The science behind Gaba: Can this naturally occurring substance give you the same buzz as alcohol?

Gaba is the wellness world’s latest buzzword. It’s made by our bodies and acts like serotonin or dopamine. Here’s what you need to know.

It’s one of the wellness world’s biggest buzzwords, with a thriving industry dedicated to products claiming to stimulate its release in our bodies. Gaba, short for gamma-aminobutyric acid, is a naturally occurring substance that’s made by our bodies and helps regulate sleep, promote relaxation and reduce anxiety. Its role in a host of other health concerns – including the gut microbiome, memory, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, seizures and autism – is the subject of a growing body of research.



In Japan, Gaba-enriched products are everywhere: by 2021, the country recorded more than 270 being produced and Gaba ranks third among its labelled functional food ingredients. Even tomatoes are being genome-edited to increase their Gaba content: the Sicilian Rouge brand of cherry tomatoes contains five times more Gaba than conventional ones. But all over the world, researchers are exploring ways to enhance our Gaba activity.

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