5HTP Review

What You Should Know

The main substances in the body that gives it energy and control its functions are amino acids. There are at least 20 of these found in various types of protein. They regulate the brain’s hormone levels and thus control things like metabolism. Many people today have weight issues from depression or stress. 5-HTP is a natural amino acid that increases the amounts of serotonin by converting tryptophan. One of the symptoms of low serotonin is a craving for carbohydrates, which immediately break down into starch, then into fat. We appreciate the unique approach this product takes but it is important to remember that anything altering the brain’s chemistry could have unexpected effects. It’s best to use caution and when looking for weight loss be sure to couple any supplements with a healthy diet and exercise.

List of Ingredients

The 5htp.com website offers two main components. First, there’s a bottle of 5-HTP capsules coated in enteric. Secondly, there is a book by Michael Murray, a co-author of the Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. The book sold on Amazon for $10.20 is titled 5-HTTP: The Natural Way to Overcome Depression, Obesity or Anxiety. It talks about the uses and benefits of 5-HTP to the brain and the effect of serotonin. Serotonin is responsible for many functions of the brain, including metabolism. At the time of this review a consumer could be able to purchase a bottle of the supplement for $18.95, plus $4.95 in shipping and handling charges.

Product Features

The 5htp.com website contains many studies which cite the effects of serotonin and 5-HTP. These studies have been going on since the 1970s and have shown that increased serotonin makes it easier to lose weight.

Advantages

• Many studies are cited as to this product’s effectiveness and the chemical is a natural hormone that is produced by the body. There isn’t any chance of allergic reactions because of this.
• Both the book and website give extensive information about 5-HTP.

Disadvantages

• Although we feel that introduction of hormones could be an effective approach; it’s also very risky. It’s recommended that people looking into hormonal treatments for weight loss purposes should talk with their doctor.
• We would have liked to see a link to some of the studies that were cited on the website as it would have made it easier to verify their results.
• For this product to work it has to be taken regularly 20 minutes prior to a meal. This is difficult to predict unless you always eat at the same time each day.

Conclusion

We believe that since this formula has been under research for nearly 40 years it’s likely that it does indeed have some sound scientific basis. However, we must caution against using brain-chemistry-altering formulas without first looking at the possible side effects. As always, a good weight loss program includes diet and exercise as primary components, in addition to any supplements recommended.