Serotonin Plus is a weight loss program focused on reducing appetite and cravings for carbohydrates with natural supplementation and dietary changes.
The goal of the Serotonin Plus diet plan is increasing natural production of serotonin without using unhealthy food options or high sugar foods that may contribute to obesity (2).
Serotonin is the brain’s satiety hormone, involved in regulating your appetite by activating receptors in the hypothalamus of the brain. When levels of serotonin increase, we feel full and no longer experience hunger cravings.
However, an imbalance in serotonin can contribute to unhealthy eating, never feeling full and inability to control one’s appetite. This can result in weight gain or an inability to lose weight. The Serotonin Plus Diet is designed to correct this to support weight management, as part of a healthy lifestyle.



- Increases Serotonin levels in the brain
- Enhances mood and alleviates stress
- Improves sleep and regulates appetite
Serotonin Plus Weight Loss Program
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The Serotonin Plus diet was designed by Dr. Robert Posner, an internal medicine specialist with experience in treating obese patients. According to the Serotonin Plus diet website, the average participant can lose 20 to 25 pounds of body weight over 12 weeks.
Participation in the program is medically supervised and costs $1,500. It involves using dietary supplements, prescription appetite suppressant drugs and pre-formulated meal plans.
The Serotonin Plus program is purported to work by balancing levels of serotonin in the brain.
This naturally occurring neurotransmitter is involved in mood regulation, sleep patterns, cognitive function and more. When levels of serotonin are high in the brain, we feel happiness, relaxed and have a sense of emotional satisfaction.
When we have a serotonin deficiency, changes in mood can occur. We may feel more irritable, aggressive, depressed, anxious and we may be more sensitive to pain. We may also begin to crave unhealthy foods and eat too much, which can contribute to obesity in the long-term.
Serotonin is an important signalling chemical in the body, because it helps to turn off hunger signals in the hypothalamus – the appetite control center of our brain.
How Serotonin Affects Appetite
We make serotonin from foods that contain the natural amino acid L-Tryptophan. This amino acid is found in high levels in protein-rich foods like turkey, chicken, eggs, milk, red meat, walnuts, cashews and seafood.
But because of the way these foods and nutrients are processed in the body, it is actually carbohydrates and sweets that more rapidly spike serotonin levels in the brain.
After eating a meal that increases our serotonin levels, we temporarily feel satiated and no longer have an appetite craving. This short-term spike can also make us feel happier, but the feeling quickly goes away.
Foods that provide a quick boost in serotonin levels can become addictive. After the initial pleasure from eating these foods is experienced, serotonin activity in the brain can begin to rapidly decrease, causing us to seek out more foods to raise our levels again.
Low levels of serotonin can often result in cravings for sugary foods, chocolate, and carbohydrates like bread and cookies. To continue to experience the positive feelings that these foods provide, we may eat more and more, never feeling like our appetite cravings have been satisfied.
The Serotonin Plus diet plan tries to, “break the cycle of overeating, weight gain and yo-yo dieting.” Then, by adopting certain dietary changes and using supplements, the program tries to normalize your serotonin levels and curb your hunger cravings, to support weight loss goals.
How the Serotonin Plus Diet Works
This weight loss program is formulated to reduce cravings for unhealthy foods by naturally increasing the serotonin levels in the body and brain.
It uses Serotonin Plus weight loss pills to suppress and manage appetite and food cravings. It also uses planned meals to further improve weight loss goals with proper portion sizes and careful management of diet.
The Serotonin Plus diet starts with a one-on-one consultation with a service provider to design a “Transitional Dietary Plan”. During this transitional period, participants are guided to consume a diet high in lean protein and vegetables.
This diet avoids empty calories, increases the nutritional value of foods consumed and help manage blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Participants are also given dietary supplements that help to suppress the appetite by improving serotonin balance.
Serotonin Plus Weight Loss Supplements
The Serotonin Plus Weight Management Formula is an appetite-suppressing supplement that is given to participants to “jumpstart” their diet. According to the manufacturers, when used under medical supervision, it is safe and effective.
It is difficult to find information online about the ingredients in the Serotonin Plus diet supplements. One site states that the Serotonin Formula contains, “pure, natural serotonin as well as important vitamins and antioxidants.”
However, this is most likely inaccurate. Serotonin cannot be administered in an oral supplement form directly. Instead, precursors of serotonin must be used.
When you consume a pill that contains pure serotonin, it can result in digestive discomfort and diarrhea. Serotonin promotes muscle contractions in the intestinal tract, which helps to move food through the gut.
If levels of serotonin are increased in the gut, it will cause these muscle to contract and eliminate food more rapidly. The result is stomach pain and diarrhea.
Serotonin is also not bioavailable to the brain when consumed orally. It is not able to pass from through the blood-brain barrier, which means serotonin circulating through your blood is unlikely to reach your hypothalamus.
Serotonin that is active in the brain must be produced in the brain, from the precursor 5-HTP. For this reason, it is more likely that this product contains 5-HTP rather than “pure, natural serotonin.”
5-HTP has been shown to support weight loss in several clinical studies. In one study, participants given a 300 mg 5-HTP supplement three times a day before meals, ate less and reported improved satiety compared to those given a placebo.
According to two different review studies, 5-HTP can promote a mean weight loss of 1.7 kg over 6 weeks on a non-calorie restricted diet, and 3.3 kg over 6 weeks on a calorie-restricted diet of 1200 kcals per day.
Serotonin Plus does not just rely on natural dietary supplements to promote weight loss. This program may also recommend prescription diet pills to certain individuals.
One of the diet pills used in this program is Phentermine (Adipex-P), which is a pharmaceutical drug that has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of obesity. While effective for weight loss, this drug can cause side effects that include insomnia, constipation and irregular heart rate.
Customer Reviews
Customer reviews for the Serotonin Plus Weight Loss Program are primarily positive (4). Reviews suggest that the dietary program assists with weight loss by reducing cravings for high-carbohydrate foods.
In particular, customers suggest that the Serotonin Plus weight loss pills and supplements help reduce cravings for unhealthy food options like ice cream or chocolate.
A key factor that helps customers feel comfortable with the program is the medical supervision. A doctor supervises every step of the process and makes a personalized plan of action based on individual weight loss goals and the underlying complications contributing to weight gain.
As a result, customers feel comfortable with the results and do not worry about taking risks with their health while losing excess weight.
Potential Side Effects
Serotonin Plus is a medically supervised weight loss program and all participants undergo an initial screening to ensure they are healthy enough to participate in the program.
However, there are still possible side effects when using dietary supplements like 5-HTP or weight loss drugs like phentermine. Consult with a doctor to determine whether this diet program is appropriate for you and to learn about the potential side effects
Supplements that contain 5-HTP are generally well-tolerated and considered safe when used appropriately. In some cases, these supplements may cause digestive discomfort, diarrhea, dizziness, increased perspiration and other adverse reactions.
5-HTP can interact with a number of mediations, including Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) that are used in the treatment of depression. When the supplements interact with other medications, Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, it may increase serotonin to a dangerously high level.
Although rare, this condition is called Serotonin Syndrome and it requires require immediate medical attention. When levels of this neurotransmitter become too high, serotonin toxicity can result and cause hallucinations, irritability and hyper-stimulation (8). In serious cases, Serotonin Syndrome can be fatal.
5-HTP has not been studied sufficiently in pregnant or nursing women to determine whether this supplement is safe for these groups. Avoid use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Always discuss any medications with a doctor before starting the dietary plan to prevent complications or potential side effects.
When combined with appropriate exercise programs, Serotonin Plus may assist with weight loss goals. The primary focus of the diet plan is reducing cravings for unhealthy and high calorie food items by replacing the foods and using supplements to further enhance personal weight loss results.
Studies on serotonin-boosting supplements for weight loss have demonstrated positive effects. Consult with a doctor that participates in the Serotonin Plus Weight Loss Program to learn more about the diets and supplements used.
- Serotonin: 9 Questions and Answers, Web MD, October 12, 2011, http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/serotonin
- Serotonin Plus Weight Loss Program, 2012, http://spweightlossmd.com/program/
- James McIntosh, Serotonin: Facts, What Does Serotonin Do?, Medical News Today, April 29, 2016, http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232248.php
- Stephanie Stahl, CBS News Philadelphia, November 8, 2010, http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2010/11/18/health-serotonin-plus-weight-loss-program/
- 5-HTP, Web MD, http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-794-5-htp.aspx?activeingredientid=794
- L-Tryptophan, Web MD, http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-326-l-tryptophan.aspx?activeingredientid=326&activeingredientname=l-tryptophan
- Natural Medicines, November 4, 2015, Reishi Mushroom.
- Dr. Joseph Goldberg, MD, November 18, 2014, Serotonin Syndrome, Web MD, http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/serotonin-syndrome-causes-symptoms-treatments
Article last updated on: March 12th, 2018 by Nootriment