Products that enhance the uptake of this neurotransmitter are burgeoning - including drinks that mimic the effects of alcohol, without the hangover. Here’s what happened when I tried them“Chinese medicine.” “That weird Hungarian liqueur.” “Something my grandad would drink.” The taste test is not going well. Dry January is over and we’re hitting the bottle, but this is not alcohol we’re drinking. It’s theoretically the next best thing: Sentia Black, “a unique blend of functional botanicals, designed for focus and conviviality,” reads the blurbWe’ve been trying it neat, but once you mix it with tonic water it becomes much more palatable – “festive and grownup”, as one of my test subjects puts it. Taste aside, though, does it work? The conversation is certainly free-flowing, but whether it is more “focused and convivial” than it would have been without the Sentia is hard to say. None of us end up dancing on the table or spoiling for a fight, at least. Nor does anyone wake up with a han...
GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, acts as the brain's "off switch," calming neural activity and influencing sleep, relaxation, anxiety, and conditions like epilepsy. It has gained popularity in health and wellness but faces misinformation. Legal restrictions vary; while pure GABA is banned in the UK and EU, it's available in the US and Japan in various products, including Sentia, an alcohol alternative targeting GABA receptors, supported by some research. Japan widely uses GABA in foods and beverages, such as enriched chocolates and beers, and even in genetically modified tomatoes. However, GABA supplements' effectiveness is debated, with limited evidence supporting their benefits, though potential remains.
