
5-HTP is not something the vast majority of us are familiar with, but it is something our bodies need in order to function effectively. 5 htp - or to give it its full scientific name, 5-Hydroxtryptophan is an amino acid which is the interim step between the chemical tryptophan and the very important brain chemical serotonin. Now we've all heard of serotonin or, as it is more commonly referred to - the 'happy hormone', and we all know it is responsible for making us feel happier. We tend to know this simply because eating chocolate lifts the levels of serotonin in the brain and helps us feel better about this. And they say chocolate is bad for us!
There is a lot of research out there that suggests our modern lifestyles and diets lower the levels of serotonin in the brain and because of this we crave the sugar and carbohydrates needed to increase these levels, as a result becoming over weight. It might seem that chocolate fixes are indeed bad for us after all. But being over weight isn't the only side affect of low serotonin levels. This can also cause periods of depression, frequent headaches as well as muscle aches and pains.
There have been a great number of studies into low levels of serotonin in the brain as well as how serotonin and, in turn, 5-HTP can help the body with various conditions and diseases. Work is still ongoing in this field but so far there have been a number of benefits discovered.
5-HTP is believed to help with depression, obesity and linked to this bulimia and carbohydrate cravings. Insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep problems and fibromyalgia are also believed to be helped by an increased amount of 5-HTP as are migraine headaches, tension headaches and chronic daily headaches. Premenstrual syndrome symptoms are also said to be helped be an increased intake of 5-HTP and as such increased levels of serotonin levels in the brain.
