GABA reduced BP in adults with (mild) hypertension.
REDUCE INFLAMMATION
Research has found that GABA has the potential to decrease inflammatory responses. GABA is believed to reduce activity in the nerve pathways that trigger joint inflammation.
GABAergic circuit alterations are associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s along with Parkinson’s and even simple senile dementia.
GABA traps reactive intermediates (ROS) created during metabolism. GABA has been able to capture the ROS created during lipid (cell membrane) peroxidation and to increase the activity of human antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase).
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Meredith Warner is the creator of Well Theory and The Healing Sole. She is a board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon and Air Force Veteran.
She is on a mission to disrupt traditional medicine practices and promote betterment physically, spiritually and mentally to many more people. She advocates for wellness and functional health over big pharma so more people can age vibrantly with more function and less pain.
At Well Theory, Our surgeon-designed products are FDA Registered and formulated to help people:
- Manage the symptoms of musculoskeletal pain
- Recover vibrantly from orthopedic related surgeries
- Fill the gaps in our daily diets
- Manage pain associated with inflammation