# GABA for Weight Loss and Other Important Benefits

**By Paula Gallagher** · 2022-05-18

![GABA is know for helping with anxiety, but can also support weight loss.](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0319/0960/9603/files/gaba_300.png?v=1652883913)

Most people who know about GABA think of it as the “chill pill."

Why?

Because gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a neurotransmitter responsible for regulating the nervous system, and works by calming the brain to slow down nerve signals in the central nervous system, reducing feelings of anxiety.

But  GABA also plays a role in the healthy functioning of the body’s immune and endocrine systems, as well as in the regulation of appetite and metabolism. There’s also emerging research about GABA’s role in gut health and gastrointestinal function, where it may work to support motility, control inflammation and support immune system function, and help regulate hormone activity.

Low GABA activity in the body can result in:

-   Anxiety
-   Chronic stress
-   Depression
-   Difficulty concentrating and memory problems
-   Muscle pain and headaches
-   Insomnia and other sleep problems

## GABA for Weight Management

[Teri Cochrane](https://myvillagegreen.com/pages/blogger-profiles/#f), an integrative practitioner who is also one of our guest bloggers, uses [GABA](https://myvillagegreen.com/products/chewable-gaba-200-mg) in her practice as an aid for weight management. GABA is critically important for glucose metabolism. By managing our blood sugar, we can promote the healthy performance of insulin, the fat-storage hormone. Because of its support of glucose metabolism, GABA is actually considered to have anti-obesity effects, making it a useful tool in your fat-loss arsenal.

GABA also helps with the production of human growth hormone, linked to an increase in lean muscle mass. One [study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18091016/) found that “taking a GABA supplement led to a 400% increase in HGH \[human growth hormone\] at rest and a 200% increase following exercise, and that GABA may also increase HGH levels by improving your sleep, since your nighttime growth hormone release is linked to sleep quality and depth."

**Tags:** anxiety, Category_Health Concerns, Category_Nutritional Supplements, GABA, insomnia, sleep, weight

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> Source: [Village Green Apothecary](myvillagegreen.com/blogs/post/gaba-for-weight-loss-and-other-important-benefits)