Meals rich in carbs or proteins on plasma tryptophan and tyrosine ratios – (01-09-03)



Meals rich in carbs or proteins on plasma tryptophan and tyrosine ratios

This is an important consideration. Tryptophan crosses the blood brain barrier to get converted to serotonin. Serotonin helps modulate sleep and mood and satiety (drugs like Prosac work to increase levels of serotonin by increasing the time it is able to affect nervous transmission). However, tryptophan has a harder time crossing the BBB with competition from other amino acids. So, paradoxically, foods with lots of protein will contain higher levels of trypthophan, but less of this actually makes it to the brain because of the competition from the other amino acids. Foods such as soybeans, bananas and beans have relatively high tryptophan levels can help to increase brain tryptophan. In addition, supplemental 5-HTP has been shown to increase brain serotonin levels as well.

AJCN — Abstracts: Wurtman et al. 77 (1): 128

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James Bogash

For more than a decade, Dr. Bogash has stayed current with the medical literature as it relates to physiology, disease prevention and disease management. He uses his knowledge to educate patients, the community and cyberspace on the best way to avoid and / or manage chronic diseases using lifestyle and targeted supplementation.







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