How to give your coffee a Thyne-boost (aka a quick guide)

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1. Brew the coffee you love - hot, iced, French-press, diva-espresso, whatever.

2. While it’s still swirling, tear open one stick (or drop in one little tablet) of L-theanine - about 200 mg is the sweet spot for an 8-oz cup

3. Stir for a few seconds. L-theanine is water-loving, so it dissolves faster than your mascara in a rom-com. No weird taste - just a hint of silky smoothness.

4. Sip, smile, repeat. Cold-brew lover? The same steps work; just give it an extra swirl or shake because cold liquids are lazy dissolvers.

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Why this dynamic duo makes your brain do a happy dance

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Bye-bye jitters, hello laser focus

Studies show that pairing L-theanine with caffeine keeps the buzz but tames the shakiness by smoothing cerebral blood flow and dialing down caffeine-induced vasoconstriction. Participants performed attention tasks better and felt steadier moods compared to caffeine alone. (PMC)

Faster reactions (even in Olympic-level pressure)

Elite female and male curling athletes who swallowed equal doses of theanine and caffeine shot stones more accurately and aced a Stroop test 60 minutes later. Translation: your morning meeting is basically a gold-medal event, and the combo preps you for it. (PubMed)

Everyday brain boost for multitasking queens

The classic Haskell study (250 mg theanine + 150 mg caffeine) found quicker reaction times, sharper working memory, and fewer “ugh, I’m tired” feelings—exactly the skills you need when you’re answering emails, planning dinner, and mentally redecorating the living room. (PubMed)

Extra love notes for women

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• Stress & sleep rescue: In a four-week trial with 70 % female participants, 200 mg daily L-theanine lowered anxiety scores, eased depression blips, and improved sleep quality (good-bye 3 a.m. mind-racing). (MDPI)

• Period mood armor (early but exciting): Preclinical and pilot work hints that theanine’s calming magic may soften PMS crankiness and cramps—researchers are even testing skin-soothing theanine gels for cycle comfort. (PubMed)

• Anxiety-friendly caffeine: Women metabolise caffeine a tad differently, and hormones can amplify the shakes. Theanine acts like a spa-robe for your neurons, raising alpha brain waves (think “zen but awake”) and cushioning the cortisol spikes caffeine can trigger. (Women's Health) (MDPI)

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The feels you might notice

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• Smooth, sustained energy without the “my heart is tap-dancing” drama.

• Sharper focus that lasts through the afternoon slump.

• A gentler emotional curve-less snap at deadlines, more “I’ve got this.”

• Potentially fewer chocolate-fuelled cries during that time of the month (still bring the chocolate, though).

Quick safety talk

L-theanine is generally safe at 100–400 mg/day, but if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, have low blood pressure, or take meds, chat with a healthcare pro first. And remember: more caffeine isn’t more awesome-stick to your usual cup count while you experiment.