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Buy Now on Amazon *GABA powder has become one of the best-selling brain supplements in recent years, reputed to offer benefits for several different cognitive disorders.
Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, better known as GABA, is a naturally occurring neurotransmitter in the human brain.
In adults, this neurotransmitter’s chief function is to inhibit the firing of neurons which have become overly excited by excitatory neurotransmitters.
GABA powder supplements have been used for anxiety, ADHD, ADD, depression, panic disorder, and even some addictions. GABA is used, sometimes, as an anti-epileptic because of its ability to calm an overly excited brain.
GABA is available in capsules, tablets, liquids, gelcaps and powder form. Which of these is better is often a matter of preference. The differences between them, besides the companies which market them, lie mainly in their convenience and their cost.
Mood
Sleep
Body- building- Anxiolytic effects to reduce stress
- May improve sleep & anxiety
- Supports fat loss & increases HGH
Why Buy GABA Powder?
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Buying GABA powder in bulk is significantly more cost-effective than buying it in pill, gel, or liquid forms.
Many nutritional stores and nootropic shops offer bulk powder purchasing for customers wishing to save money and are willing to buy in larger quantities.
Buying in tablet or capsule form can cost 6x – 10x the cost of buying the bulk powder.
An example of the cost difference can be readily seen by comparing the cost of capsules to bulk powder.
Capsules and tablets commonly contain 500mg of GABA. These are typically sold in bottles of 60 (30 grams) capsules for around $9.99. This breaks down to a per capsule cost of 16 cents per capsule.
Alternatively, 400 grams of bulk GABA powder can be purchased for $14.99, which breaks down to a per capsule cost of less than 2 cents each (at 500 mg per capsule).
Powder can be sold in foil bags designed to block out sunlight or in re-sealable plastic tubs. Vendors will often provide you with a special measuring scoop enabling you to accurately measure your dose quickly and easily.
If you still find you prefer taking capsules, or you need capsules to take with you to the office or while traveling, you can always purchase an inexpensive capsule machine and empty capsules, and make your own. Capping machines and empty capsules are available on sites like Ebay or Amazon.
One added advantage to buying bulk GABA powder from reputable nootropic or nutrition shops is the testing provided by independent labs to verify the quality of the supplement you are purchasing.
Most established shops send powder from each batch they receive out for testing at an independent lab. Then, these results are usually posted alongside their online offering.
Another advantage of buying from an established online shop is that you can read reviews written by other customers. These reviews can be quite informative as to the quality of the products and the customer service the company provides.
Taking a little while to research different sources of GABA powder before buying will translate into time well spent and a better quality product for you.
How to Take GABA
Proper dosage depends on many different factors, and it is always recommended that you speak with your doctor to determine the best dosage for your needs. The following dosage recommendations are general guidelines only, and your personal dosage may be different.
There are not any standardized recommended doses for GABA supplementation. Dosing guidelines gleaned from scientific studies and many users depict a standard dose ranging between 500mg-1500mg, usually taken 2-3 throughout the day.
If taking GABA for insomnia, taking 500mg-1000mg right before bedtime is suggested. For relief of anxiety, ADHD, depression and panic attacks many users report taking 250mg-650mg, three times each day.
Some experimentation may be required to find the right dose for your system. As with all supplements, it is recommended you begin at the lowest dose and allow time to see how your body responds (or doesn’t respond) to the supplement. After a few days, you can increase the dose slowly, if necessary.
Side effects can include a tingling or tickling sensation on the skin, increase in heart rate, rapid breathing or shortness of breath. GABA is considered generally safe if not taken in high doses.
Overview on GABA Powder
Buying bulk GABA powder can be extremely cost-effective, as well as having the added benefit of an independent lab test confirming the quality of the product you are purchasing.
Scientists note that GABA supplements are not able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively and thus may not be effective at providing additional GABA to the brain as intended when taking this supplement.
However, there are many positive reviews of GABA supplements online. While it is possible that these are just due to the placebo effect at work, there are also a few alternative theories of why GABA supplements seem to cause an effect in some people.
One theory is that individual differences in blood-brain barrier permeability may allow supplemental GABA into the brains of some people. Another theory states that GABA may not have to directly cross the blood-brain barrier to have an effect in the brain, but instead can interact with GABA receptors in the network of neurons in the gut (enteric nervous system) to then cause mental effects.
Either of these theories would reconcile the current scientific knowledge with the numerous positive reviews online. However neither of these theories have been proven at this point, and would be a good area for future research.
There are two GABAergic supplements which some people use instead of GABA powder to cause a GABA-like effect in the brain. Lemon Balm and L-Theanine can both effectively cross the blood-brain barrier and are able to then interact with GABA receptors similarly to endogenous GABA.
If the intended benefits are not experienced when supplementing with GABA powder, consider using a GABAergic supplement like Theanine or Lemon Balm.
- Han Y, Cao D, Li X, Zhang R, Yu F, Ren Y, An L. Attenuation of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transaminase activity contributes to GABA increase in the cerebral cortex of mice exposed to β-cypermethrin. Hum Exp Toxicol. 2014
- Hayes DJ, Jupp B, Sawiak SJ, Merlo E, Caprioli D, Dalley JW. Brain γ-aminobutyric acid: a neglected role in impulsivity. Eur J Neurosci. 2014
- Garcia-Borreguero D, Patrick J, DuBrava S, Becker PM, Lankford A, Chen C, Miceli J, Knapp L, Allen RP. Pregabalin versus pramipexole: effects on sleep disturbance in restless legs syndrome. Sleep. 2014
- Mann JJ, Oquendo MA, Watson KT, Boldrini M, Malone KM, Ellis SP, Sullivan G, Cooper TB, Xie S, Currier D. Anxiety in major depression and cerebrospinal fluid free gamma-aminobutyric acid. Depress Anxiety. 2014
- Silveri MM. GABAergic contributions to alcohol responsivity during adolescence: insights from preclinical and clinical studies. Pharmacol Ther. 2014
- Powers M. GABA supplementation and growth hormone response. Med Sport Sci. 2012
Article last updated on: April 10th, 2018 by Nootriment