Do you Have a Lack of Serotonin in the Brain?

Our brains need Serotonin to stabilize our moods and keep us feeling happy and satisfied. If you’ve been struggling with unstable moods or erratic sleep cycles/insomnia, it may be caused by a lack of Serotonin.

Serotonin plays the role of a messenger chemical in the brain (neurotransmitter), regulating nerve impulses and communication between brain cells. This neurotransmitter is created in the brain and in the intestines (though it plays a very different role in your gut).

The body makes Serotonin from a byproduct of the breakdown of the amino acid L-Tryptophan. This byproduct is known as 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan).

If you are experiencing a lack of Serotonin, using a 5-HTP supplement may be one way to naturally boost production back to a healthy level.

Serotonin Boosters

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How It Works:

• Increases Serotonin levels in the brain
• Enhances mood and alleviates stress
• Improves sleep and regulates appetite

Dosage:

Varies depending on supplement

Safety:

Varies depending on supplement

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Signs of a Lack of Serotonin

When your body’s stores of Serotonin are reduced, you may start experiencing problems with appetite and even digestion.

If you have a lack of Serotonin in the brain, you may have headaches and feel a sense of mental fogginess. Your sleep may suffer, your memory can become a little less focused, and you may be more irritable or susceptible to “blue” moods.

Last but not least, lack of adequate Serotonin can affect not only sexual desire, but sexual function.

Deficiencies in Serotonin are closely linked to depression, although there is a question of causality. Does depression lead to decreased Serotonin levels, or is it that a lack of Serotonin causes depression? This question is still under study by researchers, however there does seem to be some sort of link between depression and a low Serotonin levels.

Can 5-HTP Boost Production of Serotonin?

In certain cases, the body is not able to produce adequate amounts of Serotonin. This may be a result of poor diet low in Serotonin precursors like certain minerals, vitamins, and Tryptophan; heightened periods of stress; genetic factors; or it may be a natural consequence of the aging process.

Your body creates 5-HTP, the direct precursor of Serotonin, from Tryptophan. This essential amino acid cannot be produced within our bodies, so we must get it from foods that we eat or from nutritional supplements. Good food sources of L-Tryptophan can include chickpeas, turkey, game meat, soy protein, eggs, spinach, seafood and chicken.

However, pharmacokinetic studies of L-Tryptophan show that only a small amount of this amino acid penetrates the blood-brain barrier when it is consumed from food sources. As such, using a Tryptophan supplement may be more effective in the short-term than changes in your diet.

There are other potentially more direct sources of supplementation that you can use as well for a lack of Serotonin. The health supplement 5-HTP may stimulate production of Serotonin by increasing the availability of the resources that your brain needs to make this neurotransmitter.

In clinical studies, 5-HTP has been found equally as effective as certain prescription drugs in restoring normal Serotonin activity in the brain. The supplement is also observed to improve mood, control stress, normalize sleep patterns, and reduce appetite to support weight loss.

Benefits of Adequate Levels of Serotonin

Boosting levels of Serotonin in the brain and body provides a wide variety of benefits including weight loss, mood lifting and stress relief. Increasing levels of Serotonin may help to:

• reduce frequency and severity of headaches
• increase REM sleep; deep sleep state
• reduce sleep issues such as insomnia

The relationship between a lack of Serotonin and obesity is one that gets a lot of attention in the media today – and for good reason. This hormone is used by our brains to analyze food availability and tell us when we need to eat. However, if Serotonin levels are naturally too low, it can prompt us to over-eat and to indulge in the wrong kinds of unhealthy foods.

In one study on individuals taking 5-HTP for weight loss, it was found that obese female patients who took 200 mg of 5-HTP prior to eating had reduced daily calorie intake, lower appetite, and higher overall weight loss than placebo patients.

In yet another study, women who took this serotonin booster over a three-month period lost approximately 10 pounds compared to the two pounds resulting in the group taking a placebo.

Contraindications

If you think that you might benefit from naturally raising your Serotonin levels, a 5-HTP supplement may help. For most individuals, use of this supplement is safe and beneficial over short periods of time.

Anyone seeking to take 5-HTP longer than 12 weeks is advised to seek the advice of their doctor, especially if they have any gastrointestinal issues or conditions. Potential side effects have been recognized for those with such issues, including abdominal discomfort and pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

In addition, do not take 5-HTP if you are currently taking an antidepressant prescription medication known as an SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor – which can include but is not limited to Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, or Celexa) or MAOI (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor – that include but are not limited to Marplan, Nardil, Emsam, and Parnate) or other anti-depressant medications. The combination of 5-HTP with other Serotonin-concentration altering compounds may cause Serotonin Syndrome.

Serotonin Syndrome occurs when there is an excess of Serotonin in the brain. Symptoms include excessive sweating, irritation, fever, and irregular heartbeat. In severe cases, if left untreated, Serotonin Syndrome can be fatal.

You don’t have to suffer through lack of Serotonin production. Talk to your doctor about options that will have you feeling better – physically and emotionally.

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