Understanding Serotonin Deficiency
Serotonin is the “happy” and calming neurotransmitter, responsible for improving your mood and helping you to sleep well. Serotonin also regulates appetite, muscle contraction and mental functions such as memory and learning. You don’t feel so well when your serotonin levels are low: depressed, anxious, tense, unable to sleep, more sensitive to pain, and craving carbs. Stress is one factor that causes serotonin to go south, low estrogen in women is another. Most of the newer mood enhancing drugs such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro and Celexa are SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) work by preventing serotonin from being reabsorbed, allowing it to makes more ‘hits’ on receiving cells, making it seem as if there is more serotonin available than there really is. Eventually those molecules are used up and the drug stops working. Familiar? Ever experience SSRI poop-out, where the doc has to raise the dose, or add another drug? To make serotonin, your brain needs enough of the essential amino acid tryptophan, found in protein-containing foods like turkey, chicken, cottage cheese, avocados, bananas, and wheat germ. Supplementation with the amino acid 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) can help your brain manufacture more serotonin. Derived from tryptophan, the “happy” and calming neurotransmitter, 5-HTP is converted into serotonin, causing you to feel relaxed, in a good mood and able to fall asleep and stay asleep. Another great benefit of 5-HTP: It suppresses appetite. It may be preferable to tryptophan because 5-HTP enters the brain more easily and it can be taken with food and other supplements, including amino acids, with no problem. 5-HTP also suppresses appetite and helps in migraine prevention.
What to do?
- I recommend that you start with Brain Recovery AM&PM Formula, and if you still need more help with calming down or sleep, add in extra 5- HTP as needed.
- If you’re feeling stressed and tired, add my Energy Balance Formula, which contains adaptogens . These are herbs that boost your energy in a way that lasts, without the let-down of caffeine.
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