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L-Theanine to the Rescue!

7/26/2021

Recently I was reading a blog in the Miracle Noodle website. I am a big fan of konjac noodles and rice, first being exposed to the root vegetable pastes and cubes while living in Japan in the early 1990s. Miracle noodles are made from the konjac root, fibrous and low carb. I keep an eye on the blogs on their website and love how they bring the science of food to the regular person, helping the non-scientists learn more about what is in our food. This particular blog was researched and written by Judd Handler. As I learned, I was intrigued about the amino acid, L-Theanine. It is usually found in green tea. Green tea also has caffeine, so if one is sensitive to caffeine (I am), then we can reap the benefits of the amino acid without the caffeine by taking it as a supplement. I just ordered a bottle and we shall see how focused and calm I feel after taking it regularly. I am not an afiliate of any product or supplement

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. In addition to protein building amino acids, there are also non-protein amino acids. Researchers believe non-protein amino acids help protect plants against insects. This also allows for the plant species to not go extinct. They can procreate if protected from demise. They also play a key role in plant metabolism.

What is L-Theanine? L-Theanine is a non-protein amino acid that may help us balance our own metabolism, and assist with anxiety, helping us to be calm as we need to focus on tasks like work, school, errands, and chores. Modern society is busier than ever, and we need to perform, produce, and feel empowered doing so.

L-Theanine is naturally found in tea. It is more abundant in green tea leaves because green tea is not heated or fermented for a long time, therefore green tea is younger and dried more quickly. The compound L-Theanine is becoming more popular among consumers for its ability to induce calmness without drowsiness. Who among us doesn't need that these days?

Benefits of L-Theanine:

Cognitive-enhancing
Supports good mood
Anti-stress and anti-anxiety properties
Improves sleep quality
Increases attention span

How Does L-Theanine work? We have brain messengers constantly hard at work regulating our brain function, and all other vital functions. These chemical messengers turn on or off hormones which determine our psychological state. Serotonin is a happy, calm inducing hormone helping other hormones to control appetite, and sleep quality, attention span, memory, and mood regulation. Gaba is a hormone which regulates anxiety and also helps us not to receive pain if in a happy state. L-Theanine works in part by preserving chemical neurotransmitter messengers and elevating other non-protein amino acids in the body. Another way in which L-theanine works is by boosting alpha waves in the brain, seen to elevate during REM sleep and meditation. (Yet another reason to meditate!)

I want to thank Judd Handler for opening my eyes on yet another superfood! As always, do your own research, and try out things on yourself with a health practitioner's guidance.

Be Well,
KJ Landis

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Neutralizing Polarities

7/19/2021

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In my meditation practice, we are often reminded to steer away from cravings and aversions. If we feel a craving towards something or some action, when we do not get that, it causes a suffering from the desire, the craving. That creates a misery in our lives. When we feel an aversion away from something, someone, or some action, the experience in our past is placing the aversion there. We steer away from it in our future. If it presents itself again and we cannot get away from it, we create a misery in our lives.

How do we find relief from constant craving and aversion? How do we alleviate our miseries, though they may be slight or strong? Maybe our cravings and aversions are a result from a past life experience. Enjoy the moment without craving more and more exactly like it. Acknowledge the past aversions with an openness toward experiencing situations as if for the first time. Let the pendulum in our minds not swing. Stay in the middle mind, no cravings and aversions. Observe the breath more and more with each day, during each quiet time. We can observe with the equal mind by realizing that all of our energy rises up, passes away, and dissipates. Just like us. We are born, grow up, grow older, dissipate, and fade away.

This is the natural order of things. When we realize we are part of a much larger ebb and flow, we can remain in the middle. This is a way to stay focused on neutralizing our tendencies to be polarized so much of the time. I recommend mindfulness and meditation. My personal preference is Vipassana meditation, but there are many options out there. Our daily practice helps us find peace while in the human experience.

Blessings,
KJ Landis

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Nutrition Basics: Fats, Carbs, and Proteins

7/12/2021

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Today we will land upon a mini nutrition course. We will learn the basics of what general categories foods are in and what they do inside the body. All foods fall into three major categories: fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. These basic building blocks of nutrition are called macronutrients.

Dietary fats are oily, smooth in texture, and have a creamy mouth feel. They are very satisfying to the tongue and tummy. Fats are very satiating, which means after a fatty meal, we can go for a long time before we become hungry again. Some foods containing fats are nuts, seeds and their oils, meats and their skins, rendered lard or tallow, fish and seafood, olives and their oil, avocados and their oils, and dairy.

Fats slow down the absorption of the foods eaten alongside of them as well, helping the body absorb at a higher rate the vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals in those foods. The term we use for the vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals in our food supply is called micronutrients.

Carbohydrates are the rapid energy givers in our food. Carbohydrates come from fruits, vegetables (both starchy and non-starchy), grains, beans, dairy, and sugars. The textures in carbohydrates can vary wildly, and so can the fiber content. All carbohydrates break down into glucose sugar during digestion. Then our body knows to use it as energy. The glucose further turns into glycogen, which is then stored in our muscle cells for active use. Our body breaks down a candy bar, a glass of orange juice, and a bowl of cabbage into glucose. The difference between the rate of even, balanced energy in the body versus a spike of energy and then a crash, is the amount of fiber in the carbohydrate source. Fiber slows down the rate of absorption and transference into energy. This is better for regulating the body’s supply of energy. We can usually tell after eating each food type whether we feel tired or ready to take on the world.

Proteins are the muscle builders in our food. They are made up of amino acids, some of which our body can make, and others which our body cannot make. The amino acids our body cannot make we must get from food. They are called essential amino acids. Protein is found in meat, fish, seafood, nuts, seeds, dairy, and some fruits and vegetables. If we consume more protein that our body needs for fuel, the protein can convert into glucose. This is called gluconeogenesis.

As you may have noticed, some foods cross over into more than one category. A slice of cheddar cheese contains fats, carbohydrates, and protein. Black beans are thought to be a great source of protein, but a closer look reveals that they only contain about thirty percent protein. The rest is carbohydrates and fat. Then we must determine what percentage of that protein can actually be absorbed and used by the body. This absorption rate is called bioavailability. Nuts are another food source that have all three basic components in them.

A fun activity that the family can play around with is to list the most typically recognized foods in each category and then decide together which foods have more than one macronutrient in them.

All three components are vital for people to be well at any age. Excess fats, carbohydrates, and proteins can lead to body fat. That is, if you consume obscene amounts of food daily, your body must store the extra fuel somewhere, usually on the hips, thighs, and abdomen. If one is consuming refined, processed foods, convenience foods, and junk foods with little nutrient density, the process occurs rapidly and easily. Our bodies do not know what to do with the unnatural edible food “wannabes.” Real, whole foods slow down the digestion and absorption rate, therefore providing the body with what it needs to thrive. Doesn’t that sound good?

Be well,
KJLandis
SuperiorSelf on YouTube

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Long Term Health Goals

7/5/2021

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We are on earth for a limited time. Even our long term goals are really short term goals in the grand scheme of things. It is how we carry ourselves and what we choose to partake in every moment that will make a difference in our health and happiness. It will also make a difference in the legacy we leave behind. If we want to be truly healthy and balanced in mind, body, and spirit, we must change our behavior and then the rest will follow naturally, eventually. Self trust is key too. Trust the fact that you have arrived here and now, reading this blog at exactly the right time in your life. I have seen the perfect body out there...and it is mine. I have seen the perfect body out there...and it is yours. At any stage in our journey our bodies have provided us with our heart, legs, arms, breath, and life. Be grateful for your perfect body. I am.

I’m not special. I mean, I am extraordinarily special, but not any more special than you. I’m a normal human being going through the regular routines of any active mother, wife, and employee. I’m extremely busy catering to everybody’s needs while taking care of me, too. I am a server (waitress in old-school talk) at a busy restaurant that has food all around, all of the time. I am constantly offered leftovers, tastings, alcohol, food training, and food gifts brought in by coworkers. I have plenty of opportunities to indulge in the wrong foods and the right foods every single day. I must love myself more than the momentary dip into foods that don’t serve my higher purpose. You have the same health and food choices as I do. As I said, I am not that special.

I hope these words of wisdom hit you at the right time in your life.
Blessings,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf channel on YouTube

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L-Theanine to the Rescue!

Neutralizing Polarities

Nutrition Basics: Fats, Carbs, and Proteins

Long Term Health Goals

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