supercharge your serotonin
August 2, 2007 by Cash
Walking to the car, still somewhat hypnotized in the afterglow of the Daft Punk show, Glenn and I found ourselves talking about Serotonin (hmm, no idea why 
). Serotonin is a neurotransmitter responsible for mood, hunger and sleep. Many things, both natural and, ahem, “not so natural”, can deplete your serotonin levels more quickly than the body can regenerate them. This can result in depression, insomnia, and a slew of other nasty symptoms.
I lamented the fact that no one had invented a ’synthetic Serotonin’. Glenn pointed out that many prescription anti-depressents (Prozac for one) aimed to be just that.
I knew there had to be an over the counter alternative, and the next day, my research began.
It took me all of about three seconds to find what looks like a clear winner: 5htp.
The neurotransmitter, 5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP)is a compound created in the body which is used to regulate serotonin levels in brain and central nervous system.
Although many studies point to the effectiveness of 5htp in regulating mood (5-HTP works by increasing the amount of serotonin produced in the brain), other reported benefits (weight loss, lower blood pressure, and improved sleep) had less scientific backing.
That’s okay, because for my purposes, increasing Serotonin was the goal.
According to Gastpar and Wakelin (1998), 5-HTP is a known precursor to serotonin
Lucky for me, 5htp is available as an OTC supplement. Studies seem to indicate that 100mg taken 2-3 times a day can significantly increase Serotonin levels and has been shown to provide a 50% improvement in depressed patients. As always, your results may vary.
5htp is available all over the web.
(Eventually I’m sure we’ll have a specific link here for it, but in the meantime, just Google “5htp supplement”.)
If you’re looking to increase your Serotonin for any reason, or simply trying to improve your general sense of well being, 5htp may be for you.
Read more about it before making up your mind:
Vanderbilt article here
Also a great Wiki entry
Technorati Tags: increase your serotonin, how to increase serotonin, replenish serotonin
Hmmm
[...] Posted by as Uncategorized This can result in depression, insomnia, and a slew of other nasty symptoms. I lamented the fact that no one had invented a ’synthetic Serotonin’. Glenn pointed out that many prescription anti-depressents (Prozac for one) aimed to be … article continues at Cash brought to you by Depression and Clinical Trials [...]
I found some 5-HTP (60 capsules, 100mg each = $25) at Wild Oats Organic Market in the ’supplements’ section (it was next to the St. John’s Wort). This would lead me to believe it may also be available in your grocery store’s pharmacy.
[...] Supercharge Your Serotonin [...]