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My 16-month theanine self-experiment

(dynomight.net)
817 points dynm | 1 comments | 09 Mar 25 03:08 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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AequitasOmnibus ◴[09 Mar 25 04:34 UTC] No.43306268[source]▶
From the discussions I've seen about theanine, the real benefit supposedly came when it was taken alongside caffeine. The thinking being that theanine moderated some of the jittery effects of caffeine, allowing the user to take higher doses of caffeine, which itself has some benefit on task concentration and focus.

I wish the author had spent time addressing that theory specifically.

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Kiro ◴[09 Mar 25 10:39 UTC] No.43307867[source]▶
I don't understand what people refer to when they say "jittery effects". I don't feel anything when taking caffeine, no matter the dose. Or I want to think it helps me wake up but the effect is so small that I can't be sure. It's basically just a ritual for me.
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kubb ◴[09 Mar 25 11:16 UTC] No.43308040[source]▶
Im on the other side of the spectrum. With a small dose of caffeine I get really wired, my blood pressure rises, my head hurts, I feel stressed, anxious and I can’t sleep at night even if the coffee was in the morning. With matcha it’s a similar effect but it’s less anxiety and more headache.
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1. appleorchard46 ◴[09 Mar 25 20:42 UTC] No.43313555{3}[source]▶
Same story here - few sips of coffee and my heart starts pounding and I can't sleep at all. I have found a plant / drink called yerba mate to give me the beneficial effects without the anxiety though. No headache either. It's higher in caffeine than tea but lower than coffee. Everyone is different but for anyone else out there who gets acute anxiety from most caffeine but wants the focus boost I would recommend giving it a try.