Natural Factors Natural Factors - L-Theanine - 250 mg, 90 vcaps
Natural Factors L-Theanine - 250 mg - L-theanine to temporarily promote relaxation and mental clarity. L-theanine is found naturally in green tea and has long been known to promote relaxation in green tea drinkers. It can also be made for supplementation through a natural fermentation process that mimics its production in green tea leaves. L-theanine is absorbed quickly and provides a noticeable effect within 30–40 minutes of supplementation. It is transported directly to the brain, where it stimulates the alpha brain waves associated with an awake yet relaxed state of mind. L-theanine provides relief from symptoms of occasional and daily stress, helping to calm the nerves and focus the mind. L-theanine is a fantastic option for adults looking to improve symptoms of occasional and daily stress using a non-drowsy and non-habit-forming supplement.
Price
Regular Canadian retail price: $19.98 CAD. Price Vault members pay below retail on this product. Member pricing is private and shown after a free opt-in, with no membership fee, no minimum order and no subscription.
In stock. Free shipping across Canada on orders over $89, flat $9.95 under that. 30 days to request a return, with return shipping paid by the customer. Ships from Victoria, BC.
See member pricing on Natural Factors Natural Factors - L-Theanine - 250 mg
Why people keep reordering it
- Adaptogen support
- Herbs traditionally used to help the body adapt to everyday stress.
- Steady energy
- Supports balanced energy without the spike and the crash.
- Calm focus
- Helps you stay even through demanding days.
Best suited to: wants calm without feeling dulled, drinks green tea for the calm, not the caffeine, gets jittery on coffee, needs something for occasional high-pressure days.
What the research supports
Each capsule is 250 mg of pure L-theanine, the amino acid from green tea. The 90-capsule bottle lasts 90 days at 1 capsule a day.
Trials use 100 to 400 mg a day, most around 200 mg.
- Stress (evidence: moderate, from randomized controlled trial)
- L-theanine crosses into the brain and raises calming alpha-wave activity within about 40 minutes. Trials at 200 to 400 mg report lower subjective stress and lower stress hormone markers during pressured tasks.
- Relaxed alertness (evidence: moderate, from randomized controlled trial)
- EEG studies show L-theanine raises alpha wave activity within about 40 minutes at doses from 50 mg upward, the pattern linked with being awake but unhurried.
- Attention with caffeine (evidence: moderate, from randomized controlled trial)
- Pairing L-theanine with caffeine smooths out caffeine's jittery edge while keeping its focus benefit. Trials show better sustained attention and fewer task errors than caffeine taken alone.
- Sleep quality (evidence: mixed, from randomized controlled trial)
- L-theanine's calming, non-sedating effect on the nervous system carries into the evening for some. Trials at 200 mg report better rated sleep quality, though it does not shorten time to fall asleep and results vary.
Read the literature: Stress on PubMed, Relaxed alertness on PubMed, Attention with caffeine on PubMed, Sleep quality on PubMed.
Is it right for you
Worth it if
- Wants calm without feeling dulled
- L-theanine at 250 mg takes the edge off without the drowsiness that sleep-focused actives bring.
- Drinks green tea for the calm, not the caffeine
- A cup of green tea carries roughly 5 to 25 mg of theanine, so one capsule is far past what tea drinking delivers and carries no caffeine at all.
- Gets jittery on coffee
- Theanine is the half of the tea pairing that smooths caffeine out, and 250 mg lines up with a standard coffee dose.
- Needs something for occasional high-pressure days
- Onset is 30 to 40 minutes and nothing builds up, so it can be taken only on the days you want it.
Look elsewhere if
- Someone who cannot fall asleep
- Theanine relaxes without sedating, so magnesium bisglycinate at 200 to 400 mg elemental, or melatonin timed before bed, is the better tool for sleep onset.
- Anyone sensitive who has never tried theanine
- A capsule cannot be split, so a 100 mg or 125 mg theanine product lets you find your level before committing to 250 mg.
- Wants minerals covered in the same capsule
- A magnesium bisglycinate plus theanine combination gives you both, at the cost of a smaller theanine dose per capsule.
What to expect
Most people notice mental tension loosening 30 to 40 minutes in, then fading over the next few hours. It is subtle by design, and if you are expecting to feel obviously altered you will be disappointed. Nothing accumulates over weeks the way a mineral does.
How it compares
- Compared with green tea or matcha
- One capsule reaches a theanine level tea cannot match without a caffeine load that defeats the purpose. The tradeoff: You lose the catechins and the ritual, and you pay capsule prices for something a drink gives you cheaply.
- Compared with a 100 mg L-theanine capsule
- One capsule instead of two or three, at a dose closer to what the trials actually used. The tradeoff: The dose is fixed at 250 mg, so there is no way to go lower.
Product details
- Active ingredient
- L-theanine
- Ingredient form
- vcaps
- Strength
- 250 mg
- Servings per container
- 90
- Suggested use
- 1 capsule daily or as directed by a health care practitioner.
- Country of manufacture
- Canada
- Independent testing
- ISURA
- Certifications
- Non-GMO, Made in Canada
- Storage
- Store in a cool, dry place
- Brand
- Natural Factors
How to take it
1 capsule daily or as directed by a health care practitioner.
- Store in a cool, dry place away from direct light.
- Keep out of reach of children.
- Consult a practitioner if you are pregnant, nursing or on medication.
Ingredients
Each vegetarian capsule contains
- L-theanine
- 250 mg
Non-medicinal ingredients
Vegetarian capsule (carbohydrate gum [cellulose], purified water), rice powder, vegetable grade magnesium stearate (lubricant), silica.
Free from
Contains no artificial colours, preservatives, or sweeteners; no dairy, sugar, wheat, gluten, yeast, soy, corn, egg, fish, shellfish, animal products, salt, tree nuts, or GMOs. Suitable for vegetarians/vegans.
Interactions and cautions
- Medications
- May interact with thyroid, sedative or immune medication. Review with your practitioner.
- Timing
- Separate from medications by 2 to 4 hours unless directed otherwise by a healthcare practitioner.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Consult a healthcare practitioner before use if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- General
- Use only as directed. Discontinue and consult a practitioner if you experience an adverse reaction.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Consult a healthcare practitioner before use. Free certified advisors are available at 1-888-386-1211, Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm PT.
Questions about Natural Factors - L-Theanine - 250 mg
- Is this the genuine, authentic product?
- Yes. It is identical to what you would pay full price for anywhere else, sourced through our authorized supplier relationships.
- How is the price below retail?
- We buy direct, with nobody in the middle taking a cut, and we sell it for close to what we paid. You see the price privately because you have unlocked the Vault.
- How fast does it ship?
- Orders placed before 12pm PT are processed the same day and ship within two business days. Shipping is free over $89, and a flat $9.95 under that.
- Can I return it?
- You have 30 days after it arrives to request a return. Product must be unused, in its original packaging, with proof of purchase, and return shipping is paid by you. Find it cheaper anywhere in Canada and we will match the price.