5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) is an amino acid that is the intermediate step between tryptophan (the stuff in turkey that makes you want to go to sleep after Thanksgiving dinner and also a glass of warm milk) and the important brain chemical serotonin. 5-HTP is extracted from the seeds of the Griffonia, a tree-like shrub that grows mainly in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Studies have shown that 5-HTP supplementation can have widespread effects on the human body, including helping to suppress the appetite, relieve insomnia, promote relaxation, calm anxieties, improve mood and energy and reduce symptoms associated with PMS and fibromyalgia.

5-HTP can achieve these effects because it is converted by the body into serotonin. Since serotonin is a powerful neurotransmitter, it has the ability to affect many different systems of the body and alter their functions. I have been taking 5-HTP for about seven years now and it really does work! It levels out my mood and helps alleviate my hunger cravings. If you’re prone to get the blues and the blahs 5-HTP can really help. It can also really help with S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder). If you buy 5-HTP be sure the capsules are enterically coated. This means they will make it past your stomach and into your small intestine where they can be absorbed properly and go to the brain.