Can 5 HTP help with weight loss? The answer is yes. In fact 5-HTP can influence your feelings of hunger, as it increases your feelings of fullness. If you are feeling full, this will cause you to eat and snack a lot less. If you are feeling full and eating less it will be easier to lose weight. If you are on a weight loss mission and currently embarking upon healthy eating and exercise, then using 5-HTP as a regular supplement can help you reach your goals faster.
Let’s go a little deeper here...
Do you want to enhance your mood and sleep naturally? You have probably heard of the popular supplement 5-HTP, whose scientific name is 5-Hydroxytryptophan, and also known as Oxitriptan. It is actually a naturally occurring amino acid that your body produces and chemical precursor as well as a metabolic intermediate in the biosynthesis of the neurotransmitter Serotonin. 5-HTP is a chemical by-product of the protein building block L-tryptophan. It is also produced commercially from the seeds of an African plant known as Griffonia Simplicifolia.
Do you sometimes feel a little under the weather? Maybe you just aren’t feeling your best or a lack of sleep is starting to get you down a bit? In this post we are going to tell you about all the glorious benefits of a natural supplement called 5-HTP. If you haven’t used it before, it’s maybe time you gave it a go.
How does 5-HTP work?
5-HTP works in the brain and central nervous system by increasing the production of the chemical Serotonin. Your body uses 5-HTP to produce Serotonin, which is a chemical messenger that sends signals between your nerve cells, Increasing your body’s production of Serotonin can have numerous benefits.
Serotonin levels can have a profound effect on cognitive and physical functions such as:
- Sleep
- Appetite
- Temperature
- Sexual behaviour
- Pain sensation
- Anxiety & depression
Because 5-HTP increases the synthesis of Serotonin, it can be used for several issues where Serotonin is believed to play an important role including depression, insomnia, obesity, and many other conditions. It is always advisable that a trusted, natural blend of 5-HTP like Evo Nutrition's 5-HTP which is extracted from the seeds of the African plant, Griffonia Simplicifolia is used if supplementing regularly.
Studies have shown that low Serotonin levels are associated with depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, weight gain and other health problems. Therefore, Serotonin-producing 5-HTP supplements have become increasingly popular.
The process of weight loss can lead to an increase in the production of hormones that make you feel hungry. The uncomfortable feeling of being constantly hungry can make losing weight extremely difficult and unsustainable in the long term. If you are feeling hungry a lot, you are more likely to binge eat in order to feel full quickly.
Supplementing with 5-HTP may counteract these hunger-inducing hormones, helping to suppress your appetite and help you lose weight effectively. Studies have shown that people supplementing with 5-HTP had a decreased food intake compared to those who weren’t supplementing.
When looking at the effectiveness of 5-HTP, another study examined 20 people with diabetes who were randomly assigned to receive either 5-HTP or a placebo for two weeks. Amazingly, the results showed that people who were taking the 5-HTP consumed approximately 435 fewer calories per day, compared to the placebo group. This proves that the supplement can help to suppress appetite.
5-HTP and carbohydrates
In the diet and weight loss world, excessive consumption of carbohydrates is often seen as one of the main reasons why people don’t lose weight.
High glycaemic carbohydrates can spike your blood sugar as they digest quickly. Interestingly, it has been proven that taking 5-HTP can primarily inhibit the intake of calories from carbohydrates, which was associated with better blood sugar control, meaning you are less likely to store excess fat.
Who is 5-HTP best for?
You might be wondering if 5-HTP is a good supplement to take for you? Or who is it best for?
Emotional eaters
5-HTP is excellent for those who are emotional eaters. These will stand to benefit greatly from taking this supplement.
Carb-aholics
Are you a carb-aholic? If so then the supplement is probably a great idea. Carbohydrates help your body make 5-HTP, so when 5-HTP or Serotonin-levels are low, your carb cravings kick in. Boosting your 5-HTP levels with a supplement such as Evo Nutrition’s 5-HTP has been shown to slash those pesky carb cravings by more than 50 percent.
Those with a genetic tendency towards obesity
If obesity runs in your family, or you have always struggled to lose weight or achieve a weight you want, evidence has suggested that this genetic tendency toward obesity can be linked to decreased activity of an enzyme that helps turn tryptophan into 5-HTP. Help yourself along a little with a supplement that can help you lose weight.
Those who suffer with low moods
Let’s not forget too that 5-HTP is an excellent supplement for those who suffer with low moods, anxiety and depression. From a biochemical perspective, it makes sense to supplement with 5-HTP as it will produce more Serotonin and will, therefore, help subside anxiety and depression symptoms.
Fibromyalgia sufferers
What’s more, supplementing with 5-HTP might help to improve symptoms of fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by excessive muscle and bone pain, as well as general weakness.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a known cause of fibromyalgia, but studies have shown that low Serotonin levels can contribute to the condition. This has led researchers to believe that increasing Serotonin levels through 5-HTP supplements may benefit people with fibromyalgia.
5-HTP is a hugely diverse supplement which is excellent for a number of different things. It can appeal to so many different people whether you are suffering from weight gain, low mood or even fibromyalgia. If you haven’t started supplementing with 5-HTP today it's maybe time you did!
