GABA is a calming neurotransmitter in your brain, it keeps your brain from becoming overactive and promotes relaxation, but it does much more than to just affect your mood. GABA is great for reducing anxiety, muscle tension, sleep, stress, and improving mood. There are a lot of different ways to increase GABA levels in your brain, but some simple lifestyle changes can do it too!
- GABA Improves Sleep
Multiple studies have shown that GABA plays an important role in sleep quality. GABA is calming and promotes relaxation and much better sleep, even when caffeine is present in the body.
- GABA is Connected to Gut Health
Except brain the intestinal lining also has its own GABA receptors which aid to digest food and regulate gastrointestinal activity by producing gastric acid.
Research has shown that certain bacterial strains can produce GABA. For those struggling with inflammatory gut problems, this neurotransmitter is especially important since GABA can actually help regulate pain awareness and can decrease pain
- GABA is Important for Brain Function
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a protein that aids the growth and function of neurons. Healthy GABA levels are important for normal BDNF, and that is even more important knowing that low BDNF levels are connected with reduced memory and Alzheimer’s.
You can incorporate some new habits into your life and increase GABA levels naturally for a happier, calmer life! Here is the short summary on what can you do!
- Regular Physical Exercise
Regular and long-term physical activity has been proven to reduce stress and enhance GABA synthesis.
- Meditation
According to research, those who meditate have higher GABA levels. A consistent meditation practices also lower cortisol which can reduce GABA function.
- Yoga
The world’s preferred stretching and mindfulness exercise also increases GABA. It is unbelievable that it has been found that a single yoga session can increase GABA levels even by 27 percent!
- The ketogenic diet
High glutamate is associated with epilepsy and seizures which have been shown to be helped by a high-fat, moderate protein, low-carb, ketogenic diet. This diet may increase the GAD enzyme and uses ketones as a precursor to GABA.
If you’re looking to sleep better, ease anxiety, decrease muscle tension, or boost your mood, you may want to try increasing your GABA levels now!