5-HTP - Healthspark 100mg 90 capsules 5 Pack Offer (£11.07 per pack)

	Good for: Helping with Anxiety, Mood Swings, Depression, Insomnia and
	Things to be aware of: This 5-HTP product may cause drowsiness, Do not use 5-HTP if under medical supervision without consulting your medical practitioner. Pregnant or lactating women should not take 5-HTP without consulting their doctor. p&p from £2.50+VAT no matter how much you buy!

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin and an intermediate in tryptophan metabolism. 5-HTP is a compound created in the body which is used to regulate serotonin levels in brain and central nervous system. It is the effects on the levels of serotonin in the body that gives 5-HTP its active effects.

It is reported that modern hectic living – everyday stress/worries/and bad eating habits, lowers serotonin levels in the body.

Irritability, aggression, impatience, anxiety, worrying, all causes the body to release serotonin.

The body then tries to replenish its levels from your diet. Serotonin is not found in larges amounts in a normal diet, the body makes it itself from food which contains L-tryptophan, foods such as chocolate, oats, bananas, dried dates, milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, meat, fish, turkey, chicken, sesame, chickpeas, and peanuts.

Because a hectic lifestyle, or constant stress causes serotonin levels to be constantly low, many people crave the foods listed – fats carbohydrates, causing weight gain, depression, headaches, and muscle aches.

For the purpose of the capsules, the 5-HTP is sourced from the Griffonia simplicifolia plant. Griffonia simplicifolia is a woody climbing shrub that is native to West Africa and also grows in Central Africa.

It is the seeds of this plant that are used to extract the 5-Hydroxytryptophan content.

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Dosage

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Does it work?

Some research has been done into 5-HTP, and it has show that it has potential in the treatment of depression and possibly anxiety, panic disorder, sleep disorders and obesity.
As serotonin is found naturally in the body, the effects are well documented. Most results show that 5HTP has the same effects as SSRI antidepressants.

It is also suggested that more research needs to be done into the subject.

There have been some concerns about 5HTP, primarily related to the banning of Tryptophan. Tryptophan works in a similar way to 5-HTP, and Prozac, all three work by changing the levels of Serotonin in the body. Tryptophan was banned in 1990, as a certain batch contained a dangerous and potentially deadly blood disease - Eosinophilia - Myalgia Syndrome (EMS). This was due to the manufacturing process to synthesize tryptophan. Improvements have been made in the development, and Tryptophan has recently (2001), been allowed to be sold again.