4 Major 5 HTP Benefits to see if 5HTP Benefits are for You? | Trio Nutrition

The information in this article and throughout Trio Nutrition’s blog is for informational purposes only, and should never be mistaken for professional medical advice.

Have you ever wondered if there was a natural way to possibly boost your mood? Or a supplement that might help calm you done, without the potentially scary side effects of pharmaceuticals? If you’ve looked into it, you may come across 5-HTP.

With its less-than-friendly-sounding name, you might feel hesitant to give it a try. It’s a powerful tool that may have a positive impact on your brain and central nervous system, including your serotonin levels.

In this post, we hope to help you understand what is 5-HTP, and how might it help improve your mood and battle anxiety and depression.* Let’s talk about it!

What is 5-HTP

5-HTP is short for 5-hydroxytryptophan. Your body makes 5-HTP from tryptophan, which is an essential amino acid you get from the foods you eat. After your body makes 5-HTP from the tryptophan you eat, it converts it again into serotonin. So, when you eat food that has the essential amino acid tryptophan, your body converts it into 5-HTP and then finally into serotonin.

Serotonin is actually 5-HT, or 5-hydroxytryptamine, and is the feel good neurotransmitter that helps regulate many functions, including mood, sleep, digestion and more. So having sufficient 5-HTP helps support sufficient serotonin levels, which may be necessary for emotional wellbeing. 

You can get tryptophan from foods such as:

• Whole milk
• Canned tuna
• Turkey and chicken
• Oats
• Cheese
• Nuts and seeds

On the other hand, you can’t get 5-HTP from food, so you may want to to take a supplement to boost your levels. 5-HTP supplements are typically produced from the seeds Griffonia simplicifolia, a plant native to Africa. While there may not be a supplement that can make you happy, a 5 HTP supplement may possibly give your body the tools it needs to support your mood, ease anxiety and provide other positive benefits.

5HTP Benefits

Taking a 5-HTP supplement has been found to help to bolster your mood and calm you down. 

5-HTP May Help Bolster Your Mood

Research has found a link between mood levels and a deficit in serotonin levels. Because 5-HTP is converted into serotonin in the body, it's believed to aid in alleviating sadness. 5-HTP is also well tolerated, making it a desirable tool for those looking for a more natural approach. 

5-HTP May Relieve Jitters

Serotonin isn’t called the feel-good hormone for no reason! Because serotonin helps regulate moods, it can have a powerful impact on calming you down. By supplementing your levels of 5-HTP, you may support healthy serotonin levels, which might take the edge off your jitters. 

5-HTP May Aid Weight Loss

One effect that 5-HTP may have on the body is an increased feeling of fullness. This effect may help squash an overactive appetite and reduce overeating.

It’s easy to see the possibilities that 5-HTP pills offer to improve our well-being, but getting enough of it can be a challenge. How much should you take?  Trio Nutrition's Mood Joy Happy Pill ingredients include 5 HTP, St. John's wart, and a proprietary blend that may help people who struggle with depression, anxiety and other mood issues. The starting recommended adult dosage is 1 capsule a day with food and water.     

5 HTP and Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha, also known as Withania somnifera or Indian ginseng, is an evergreen shrub native to India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. It has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for centuries for its purported health benefits.  Ashwagandha may help to reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep and boost cognitive function.  It may be that using the combination of Ashwagandha and 5htp in a supplement such as Mood Joy may amplify the benefits of either one alone.

For medical advice on 5 HTP dosage, consult your healthcare practitioner  

5-HTP is a serotonin precursor that your body makes from tryptophan, an amino acid. This helps support the chemical reactions necessary for mood regulation. It has also been linked to helping ease anxiety, support weight loss, and help with symptoms from fibromyalgia such as muscle pain and insomnia. While you can get tryptophan from food, you cannot get 5-HTP from any food source. This makes 5-HTP supplementation a possible solution for those interested in boosting their intake and reaping the benefits.

*The information in this article and throughout Trio Nutrition’s blog is for informational purposes only, and should never be mistaken for professional medical advice.