If you want to relax and unwind at the end of a long day- try CBD with L-theanine, not alcohol
By Laurentia Campbell, biomedical scientist, neuroscientist and nutritionist writer.
Glutamate is our main excitatory neurotransmitter. This essential brain chemical helps us learn, improves our memory and stimulates us to be active. It is what makes us think, get up in the morning, eat and problem-solve. It helps defend us against predators (it is vital in our fight or flight stress response) by stimulating our sympathetic nervous system. Glutamate levels are increased by stimulation from learning new things, technology, social interaction, stimulating environments and also by overthinking when anxious. It is opposed by GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) which promotes restful state and our parasympathetic nervous system. Therefore substances such as alcohol, CBD, L-theanine, Valerian and GABA, which block the Glutamate brain receptor and promote GABA, can have great anti-anxiolytic effects.
How does too much Glutamate stop sleep?
When our brains are over-stimulated they cannot wind down and enter the sleep state. Modern life causes Glutamate overdoses. Too much dietary sugar, too much stimulation from crowds, a busy bar, overuse of technology, a noisy bright film or concert, a stressful job, noisy kids, a need for lots of problem-solving (when making decisions or multi-tasking with a busy life), a noisy commute and so on, can hyper-stimulate the brain. This can cause lots of Glutamate production. Stimulatory drugs like Ketamine increase Glutamate.
L-theanine is an amino acid that blocks Glutamate receptors and promotes “wakeful relaxation.” Studies also show that CBD blocks Glutamate, as does alcohol, hypericin (St John's wort), ashwagandha and valerian herbs. This has been found to help reduce anxiety and over-thinking, help people wind down and therefore promote sedation and reduce insomnia.
Why is alcohol different?
Alcohol also reduces Glutamate (which is why alcohol can help people fall asleep), but unlike CBD, alcohol inhibits the REM stage of sleep (4), so alcohol helps you fall asleep but stops restful deep (memory forming and emotion processing) sleep. CBD products also do not dehydrate, kill the gut microbiota (alcohol is anti-bacterial) or give the formaldehyde-induced hangovers that alcohol does (which damage our organs). It also does not reduce the liver’s ability to store blood glucose (reducing our blood glucose insulin sensitivity and increasing our blood sugar, causing blood sugar lows which make us hungry, anxious, depressed and fatigued) and increasing inflammation, in the same way that alcohol does.
If you want to wind down at the end of the day but still sleep; it is better to avoid the alcohol and stick to other less-toxic, healthier alternatives.
Copyright Laurentia Campbell
