How to Increase GABA Naturally and Feel Calmer Instantly

How often do you feel stressed?

It’s an important question to ask for both your psychological and physical health as the two are inextricably linked.

While we all experience small bouts of stress in daily life, feeling stressed frequently or daily is a major risk factor to your health. Stress can increase feelings of anxiousness, sleeplessness, and low mood – which, in turn, can lead to more serious health issues.

Indeed, the American Institute of Stress reports that, on average, upwards of 60 percent of primary care doctor visits are related to stress. A recent Harris Poll survey on stress for the American Psychological Association revealed that three-quarters of Americans reported experiencing a stress-related health impact over the past month.

But here’s the good news. Your brain produces its own natural relaxant. It’s a neurotransmitter designed to slow the firing of excitatory neurotransmitters – which are released during times of stress. It’s called gamma-aminobutyric acid – or GABA for short.

GABA has an intensely calming influence on the mind and body. Maintaining optimal GABA levels is essential to your mental health as this neurotransmitter plays a critical role in regulating stress and sleep.

Though severe stress can deplete GABA levels, you can take steps to support optimal GABA levels to promote calm. Here are several strategies for naturally increasing GABA levels.

5 of the Best Ways to Increase GABA Naturally

1. Embrace Stress-Reducing Practices

Reducing your stress by practicing proven relaxation techniques is essential for health and well-being. Activities such as yoga, meditation, and diaphragmatic breathing have all been shown to increase GABA levels and promote calm.

These practices help to calm the sympathetic nervous system, which is engaged during times of effort and stress, and activate the “rest and digest” parasympathetic nervous system and naturally increase GABA levels.

In one 12-week yoga intervention study, researchers observed increased GABA levels, improved mood, and decreased feelings of anxiousness in participants.

2. Get Restorative Sleep

Getting quality, restorative sleep each night is essential for maintaining healthy GABA levels.

Practice good sleep hygiene:

• Stick to a regular sleep schedule of going to bed and waking up at the same time.
• Ensure your sleep environment is cool, dark, and quiet.
• Turn lights low and avoid stimulating activities an hour before bed.
• Limit caffeine consumption to morning hours only.
• Avoid alcohol and don’t eat dinner too close to bedtime.

Of course, if you have low GABA, sleep may be more challenging. If you practice the other suggestions here, they also can help you to get restful sleep.

3. Exercise

Yes, here’s one more reason to exercise! It has been shown to increase GABA neurotransmitter production in the body. It’s one of the reasons why exercise helps to calm feelings of anxiousness and improve sleep quality.

Research shows that vigorous exercise is particularly effective in activating the metabolic pathway that replenishes GABA.

However, for lasting results, consistent exercise over time will stimulate GABA neurotransmitter production and help to keep those levels in the optimal range.

4. Diet

The foods you consume also impact your body’s GABA levels. A brain-healthy diet full of whole foods, fish, lean meats, fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts will deliver the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids needed to support GABA synthesis in your body.

The amino acid glutamate is a precursor for GABA. Eating foods rich in glutamate can support GABA production. These include slow-cooked meat and poultry, bone broth, fish, and eggs. Also, broccoli, tomatoes, mushrooms, walnuts, and soybeans are great vegetarian sources of glutamate.

GABA production requires vitamin B6 as well. So be sure you consume plenty of foods rich in vitamin B6 such as garlic, Brussels sprouts, spinach, broccoli, and bananas.

Other amino acids such as theanine and taurine may help to boost GABA levels too. Green tea and seafood are good sources of these nutrients.

Don’t forget that GABA may be synthesized by gut bacteria. Fermented foods, rich in beneficial bacteria, support a healthy microbiome, which helps ensure healthy GABA production. Eat probiotic-rich foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, tempeh, yogurt, and kefir to help boost GABA levels.

5. Supplements

Nutritional supplements can provide you with targeted herbs and nutrients shown to support GABA production as well as promote relaxation such as lemon balm, l-theanine, and magnesium.

However, there’s no better way to get the benefits of increased GABA almost instantly than to supplement with GABA itself. It’s simple, easy, and can deliver results quickly.

GABA Calming Support

GABA Calming Support is a unique formula made up of clinically proven ingredients, including GABA that’s chemically identical to the GABA your body synthesizes.*

Research has shown that GABA supplementation may help to decrease beta waves, which tend to be associated with situational stress and agitation, and boost alpha waves, which are a sign of calm and relaxation.* GABA Calming Support can help to turn off racing thoughts and help prepare you for sleep.*

The formula’s additional ingredients – l-theanine, lemon balm, magnesium, and vitamin B6 – can help enhance its relaxing effects.* What’s more, it’s fast-acting and doesn’t cause drowsiness.*

Finding Calm and Protecting Sleep

Don’t ignore the overwhelming amount of research that indicates keeping stress in check and ensuring quality, restorative sleep are critical to both physical and mental well-being. You can start incorporating these practices today and quickly feel the benefits of calm, relaxation, and improved sleep.

At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest purity nutrients to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about GABA Calming Support and our full list of brain healthy supplements, please visit us at BrainMD.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical or healthcare advice from a physician, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new health regimen.

Meet the Author

Kim Henderson, Writer

Kim Henderson has been writing about health, beauty, wellness and the environment for more than 15 years. She’s the author of the award-winning book 50 Simple Steps to Save the World’s Rainforests and the former editor of Healthy Living magazine. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from UCLA.