LilGirlandOW Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 I've been taking the supplement GABA for a while now and I love it, I started taking it for its calming effects then i noticed it was helping keeping me cut in my workout routines, much-more-so than any other supplement I've tested. So in doing some reasearch it supposed to help the body produce HGH, Any experience with GABA out there? I think its amazing, I take the chewables and they taste great, snack on them throughout the day. Link to post Share on other sites
MidwestUSA Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 No experience, but it sounds like something I'd like to try. Can you tell me more? Is it reasonably priced? Link to post Share on other sites
Els Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 It was one of the many supplements I tried for anxiety and insomnia; it did precisely jack squat for me. Even chamomile and valerian and a hot bath worked better, which isn't saying much. But we're all different, so if it works for you, that's great! Link to post Share on other sites
2sure Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Hmm.I'm interested. Link to post Share on other sites
RonaldS Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Pardon me while I geek out for a second... One of the main functions of GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) is that it's an inhibitor. And one of its primary inhibitory roles is in allowing contracted muscle to relax. Yes, you actually require a chemical transmission to relax a muscle. It doesn't go limp by itself. So, GABA floats around in lipid-sealed vesicles in the neurotransmitter, and when it is needed, the vesicles get opened up by a snare protein and the GABA is released. Ever wonder why you need a tetanus shot? Because the spores in Tetanus bacteria contain a toxin which attaches a chain (actually, two) to the GABA containing lipid vesicles. After the muscle contracts, an action potential signals the release of GABA. Problem is, the chains attached to the lipid vesicle essentially cleave the snare proteins in half which prevents the vesicle from opening and the GABA from being released. End result? A contracted muscle cannot relax, and a person infected with Tetanus has muscles get locked up. In very severe cases, the muscle is contracted so much that it can actually tear the muscle, dislocate joints or cause you to suffocate! That sh*t is crazy! The moral of the story? If you're infected with Tentanus, all the GABA supplements int he world wont help you, because your snare proteins will be obliterated and your neurotransmitter a wont be able to release the GABA. So get your tetanus shot! Actually, the moral of the story is that I'm a total dork because I love this stuff, and wanted to add something to the thread. 3 Link to post Share on other sites
MidwestUSA Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 (edited) We thank you for that, dork!(from a fellow dork with chemistry degree). Sooooooo, I had read somewhere that GABA acts a lot like Valium. Is this due to the muscle relaxation? Would it be of benefit to someone whose muscles always seem to be in a state of contraction (well, not quite, call it a heightened, um, can't find the word I'm looking for). In other words, I'm always tense, from my head to my toes. I have to consciously relax muscles one at a time. The only bright side to that is I still look like I lift weights, my muscles have retained that tone some fifteen years later. Years ago, I had a 'recipe' for sleep that combined GABA, 5HTP, and something else. Don't recall if it worked or not as my sleep was too screwed up due to my drinking. In fact, I managed to blame all my ailments on anything other than the drinking. Am free of that now, and looking to get my health back to the best I can for my age. More nerdy input appreciated. Thanks! Edited September 13, 2013 by MidwestUSA 1 Link to post Share on other sites
RonaldS Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 We thank you for that, dork!(from a fellow dork with chemistry degree). Sooooooo, I had read somewhere that GABA acts a lot like Valium. Is this due to the muscle relaxation? Would it be of benefit to someone whose muscles always seem to be in a state of contraction (well, not quite, call it a heightened, um, can't find the word I'm looking for). In other words, I'm always tense, from my head to my toes. I have to consciously relax muscles one at a time. The only bright side to that is I still look like I lift weights, my muscles have retained that tone some fifteen years later. Years ago, I had a 'recipe' for sleep that combined GABA, 5HTP, and something else. Don't recall if it worked or not as my sleep was too screwed up due to my drinking. In fact, I managed to blame all my ailments on anything other than the drinking. Am free of that now, and looking to get my health back to the best I can for my age. More nerdy input appreciated. Thanks! Hmmmm....it makes sense that it would act as a 'relaxer'. The thing is, though, is that my understanding of it is that it acts as an inhibitor but the release of it is triggered by an action potential. So, I'm not sure if simply having free GABA floating around in your blood stream would behave the same way in neuromotor function. I suppose it could. It might act the same was as a lot of drugs where it finds its way to the axon from the blood. Interesting. My guess would be, if that's the case, you would need to have a way above normal amount of GABA coursing through you. I'll have to look it up, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
MidwestUSA Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Thanks, Robert. I think I'm going to give it a try. For no other reason than 'it can't hurt, might help'. Best wishes. Sorry for the hijack, OP, but thanks for getting me thinking! Link to post Share on other sites
Author LilGirlandOW Posted September 13, 2013 Author Share Posted September 13, 2013 hey no worries, Gaba is used by body builders, wrestlers, combat athletes, etc as a part of their build and shred routines. I found it very helpful for me in both the calming aspect and specifically extra fat on my waistline. Since starting gaba, and I take 2 chewables 3times a day, my workouts have been the same, but i have abs!!!! like real ab muscles showing, my leg muscles look defined, just everything seems to be working out with GABA. Alot of "muscle shacks" sell GABA containing shakes/supplements. I find it cheaper to go to a vitamin store and buy it on its own. ($20 for 90caps). Am I the only one with amazing expereinces with GABA? I workout the same as I always have, heck lately even less and my muscles tone and weight is bang on, where I've always wanted it. I Love GABA. My 2yr old calls it "yo gaba gaba" after the cartoon, lol. Link to post Share on other sites
Author LilGirlandOW Posted September 13, 2013 Author Share Posted September 13, 2013 keeping in mind it was sold to me as a calming product, which i find it really helps for that too, instantly I feel "grounded", not medicated but clear headed. In research I found its HGH production effects, as I stuck with GABA, it seems to be working for me 100% in both aspects. I dont swear by many products of supplements but GABA has been a godsend for me Link to post Share on other sites
Forever Learning Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 (edited) You need to search for "GABA" threads on this website. Feelin' Frisky wrote extensively about his experiences with GABA on many, many threads here. Search in the search box at the top of the page, just type GABA, I just did, and found countless threads where he wrote extensively about it. Good luck. *********** RonaldS, I think I love you, you sweet adorable geek, you. :love: :bunny: . Edited September 13, 2013 by Forever Learning 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Eddy B Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 I've been taking the supplement GABA for a while now and I love it, I started taking it for its calming effects then i noticed it was helping keeping me cut in my workout routines, much-more-so than any other supplement I've tested. So in doing some reasearch it supposed to help the body produce HGH, Any experience with GABA out there? I think its amazing, I take the chewables and they taste great, snack on them throughout the day. Yes, I have thoroughly researched GABA in internet. It's very likely that GABA is placebo more than anything else. It does NOT cross the BBB Link to post Share on other sites
almond Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 ^ There is no evidence that GABA can cross the BBB (although in large amounts, it's likely that it will to some extent). However, that doesn't take into account possible peripheral effects. GABA receptors are amongst the most abundant, and exist outside of the CNS. Still, as far as I can tell, it is a highly ineffective supplement. There are much better ways to spend your $$. Link to post Share on other sites
FitChick Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Here is a link to other links of research articles about the uses of GABA. I plan to read them myself. Life Extension is a great resource for health information. They also sell supplements but I only buy the ones I can't find elsewhere for less money. Link to post Share on other sites
thefooloftheyear Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Ive tried every supplement you can imagine..I might as well flush my money down the toilet, because thats about all I ever got out of it.. The number one thing that makes the most difference, (for me, anyway)..Is a good, solid, uninterrupted nights sleep...Along with some rest and "winding down" mixed in between the regular good nights sleep, and I have no issues and make great progress. If my diet and sleep get effed up, then my whole program suffers dramatically... Its as plain and simple as that.. YMMV TFY Link to post Share on other sites
Author LilGirlandOW Posted September 21, 2013 Author Share Posted September 21, 2013 What about articles like this? GABA ? Reduce Stress, Boost Growth Hormone Levels and Promote Muscle Growth | The Holistic Truth GABA very few studies done, Link to post Share on other sites
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