Making time for de-stressing time-outs is essential, and a non-negotiable healthy habit I encourage everyone to develop. But, sometimes, despite our best intentions, we can’t squeeze in that short meditation break. In order to take the edge off, many will reach for a powerful pharmaceutical like Xanax or Valium, but those meds come with a boat-load of possible scary side effects, with cognitive impairment, addiction and increased Alzheimer’s risk topping the list. So, what’s a safer way to calm your nerves and protect your health? Enter L-theanine. It’s my favorite all-natural, go-to “chill pill” you need to know about.