Stimulating The Brain’s Feel Good Chemicals (NAPS)—Here’s encouraging news for people who are struggling with their weight or coping with mild depression. Boosting a chemical naturally produced by the brain—serotonin—mayoffer relief from mild depression and for some people can makeit easier to lose weight. Scientists say that people with low levels of serotonin tend to be depressed, irritable, irrational, aggressive and inattentive. They often crave carbohydrates, especially candy, baked goods and other sources of simple sugars. As a result, these people with low serotonin levels are not only depressed, they tend to overeat and get fat. Although in the human physiology, serotonin is produced from the amino acid tryptophan, many people cannot produce enough. Emotional and physical stress, as well as illness, all hamper the ability of the body to convert tryptophan to serotonin. One way some people are overcoming mild depression and Signs and Symptomsof Medical Depression include: Poorself-esteem and lack of selfconfidence Despair and hopelessness Loss ofinterest in ordinary activities and pleasures of daily living Withdrawal from social events and activities Fatigue andlethargy Dwelling on past events Chronic guilt Bouts of angerandirritability Loss of productivity Inability to concentrate or make decisions @ One of the criteria for mild depression is that a person is depressed mostof the time for two years. In a clinical study conducted at obesity is by using a nutritional formula containing 5-hydroxytrytophan (5-HTP). 5-HTP is a com- the Osaka University Medical to serotonin. As for weight loss, in one study, women receiving 5-HTPlost an average of 4.39 poundsin thefirst six weeks and 11.63 poundsafter pound derived from tryptophan that the brain can easily convert When serotonin levels in the brain are elevated, a person may be less prone to overeating. The use of 5-HTP to elevate serotonin levels can produce astounding results for both de- pression and weight loss, said Michael Murray, N.D., author of 5-HTP: The Natural Way to Overcome Depression, Obesity and Insomnia (Bantam Books, 1998). School, 107 patients received 5- HTP daily. Within four weeks, 74 of them reported significant improvements in mood. twelve weeks. To find out more about 5-HTP and for a copy of the Journal of Natural Health, call 800 8580228, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Stan- dard Time or visit www.white wing.com.
