Similarities and Differences Between L-theanine and Magnesium

Before talking about the similarities and differences between L-theanine and magnesium, we will introduce some information about them. L-theanine, which was first extracted from green tea in 1950, is the characteristic amino acid of tea. Among more than 20 kinds of amino acids in tea, L-theanine accounts for about 50% ~ 60% of the total amino acids in tea. It has not been found in other plants except tea plum, mushroom, or oil tea, which just contains trace l-theanine. The kind of theanine naturally occurring is L-type.

Magnesium, mainly distributed in cells, is the main cation in human cells. It is an essential substance for the basic biochemical reactions of various cells in the body on the base of the metabolism of calcium, vitamin C, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and so on. Magnesium plays an important role in the normal functioning of neuromuscular functions and the conversion of blood sugar. We will introduce the function of L-theanine and magnesium in the human body respectively below.

The similarities between L-theanine and magnesium

Both L-theanine and magnesium can relieve anxiety, tension, and other bad emotions in the human body. A study, published in the journal Neuropsychiatry in 2017, explored the use of L-theanine to treat major depression. They discovered that it has many benefits for relieving anxiety, sleep disorders, and cognitive impairments associated with depression. Magnesium is a natural sedative and has an obvious sedative effect on nerves. If the person lacks magnesium, tension, anxiety, depression and other negative emotions will happen to him.

The differences between L-theanine and magnesium

1. L-theanine can increase resilience to stress

According to a study in 2016, L-theanine may help increase the adaptability to stress. Healthy participants drank a drink containing 200 mg of theanine. One hour after consumption, people who drank the L-theanine drink had a significantly reduced stress response to cognitive stressors. Three hours after consumption, salivary cortisol, a hormone secreted in response to stress, was significantly lower.

2.L-theanine can improve sleep quality

Another study tested the effects of low-caffeine green tea on sleep quality, and those who drank a mass of low-caffeine green tea containing L-theanine had better sleep quality.

3.Magnesium can protect the heart

Magnesium plays a key role in the heart health. The person who lacks it is prone to cause heart muscle contractions to become impaired. An irregular heartbeat and high blood pressure will be along with, and in severe cases, the person will stroke. In addition, magnesium can reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood, which has the effect of preventing the hardening of the arteries, increasing the blood supply of the heart muscle, and avoiding damage to the cardiovascular system.

4.Magnesium has the function of protecting muscles and nerves.

Magnesium takes part in the formation of bones and cells, and it has a close relationship with the normal function of heart, nerve, and muscle function. It is an important nutrient for maintaining muscle strength and endurance.

How to make up magnesium If lacking it?

Generally, the body that lacks magnesium can be supplemented in the three ways as follows. 

1. Eating green vegetables. Because magnesium participates in the synthesis of plant chlorophyll, we can eat celery, spinach, lettuce, Chinese cabbage oil wheat, and other green vegetables, which are rich in magnesium to replenish it. 

2. Seeds, grains, and nuts also contain a certain amount of magnesium. Therefore, eating more of these foods may achieve the goal of supplementing magnesium.

3. When the patients have severe hypomagnesemia, it is better to take magnesium sulfate to supplement magnesium directly.

Side effects of excessive supplementation of L-theanine and magnesium

To date, the safety of long-term use of L-theanine supplements is little known. However, relevant research organizations advise that more than five cups of green tea a day should be avoided. Due to the caffeine content, certain side effects will be caused if you consume excessive green tea, including headaches, insomnia, irritability, diarrhea, and heartburn. Besides, excessive magnesium supplementation can cause weakened muscle strength, respiratory paralysis, drowsiness, and other side effects. 

Conclusion

Finally, we want to conclude the main viewpoints on the topic of “L-theanine and magnesium”. Both of them have the function of relieving tension, nervousness, and other negative emotions. The difference between them is that the role of L-theanine concentrates upon the nervous system, such as the sleeping quality. Magnesium can protect the normal function of the heart and muscle tissue.