• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Generation Iron

Generation Iron Fitness & Strength Sports Network

  • Movies
  • Original Content
  • Reviews
    • Supplements
      • Pre-Workout
      • Fat Burners
      • Testosterone Boosters
      • Creatine
      • Protein
      • BCAAs
      • Multivitamins
      • Omega-3
      • Joint Supplements
      • Super Greens
      • Meal Replacement
    • Recovery
      • Best Cold Plunges
      • Best Saunas
      • Best Foam Rollers
      • Best Massage Guns
    • Programs
      • Best Online Workout Programs
      • Best Workout Streaming Services
      • Best Home Workout Programs
  • Equipment
    • Cardio
      • Treadmills
      • Best Exercise Bikes
      • Best Stair Climbers
    • Fitness Accessories
      • Best Apparel
      • Best Gym Bags
      • Weightlifting Shoes
    • Strength
      • Best Dumbbells
      • Best Barbells
      • Best Kettlebells
      • Best Squat Racks
      • Best Weightlifting Belts
      • Best Home Gym Equipment
      • Complete Home Gyms
    • Training
      • Best Knee Sleeves
      • Best Wrist Wraps
      • Best Weightlifting Wraps
      • Best Weightlifting Gloves
  • More
    • About Us
      • Our Team
      • Our Experts
    • Advertise
    • Franchise With Us
    • Exercise Guides
    • Athlete Profiles
    • Podcasts
    • Power 30
    • Bodybuilding Awards
    • Supplement Awards
  • Shop
Nutrition

Neurotransmitters: Nutrition for Sleep and Better Regeneration

by Oscar Mancilla Published on Sep 13, 2019

This post may contain affiliate links (disclosure policy).

Neurotransmitters: Nutrition for Sleep and Better Regeneration

With daily exercise plus life responsibilities, it’s easy to start to experience a lack of motivation to get into the gym consistently.  This can impact steady progress to reaching your goal physique. The main underlying cause for most is usually fatigue. Fatigue can be either mental, physical or a combination of both. It’s that lethargic feeling when waking up and hitting the snooze button over and over seems like the only option.


The mental aspect of fatigue will affect your mood, thinking, and overall cognitive performance. The physical will affect your movements and actions known as motor performance . Symptoms are having low energy and motivation and decreased physical strength. This prevents many from staying in the gym consistently and can slow progress. We all treasure the limited time we have to work on ourselves while juggling other life tasks so it’s important to lessen fatigue to continue bodybuilding efficiently, happily, and injury free.

The biomechanics behind fatigue are changes in the efficiency of pathways between signaling systems, also known as synapses transmission. What occurs is either switching of polarity in the signals causing exhaustion of that pathway or a over charge of neurons making it overactive. Picture a fuse either burning out with too much energy or not passing the current due to lack of energy, either way it won’t pass signal and it won’t work. What maintains these signaling systems is neurotransmitters which send the signal across the synapse. It’s like the flip switch from your brain to your muscle and we all know how important mind muscle connection is in bodybuilding.

The main inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps maintain this energy system is GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA is a naturally occurring amino acid in our bodies but is also found in food, albeit in limited quantities, which is why supplementing is a great benefit. Studies show GABA has helps those with Alzheimer’s Disease, fibromyalgia, patients with Epilepsy to reduce seizures, and is a natural alternative to medication for people with mood and mental disorders. It’s a shame it’s not talked about more often!

So what’s the best way to take this brain, mood, and strength boosting Amino Acid? GABA can be taken with your workout nutrition to alleviate the overactive and switched polarity synapses. When using with your workout make an effort to stay symmetrical and make a good mind to muscle connection to realign the pathways. This technique will help straighten your posture and balance your movements. Another benefit is less salivary cortisol and less psychological fatigue. Keeping cortisol levels down helps boost testosterone levels and creates less fat from cortisol and who doesn’t want that when seeking a top notch physique.

Exercise isn’t the only factor affecting these energy systems. Sleep deprivation will drastically lower the efficiency of the synapse transmission. Studies show that GABA helps boost serotonin levels that help decrease anxiety and many use it along side melatonin as a natural sleeping aide. Studies have also shown that people with back injuries can benefit greatly from the supplement as it will help realign the nerve pathways, straightening back posture. For many that work in offices this will help due to having to look down at screens and will alleviate neck and shoulder discomfort. This helps make more efficient use of your recommended 8 hours of sleep to straighten you up, strengthen you up, and set you up for a good mood day in and day out. Consistency is key in bodybuilding and GABA will help you get there.

For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Works cited:
Boonstra, E., De Kleijn, R., & Nieuwenhuis, S. (2015). Neurotransmitters as food supplements: The effects of GABA on brain and behavior. Frontiers in Psychology. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01520
 
Longordo, F., Koop, C., & Lüthi, A. (2009). Consequences of sleep deprivation on neurotransmitter receptor expression and function [Abstract]. European Journal of Neuroscience, 29, 1810-1819. Retrieved September 5, 2018, from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org.
 
Reddy, H. P. (2017). A Critical Assessment of Research on Neurotransmitters in Alzheimer’s Disease. Journal of Alheimer’s Disease. doi:10.3233/JAD-170256

About Oscar Mancilla

View All Articles

Primary Sidebar

Get the Latest

Stay informed with the latest news, product reviews, & expert advice.

Popular Reviews

  • best protein powders

    The Best Protein Powder Supplements of 2025 (Tried and Tested)

  • Best Creatine Supplements For Bulking & Muscle Growth of 2025 (Personally Tested)

  • top x pre workout

    The 14 Best Pre-Workout Supplements of 2025 (MD Reviewed)

  • Performance Lab SPORT BCAA

    The Best BCAA For Bodybuilding Health & Performance Goals

Trending Articles

  • female fitness models

    18 Best Butts On The Internet (Updated 2024)

  • ronnie coleman the king workout

    Ronnie “The King” Coleman’s Complete Bodybuilding Workout

  • The Ultimate Mike Mentzer Workout and Diet

  • Chris bumstead's 2024 workout and diet plan

    Chris Bumstead’s 2025 Complete Bodybuilding Workout & Diet Plan

Popular Now

  • best protein powders

    The Best Protein Powder Supplements of 2025 (Tried and Tested)

  • Best Creatine Supplements For Bulking & Muscle Growth of 2025 (Personally Tested)

  • top x pre workout

    The 14 Best Pre-Workout Supplements of 2025 (MD Reviewed)

  • female fitness models

    18 Best Butts On The Internet (Updated 2024)

  • best citrulline supplements

    The Best Citrulline Malate Supplements for Performance and Pump

  • ronnie coleman the king workout

    Ronnie “The King” Coleman’s Complete Bodybuilding Workout

Generation Iron

Generation Iron is the first and only digital network delivering health, fitness, bodybuilding, and strength sports content. We deliver premium content with the biggest names in fitness and provide expert coverage, reviews on top brands, workout tips and trends in the worlds of fitness, health and strength sports.

Strongman Corporation
Vladar

Sections

  • Trending News
  • Original Movies
  • Original Content
  • Supplement Reviews
  • Equipment Reviews
  • Exercise Guides
  • Nutrition Guides
  • Athlete Profiles

More

  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Our Experts
  • Advertise
  • Franchise With Us
  • Podcasts
  • Power 30
  • Shop

CONTACT

Generation Iron Brands LLC
134 West 29th Street Suite 902
New York, NY 10001
Email: [email protected]

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • X / Twitter
  • YouTube

© 2025 · Generation Iron · Disclaimers · Privacy Policy · Accessibility