Tryptophan May Boost Confidence

[Guest guest]

Tryptophan May Boost Confidence

Neuropsychopharmacology August 2001;25:277-289

http://www.mercola.com/2001/oct/27/tryptophan.htm

 

Consuming tryptophan, the essential amino acid, may help people be more sure

of themselves, according to a report.

 

People who consumed 3 grams of tryptophan daily were more confident and less

quarrelsome than they were when taking an inactive placebo.

 

Tryptophan is an important precursor to the brain chemical serotonin, which

helps regulate mood. For example, moderate dieting is known to lower blood

levels of tryptophan, which may alter serotonin levels in the brain.

 

Low serotonin has been found to be related to depression, impulsivity and

aggression.

 

Researchers recruited 98 healthy volunteers who were split into two groups.

One group took 1 gram of tryptophan with each meal for 12 days, while the

other group took a placebo pill.

 

At the end of 12 days, both groups received no treatment for 2 days and then

switched pill types for another 12 days. During the entire study period, the

men and women completed daily questionnaires that assessed various mood

states and behaviors.

 

The absence of a consistent effect on mood is consistent with other studies

that have shown that tryptophan may enhance mood in depressed individuals.

 

Agreeable and dominant behaviors are more common in most people's social

repertoire than quarrelsome or submissive behaviors.

 

When taking tryptophan dominant behaviors increase further in frequency and

quarrelsome behaviors decrease in frequency, the researcher concluded. It is

particularly interesting to note that daily peaks of quarrelsome behaviors

decreased.

 

 

------

 

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:

 

Of all the supplements one can use for depression, tryptophan is clearly my

favorite. Being an amino acid it is far closer to a food and in light of it

being a precursor for serotonin, it certainly makes sense to consider using

it for depressive disorders.

 

If one decides to use tryptophan please realize that it is a prescription

item. It is NOT banned anymore despite what some pharmacists may tell you.

Most all compounding pharmacists would be able to obtain this for you.

 

However, if one is persistent, it is possible to locate veterinary sources

which do not require a prescription, is considerably less expensive, and

just as effective. Of course, I can't legally recommend it to you, but I

would have no problems taking veterinary tryptophan myself, if I felt I

needed it.

 

Having said that though, I rarely use tryptophan. Or for that matter

antidepressants.

 

Since I have started incorporating Emotional Freedom Technique I have not

had to use any of those tools that I previously relied on.

 

I suspect there are cases that don't respond to EFT but I have yet to find

them.

 

Of course following the eating plan is critical. William Dufty's Sugar Blues

written 26 years ago is still a classic that eloquently describes the

connection between sugar intake and depression.