Expert: Melissa Anderson - 6/2/2009

Question
Hello Melissa, i am male, late 30's, 180 cm tall and weigh 210 pounds, my diet has only been fair as isuffer from chronic nausea and eat whenever i actually feel hungry which means a lot of junk food. I can't exercise much as i feel too unwell. I suffer from GAD, chronic nausea, depression and secondary androgen defficiency. I believe all of this was brought on by stress at work which led to panic attacks and GAD.
My question is what foods are high in L-theanine, i have had a QEEG performed on my brain and i was told that the anxiety centre was lit up like a christmas tree and it is this problem that they think is causing all my other problems. I want to know can i get enough L-theanine from diet alone or do i need to take a supplement, L-theanine is a precursor to GABA a neuro transmitter than makes you feel calm and it is believed that my chronic anxiety is burning up my GABA and Serotonin.
I have read on the net that while L-theanine promotes GABA production it decreases serotonin production which i dont want. Please help if you can. Thank you.

Answer
Scott,
I'm sorry, but since L-theanine isn't a safe or effective way to treat your condition, I don't want to answer the question. I do apologize and I would strongly recommend that you ask your doctor about other options that have undergone clinical trials in people with your condition. Although GAD is most often a combination of environment and genetics, counseling can also help very dramatically in learning to cope with it and reducing symptoms, and I urge you not to overlook it.
Good luck!
Melissa