Chill Out With GABA This Holiday Season, and Also Prevent Diabetes?

Before we know it, the holiday season will be upon us. While most of us look forward to reconnecting with friends and loved ones—or even the excitement in the air from holiday music and specials—it’s also a time of year when anxiety abounds.

Holidays are filled with stress. There’s shopping to get done in crowded stores, long lines at the airport, and family members (you know the ones) who add a bit of unwelcome drama at holiday gatherings. There’s no question about it, the holidays can take a toll on our health—physically and emotionally.

One of the best natural antidotes for holiday stress (or any stress, year-round) is gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is an amino acid produced naturally in the brain. In addition to functioning as a neurotransmitter, fostering communication between nerve cells, GABA reduces stress by toning down “excitatory” stimuli in the brain. Plus, it boosts dopamine and serotonin levels, which helps create an overall sense of calm. 

Now, new research suggests GABA may also help prevent type 2 diabetes. Researchers at UCLA found that when mice were given GABA it helped to inhibit both glucose intolerance and insulin resistance—the two prime hallmarks of diabetes. In addition, the animal studies showed it has the potential to slow the progression of type 2 diabetes, even after its onset.

Now it’s your turn: Have you used GABA to reduce stress?

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