Tryptophan

 Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, what means the body can not synthesize it so it  needs to be ingested as a part of the diet or as a nutritional supplement. It is recognized for its ability to enhance mood and provide better sleep, so it is valuable supplement to consider for the effective treatment of insomnia and depression.

 Tryptophan is a precursor of serotonin, the major "happy chemical" in the brain, our first defense against depression and anxiety, responsible for the ability to renew, rest and regain peacefulness.

What is Tryptophan used for?

 Tryptophan is used as a natural cure for many different health conditions, including depression, low moods, poor mental health, anxiety, stress, migraines, nervousness, aggression, irritability, insomnia, carbohydrate craving and other eating disorders, fibromyalgia, premenstrual syndrome , substance abuse, Tourette's syndrome, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)  and some psychiatric disorders.

Tryptophan is a natural antidepressant which aids relaxation and sleep, relieves stress, promotes calm and serenity, calms nerves and cools down anxiety.

Tryptophan deficiency results in serotonin deficiency. Deficiency of serotonin is associated with depression, various sleep disorders and lack of common sense.

L-Tryptophan is a precursor to 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), which in turn is a precursor to serotonin (tryptophan -> 5-HTP -> serotonin-> melatonin), one of the most important "happy chemicals". That means tryptophan is the raw material which your brain uses to synthesize these relaxing neurotransmitters.  Part of tryptophan is also converted to melatonin, the "sleep hormone".

Tryptophan is present in a wide range of foods: chicken, beef, lamb, turkey, eggs, tuna, soybeans, nuts, milk, poultry, cottage cheese, soy products, pumpkin seeds sesame seeds, seafood, lentils and bananas.

However, if you suffer insomnia, depression or other mood disorder, you may require tryptophan in the form of food supplement to maintain adequate levels of it in the brain.

Though tryptophan dosage must be adjusted for individual needs, the safe start is 1-2 grams per day, taken in the evening and/or before bed.

Calcium helps manufacture "sleep hormone" melatonin from tryptophan. That's why dairy products are considered to be the best dietary sleep promoters - they contain tryptophan together with calcium.

Part of tryptophan is converted to Vitamin B3, so take B vitamin complex together with tryptophan to ensure more of it is available for the conversion to serotonin.

Magnesium and Vitamin B6 increase the effects of tryptophan.

Serotonin is one of the two (the other is GABA) main brain inhibitory neurotransmitters responsible for good mood, healthy sleep patterns and emotional health.

Elevating the levels of serotonin is extremely important for the successful treatment of insomnia and depression.

Tryptophan helps boost the levels of serotonin in your brain in a way that is natural, safe and efficient.

Tryptophan is generally well tolerated, but there is a risk of several side effects (these are usually mild, occurring mostly at the higher doses and fading away by themselves after Tryptophan supplementation is discontinued).

Among possible side effects of Tryptophan are dryness of the mouth, nausea, stomach disturbances and drowsiness.

Make sure you know well your reaction to tryptophan before driving or any other activity demanding high alertness.

Do not take L-tryptophan in combination with other serotonin increasing drugs, such as SSRIs, MAOIs and sedatives, for abnormally high levels of serotonin are no better than its deficiency.

As with every supplement, it is worthwhile to ask for professional medical advice before taking tryptophan, because it may interact with other drugs or cause undesirable effects.

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Disclaimer: The information on this site is given for educational purposes only. Thorough health assessment done by a health care professional is necessary before deciding to take any of the supplements mentioned.