L-Theanine and L-Tyrosine are two amino acids routinely used in pre-made nootropic stacks. There’s good reason for this; both of these natural nootropic ingredients really work to improve mental performance. All of our top rated nootropics contain both Theanine and Tyrosine in some form or another.
One question we get asked quite frequently is whether or not you should be taking L-Tyrosine and L-Theanine together. After all, many of the best nootropics today use a Theanine Tyrosine stack; is this really beneficial?
In this article, we will look at the benefits and potential negatives of taking Theanine and Tyrosine together in a nootropic stack. At the end, we’ll tell you the best way to take L-Tyrosine and L-Theanine together.
Benefits of Tyrosine
Tyrosine is easily one of our favorite natural nootropics. As far as cognitive enhancers go, Tyrosine is one of the most overlooked, but it is one of the most versatile and effective natural study aids.
Tyrosine is a precursor to dopamine. Supplementing with Tyrosine has been shown to significantly increase focus, concentration and motivation, no dout due to increased dopamine availability.
Specifically, Tyrosine supplements have been found in clinical trials to improve mental performance in people placed in stressful situations, including:
- Sleep deprivation
- Multitasking
- Extreme cold
- Intense time pressure
- Performance anxiety
By boosting dopamine, Tyrosine not only improves overall cognitive performance, it also increases motivation and drive while improving mood.
Contrary to what you might hear from some nootropic supplement manufacturers, but it doesn’t matter a great deal whether you take L-Tyrosine or N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine. Both compounds have identical effects and the increased bioavailability of the latter does not seem to significantly increase the benefits to the end user, although it does cost a great deal more!
Benefits of Theanine
Theanine is a similar nootropic to Tyrosine in that it works by increasing the activity of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Specifically,theanine works by increasing GABA levels. GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the human CNS; this means it reduces nerve activity.
How does this benefit you?
The benefits of taking Theanine include:
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Reduced muscle tension
- A calmer, clear mind
- Faster sleep onset
- Better sleep quality
- Reduced side effects from caffeine
The last benefits is probably the one oyu are most familiar with when it comes to Theanine. It is often stacked with caffeine to help mitigate side effects. But as you can see, L-Theanine has a lot of beneficial nootropi properties of its own.
So how does it work when taken with Tyrosine?
Benefits of Taking Theanine & Tyrosine Together
Taking Tyrosine and Theanine together as part of a comprehensive nootropic stack is a fantastic idea if you are looking to drastically improve cognitive performance during times of acute stress and anxiety.
When taking Theanine and Tyrosine at the same time, you get all of the benefits of taking either supplement alone, but those effects will be far more pronounced.
For example, the anti-anxiety, stress-reducing effects of a Theanine/Tyrosine stack are far more potent than when taking either supplement alone. While the Theanine calms the mind and body by boosting GABA activity, the Tyrosine increases dopamine levels which improves mood, increases motivation and improves impulse control. The result is a calm, collected, laser-focused mind operating at maximum productivity.
If you find yourself relying on caffeine to get through an all-night study or work session, then you should seriously consider using an L-Tyrosine L-Theanine stack. It will potentiate the caffeine while giving you a range of nootropic benefits of its own. Few other nootropic stacks can improve mental performance during times of stress and fatigue than Theanine and Tyrosine.
Side Effects & Health Risks of Theanine/Tyrosine Stacks
There are practically no side effect risks associated with L-Tyrosine and L-Theanine stacks. Both of these nootropics are naturally occurring amino acids. They are found in foods and drinks we consume every day, from meat and nuts to black tea.
Neither Tyrosine nor Theanine have ever been found to cause noticeable side effects in humans in clinical trials. Both are deemed safe to take in large doses on a daily basis for prolonged periods. Neither Tyrosine nor Theanine have ever been linked with long-term health risks.
In fact, a Tyrosine and Theanine stack can be said to reduce side effect risks from other nootropics, namely caffeine. Theanine reduces the severity of caffeine’s side effects while potentiating its benefits. The only side effects associated with L-Theanine are usually mild and transient.
If you do experience any serious negative side effects from taking a Theanine Tyrosine stack, stop using it immediately and seek medical attention. Side effects are rare when taking Theanine and Tyrosine supplement stacks but they may happen. Do your research carefully and talk to your doctor before proceeding.
L-Theanine vs L-Tyrosine: Which is better?
A common question we get asked is which amino acid is the better nootropic, L-Tyrosine or L-Theanine.
The answer is, it depends!
You cannot really compare L-Tyrosine and L-Theanine on a like-for-like basis. Both of these nootropics have distinct benefits and side effects, and they have completely different mechanisms of action. Both Tyrosine and Theanine are amino acids and both are great ingredients to have in a nootropic stack (or a caffeine pill for that matter), but that is where the similarity ends. So saying that yiou have to choose L-Tyrosine or L-Theanine doesn’t really make any sense.
What you should do when comparing L-Tyrosine vs L-Theanine is see which supplement’s benefits best aligns with your goals and choose that one! For best results, you should try to incorporate your choice into a broader nootropic stack with multiple ingredients, all backed by clinical evidence.
Should you stack Theanine & Tyrosine?
An L-Tyrosine L-Theanine stack is easily one of the best nootropic stacks you can take. Practically everybody would benefit from such a stack given its broad benefits, lack of negative side effects and cost-effectiveness.
However, where a Tyrosine and Theanine stack is perfect is a situation where you need to remain focused and calm while under intense mental strain and pressure. A classic example is an overnight session to meet a deadline, such as an exam or presentation. Another example is in sports, competitive gaming or competitive chess. The stack keeps motivation and drive high, information processing rapid, and your mind calm; perfect for performing under pressure.
So what is the best Theanine Tyrosine stack you can buy right now?
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Brian Johnson is current Editor of Vagarights.com and a long-time writer for VAGA. A former psychologist, Brian is passionate about improving mental health and finding ways to stave off cognitive decline. He is an expert on nootropics, cognitive enhancement and biohacking more broadly. You can see his work on Google scholar.
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