Caffeine and L-theanine is one of the most common pairings in energy products. Here's what each ingredient is, what research has looked at, and what's actually in a MindStrips Energy strip.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee, tea and cocoa. The FDA says up to 400mg a day is generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults. A cup of brewed coffee has roughly 80 to 100mg, and some energy drinks have 200 to 300mg.
L-theanine
L-theanine is an amino acid found naturally in tea leaves. It's why a cup of green tea feels different from a cup of coffee.
Why they're paired
Several small studies have tested caffeine and L-theanine together. For example, Owen et al. (Nutritional Neuroscience, 2008) gave people 50mg caffeine with 100mg L-theanine and measured attention tasks. Results vary between studies and people, so treat the pairing as a sensible combination, not a guarantee.
What's in a MindStrips Energy strip
- 50mg caffeine, about half a cup of coffee
- 30mg L-theanine
- Vitamin B12 (as methylcobalamin), which supports normal energy-yielding metabolism
It's a cranberry strip that dissolves on your tongue in seconds, so there's nothing to brew or swallow. One strip at a time. Keep track of your total caffeine for the day, and avoid it if you're pregnant, nursing, under 18 or sensitive to caffeine.
Timing it
Caffeine has a half-life of around 5 hours, so an afternoon strip can still be in your system at bedtime. Use our caffeine cutoff calculator to find your last sensible time.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.