Can Food Really Boost Your GABA?
Search for ‘foods that contain GABA’ and you’ll find long lists—fermented items, leafy greens, even tea. But there’s something those lists don’t always mention: almost all natural foods contain at least some GABA. What’s less clear—and far more important—is whether this GABA can reach your brain.
A Quick Reminder: What is GABA?
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is your brain’s main inhibitory neurotransmitter—the chemical signal that helps you slow down, relax, and shift into social or restful states. It’s like your brain’s brake pedal, calming overactive neurons so you can feel balanced and in control. That calm focus and relaxed sociability you might seek from a glass of wine? GABA helps provide it—naturally.
The Definitive List of GABA-Rich Foods
Many foods contain GABA. Here are some of the most consumed:
- Fermented Foods
- Kimchi, miso, tempeh, kefir – Fermentation promotes GABA production as part of microbial activity.
- Leafy Greens and Vegetables
- Spinach, broccoli, kale, sweet potatoes – These vegetables contain GABA and its building blocks
- Nuts, Seeds, and Legumes
- Almonds, walnuts, lentils – Plant-based sources naturally rich in GABA and other calming nutrients.
- Sprouted grains, oolong and green tea
What About Foods That Boost GABA Production?
Rather than delivering GABA directly, some foods help your body make more of it. This happens through compounds called ‘precursors’ and ‘cofactors’—essential ingredients in your body’s own GABA production process.
• Magnesium: A mineral that supports the activity of GABA receptors.
• Vitamin B6: A key coenzyme to convert glutamate into GABA.
These nutrients support your natural GABA balance—but again, they don’t contain GABA in a way that guarantees neurological impact.
The Problem: Getting GABA from Your Stomach to Your Brain
Here’s the catch: even if a food contains GABA, that doesn’t mean it can influence your brain. Your body has a security system called the blood-brain barrier (BBB)—a protective wall that filters what enters your brain from the bloodstream. GABA, when eaten, struggles to cross this barrier. Most of it gets broken down or never reaches your neurons at all. So while great that so many foods contain GABA, the truth is that the GABA in your food isn’t the same as GABA in your brain.
The SENTIA Solution: Designed to Enhance Your GABA
Rather than chasing GABA through your diet, SENTIA offers a targeted approach. Created by neuroscientist Professor David Nutt, SENTIA is a functional spirit engineered to enhance your natural GABA system—not by supplying GABA to your brain, but by using botanicals that work with the GABA that’s already there. SENTIA’s proprietary blend of ingredients includes natural compounds that act as positive allosteric modulators (compounds that amplify your brain’s existing GABA signals. science-backed, precisely formulated—and effective. Ready to feel the difference?
