5-HTP Supplement Guide
By Stephen James Richards5-HTP Supplements (5-Hydroxytryptophan) have been around since the 1970s, a long time compared to many of the newer and supposedly 'smarter' medications out there designed and used to treat the same sort of symptoms. So why then are more and more people turning away from the more recent medications and using 5-HTP instead?
First lets explore what the 5-HTP supplement actually is.
5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is a chemical that the body makes from tryptophan (an essential amino acid, which is obtained through food). The body then converts tryptophan into 5-htp and then into serotonin.
Although eating foods which contain tryptophan can raise 5-HTP levels slightly it is not enough to make any real impact if someone has low levels of serotonin. Supplement makers use 5-HTP derived from the seeds of the Griffonia Simplicifolia plant, a completely natural source. It is the intermediate step between tryptophan this very important brain chemical serotonin. So the body needs little more than to convert it straight into serotonin. This makes the body's job much easier and the overall conversion process is thought to be more efficient.
There is a lot of evidence that suggests that low serotonin levels are a common consequence of modern living. The list is endless as to why people experience lows at some point in their lives, couple that with any additional stresses that our fast moving life likes to throw at us and you have a good recipe for low serotonin levels. As a result, many people crave sugar, are overweight, get headaches frequently, experience bouts of depression, and have vague muscle aches and pain.
If low serotonin is causing these symptoms, raising the brains serotonin levels using a supplement can help alleviate these pains tremendously, helping you get back on form and giving you a fighting chance at making any changes in your life which you feel may help get your serotonin levels back to normal.
Conditions associated with low serotonin levels;
* Depression
* Anxiety
* Obesity
* Carbohydrate craving
* Fibromyalgia
* Bulimia
* Insomnia
* Narcolepsy
* Sleep apnea
* Migraine headaches
* Tension headaches
* Chronic daily headaches
* Premenstrual syndrome
It is said by researchers that 5-HTP in almost all cases is a much safer option with far fewer side effects than many other prescribed medications which treat the same types of symptoms.
5-HTP supplements usually come in capsule form but can also be in tablet form. Often 5-HtP isn't alone in the supplement with many companies choosing to complement 5-HTP with Vitamin B6. Along with the standard health benefits associated with this vitamin it also helps any unused excess 5-HTP to be metabolized and excreted.
This website offers a wealth of information relating the the food supplement 5 HTP [http://www.5htpknowledgevault.com]
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