Game of Gains!

Theanine (C7H14N2O3) is a naturally-occurring amino acid derivative found in plants and fungi, and especially in tea leaves. Under standard conditions, it is a white solid that is soluble in water.

Due to its structural similarity to glutamic acid, theanine can act as a weak agonist to glutamate receptors. It also reduces the reuptake of glutamate. Additionally, it increases serotonin, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in the brain.

l-Theanine is biosynthesised from glutamic acid and ethylamine via theanine synthase in tea trees, and is the most common non-proteinogenic amino acid in these plants. 

Theanine enhances the savoury tastes of certain foods, such as tea, and is therefore used as a food additive in certain countries like Japan. It is also consumed as a dietary supplement in countries such as the United States.

In a combination with caffeine, theanine has been shown to promote alertness and to enhance reaction times. It may also boost the body’s immune system by enhancing its ability to combat foreign infections.

I believe they’re a waste of money, but I think you’ll probably go out and buy some anyway.

So instead I’m going to give you an unbiased explanation of what they do so that you can make an informed decision.

Generally the ingredients include many of the things that you get in food you eat everyday, such as…

Green tea extract - boosts your metabolism

potato extract - makes you feel fuller

vitamin B - slows the release of energy from food keeping you fuller for longer

Here is a full list of the ingredients found in the Boots Triple Action Slim Aid tablets, with a translation from Science to English:

Green tea extract - boosts your metabolism

Microcrystalline Cellulose - otherwise known as wood pulp, used as an anti-caking agent

Dicalcium Phosphate - source of calcium, also used as a tartar control agent in toothpaste

Kelp (Ascophyllum Nodosum) - seaweed, helps prevent fat absorption

Ascorbic Acid - used as an antioxidant food additive

Proteinase Inhibitors (P12), - from potatoes, suppresses appetite and slows energy release in food

Croscarmellose Sodium - a superdisintegrant, helps the tablet to be absorbed properly

Silica - used in production to help powder be made into a tablet

Magnesium Stearate - used in production to stop powder from sticking to equipment

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose - food additive, used as a thickening agent

Acacia Gum, - from acacia trees, has lots of nutrients in it, used as a binding agent

Titanium Dioxide - white pigment food colouring

Nicotinamide - a form of vitamin B, slows the release of energy from food keeping you full for longer

Calcium Pantothenate - another B vitamin

Glycerin - a kind of sugar, makes the tablet easier to swallow

Pyridoxine Hydrochloride - another B vitamin

Riboflavin - another B vitamin, found in dairy products, leafy vegetables and some nuts

Biotin - another B vitamin, found in egg yolk and leafy vegetables

Cyanocobalamin - another B vitamin

As you can see, lots of these ingredients can be found in normal food, and lots of these ingredients are only present to put the other ingredients into tablet form.

Some of these ingredients, particularly the Kelp, appears to have been tested extremely thoroughly and stop fat from being absorbed, and have no side effects.

However, keep in mind that you are ingesting all those other food additives and E numbers to get to the good ingredients that you can find in normal foods anyway, and for a pricey £26 for 30 tablets. That’s an expensive habit.

Remember that this is just the product I’ve chosen to look at. Make sure if you do decide to get into diet pills you do your research. They can hide anything in those little tablets.

And please be careful, diet pills are a slippery slope.