How 5-HTP Can Help You Balance Your Life

I've been searching and searching for my post I did on 5-HTP but maybe I didn't post it here. So, I'm going to make good use of my insomnia and post a little on it.

5-HTP is a natural supplement that you can purchase at the health food store. I get mine at Vitamin Shoppe. They also have a website by the same name and I used to purchase from there until they opened a shop here locally.

When someone is put on an SSRI (Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitor) like Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, how it works is that when serotonin is released from a synapses in the brain, the chemical of the SSRI puts up a 'baby-gate' on that synapses so the serotonin stays out in the brain a little longer so that more of it will go over into the receiver part of the synapses. When people become depressed from a chemical imbalance it can be that the synapses isn't recognizing enough serotonin. So the Prozac or whatever SSRI the dr. prescribes will block the re-uptake of that serotonin. When the synapses releases the serotonin, it will take back what isn't transferred over to the receiving synapses to reuse later. That Prozac helps block that re-uptake in the hopes that more of it will go into the receiver which will create a state of well-being (not being depressed) in the person. Got that? Ok.....

This works all well and good if the brain just isn't receiving enough of the serotonin but what if the brain doesn't MAKE enough serotonin? When people start off with a low dose of an SSRI and then have to have it increased over and over, over time, it's really the brain not having enough serotonin to recognize.
How does the body get low on making the serotonin? The serotonin is an amino acid. An amino acid is the micro-nutrient of protein. If an individual isn't getting enough protein they are not getting enough of the amino acid tryptophine. Tryptophine converts into serotonin in the brain. Sadly tryptophine is a real small amino acid and it gets crowded out a lot by other amino acids getting into the brain. Plus, if we eat too much of processed carbs and bad fats (hydrogenated fats) it destroys the body's ability to make the conversion of tryptophine to serotonin. (Serotonin is converted from tryp. in the day time to create that feeling of well-being and the tryp. makes melatonin at night so we can sleep well!)

Now enters 5-HTP. 5-HTP can get into the brain easily and doesn't get crowded out as easily as tryptophine. It's still best to take your 5-HTP on an empty tummy, though. Other proteins in the stomach and small intestine can still crowd out the 5-HTP getting into the blood system. Once the 5-HTP gets into the brain it converts very easily into serotonin. So what the 5-HTP does is tells the brain synapses 'here's more serotonin' as opposed to the SSRI telling (forcing) the brain chemistry into 'please recognize more serotonin.' n
Since 5-HTP is a natural supplement it isn't tricking the brain chemistry into doing something it doesn't already do. That's what the SSRI's do, though. And that's where you get the bad side effects.

Recommended dosages of 5-HTP are 50 mg to 200 mg. I personally take 50 mg in the morning before breakfast (over an hour before) and another 50 mg before bedtime. I take a brand called HTP-Calm that has Valerian, Hops and some other herbs in there that are known for calming the body. It helps me sleep at night (usually!!!!) and helps relieve anxiety/stress. Please never take this if you are taking an SSRI already and don't just stop taking any SSRI's without first talking to your doctor. It can really throw you into a serious loop! Plus, I'm not diagnosing anyone or prescribing here either! (Legal disclaimer!!!)

This is info that I used to teach in my nutrition classes to my weight loss clients. This is a very simplified version of a very delicate and intricate system of the brain. It's by no means meant to be scientific but just a simple way of understanding some information.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions, and I'll try to help.

Blessings,
Kimberly <---who shall now try to get to sleep!!!!