An Alternative to Prozac?

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Tryptophan was banned in the US, just prior to Prozac coming on the market. It

is still available by prescription in the US or is available as a " pet "

supplement.

 

It is still available in most areas of the world outside of the US.

 

F.

 

http://www.doctoryourself.com/prozac.html

 

Prozac Alternatives?

 

Before the FDA removed all tryptophan supplements from the market due to a

temporary, and now corrected, industrial manufacturing error, millions of people

had safely taken regular suppertime doses of this amino acid, usually between

500 to 2,000 mg, to help them sleep. Inside you, tryptophan is broken down into

anxiety-reducing, snooze-inducing niacin. Even more important, tryptophan is

also made into serotonin, one of your body's most important neurotransmitters.

Serotonin gives a feeling of well-being and mellowness, what we in Australia

( " g'day, mate! " ) would call " no worries. " This is such a profound effect that

Prozac, Paxil and similar antidepressants usually either mimic serotonin or

artificially keep the body's own serotonin levels high. You can do the same

thing with your food. And no one can tell us that beans, peas, cheese, nuts and

wheat germ are toxic if you eat a lot of them!

Plenty of carbohydrates (starches) in your meals help tryptophan get to where it

does the most good: in your brain. In order to cross the blood-brain barrier to

get in, carbos are required. So cheese and crackers provides a better effect

than the cheese standing alone. An egg or two on toast is better than just the

egg. Beans, peas, and nuts already contain carbohydrate, so you are all set

there.

Consider that five servings of beans, a few portions of cheese or peanut butter,

or just one big handful of cashews provides one to two thousand milligrams of

tryptophan, which will work as well as prescription antidepressants... but don't

tell the drug companies. Some skeptics think that the pharmaceutical people

already know, and that is why the FDA is keeping tryptophan supplements

unavailable. Here are two quotes in evidence:

" Pay careful attention to what is happening with dietary supplements in the

legislative arena... If these efforts are successful, there could be created a

class of products to compete with approved drugs. The establishment of a

separate regulatory category for supplements could undercut exclusivity rights

enjoyed by the holders of approved drug applications. "

(FDA Deputy Commissioner for Policy David Adams, at the Drug Information

Association Annual Meeting, July 12, 1993)

" The task force considered many issues in its deliberations including to ensure

that the existence of dietary supplements on the market does not act as a

disincentive for drug development. "

(FDA Dietary Task Force Report, released June 15, 1993)

Remember that tryptophan is one of the ten essential amino acids you need to

stay alive. It is by law added to liquid feedings for the elderly and all

infant formulas. Yet tryptophan supplements remain illegal. You can legally

buy L-5-hydroxytryptophan, a non-prescription tryptophan derivative, at health

foods stores. 5-HTP is quite costly, however. The good news is that plenty of

inexpensive vitamin C enables your body to convert dietary Tryptophan into your

own 5-HTP, and then on into serotonin.

So go; eat; and be happy!

Foods high in the Amino Acid L-Tryptophan (in milligrams (mg) per 100 gram (3.5

ounce) portion), about the size of a deck of playing cards. That is not a large

serving, and in a single meal you might easily double or triple the figures

listed here.

 

Beans

Lentils 215 mg

Dried Peas 250

Navy (pea) 200

Pinto Beans 210

Red Kidney 215

Soy 525

 

Nuts and Seeds

Brazil Nuts 185 mg

Cashews 470

Filberts 210

Peanuts 340

Peanut Butter 330 (this is for natural peanut butter, not popular commercial

brands)

Pumpkin Seed 560

Sesame Seeds 330-575 (if seeds are ground up)

Sunflower 340

Other nuts generally provide at least 130 milligrams per small serving; usually

more.

Grains

Wheat Germ 265 mg

Cheese

Cheddar: 340 mg

Parmesan: 490

Swiss: 375

Other cheeses tend to be lower in tryptophan, but are still very good sources.

Eggs 210 mg

Brewer's Yeast 700 mg

(Source: US Department of Agriculture, Amino Acid Content of Foods.)

Meats are generally regarded as a good source of tryptophan, organ meats

supposedly being the highest. However, most meats are in the range of 160 to

260 mg/100 g, (chicken is about 250) with organ meats ranging between 220 and

330. These figures certainly do not compel meat eating. Compare with soybeans,

split peas, cheese and cashews!

Copyright C 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and prior years Andrew W. Saul. From the

books QUACK DOCTOR and FIRE YOUR DOCTOR, by Dr. Andrew Saul, Number 8 Van Buren

Street, Holley, New York 14470 USA. Telephone (585) 638-5357

 

 

 

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