When life has you feeling somewhat rattled, GABA is a supplement that has the potential to calm your mind without leaving you feeling foggy.
In the 1970s, psychologists Paul Ekman and Wallace V. Friesen divided the world of basic emotions – those innate ones found across all cultures – into six categories: Disgust, joy, anger, fear, surprise and sadness.
Interacting with each other, these six emotions give rise to other “secondary” emotions — envy, disappointment, nostalgia, forgiveness, resignation, remorse, hope, shame and anxiety. The last on that list, anxiety, is the combination of fear and sadness and it is without a doubt one of the most prevalent emotions of our time. So much so that young people have been described as the “anxious generation,” a reality that’s exacerbated by ubiquitous smartphones which often prevent us connecting to the world around us.
Additionally, many of us are emotionally exhausted, and feel like we can never be good enough in a world that is constantly judging us. It is no coincidence that the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist who teaches at New York University, has been so popular.
There may be some help in the vitamin aisle, however. Professor Wilmer Zanghirati Urbanaz, a lecturer in integrated naturopathic methods at the Italian School of Naturopathy in Rimini, explains how GABA (gamma amino butyric acid) can be used to bring us back to a healthy emotional balance while controlling our anxiety.
What is GABA and how can it help you manage anxiety?
“GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Our body produces it naturally from glutamic acid and we can also take it as a supplement. It plays a key role in blocking some neuron activity, helping to keep the brain and nervous system activity in balance,” explains Zanghirati Urbanaz. “GABA helps reduce states of anxiety, promotes relaxation and sleep, stabilises our mood, provides support coping with post-traumatic stress situations, and helps improve concentration.”
The benefits of GABA supplements
GABA can be made synthetically or obtained from plant sources, specifically by lactic fermentation processes with maize, rice, soy and sugar beet, or by microbial fermentation using three different lactobacilli: Lactobacillus brevis, lactobacillus hilgardii and lactobacillus plantarum, which convert glutamate into gamma amino butyric acid.
If our body naturally produces gamma amino butyric acid, why should we turn to supplements? “When our bodies have to deal with particularly stressful situations, they consume more GABA than usual and supplements can make up for a deficiency,” says Zanghirati Urbanaz – although it is worth noting that there is not sufficient clinical evidence to prove they work at the moment.
“GABA can improve the quality of sleep, relieve tension and allow one to be present and aware but not overly stimulated. It helps us to let go of worries in order to work and live better as it lets us be more patient and grounded. In situations that require you to face something that frightens you, GABA won’t solve your problems but it will allow you to experience those moments with a certain sense of serenity,” Zanghirati Urbanaz explains. “Those of us who live in big cities may feel as if we are in a constant state of being hyper-aware. And when it isn’t possible to escape by immersing ourselves in nature or somewhere else that would calm our anxiety and restore a sense of harmony, taking GABA is an option. I suggest that people take it at times when they feel the most stress.”
Before purchasing GABA supplements, you may want to talk to your healthcare provider about whether they are appropriate for your particular health concerns.
