If you have been looking for supplements to help you lose weight, you must have come across a 5-HTP dietary supplement. 5-HTP is a top-rated supplement for thousands of people worldwide to enhance their mood and sleep. But does 5-HTP aid in weight loss?
There seems to be a consensus among scientists that 5 HTP can reduce your weight. It controls your appetite, so you don’t often get hungry. As a result, when one reduces the meals that he eats daily (for example, from three to two meals), eventually, he will notice that he is losing weight.
This article will tell whether a 5-HTP dietary supplement can help you lose weight.
What exactly is 5-HTP?
5-HTP is a supplement that is often used to boost serotonin levels. Serotonin is a crucial component that the brain uses to regulate your appetite, mood, and other essential functions.
It is a natural chemical in the body. It can also be taken as a nutritional supplement to improve your health and mental and sleep quality.
5-HTP was only available in a prescription form. Still, it was later approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an over-the-counter supplement.
How Does 5-HTP Work?
Now that you know what 5-HTP is, you must be interested to know how it works. 5-HTP functions in the central nervous system plus the brain by boosting the production of a chemical known as serotonin.
When ingested, 5-HTP produces serotonin. This chemical messenger sends signals to your nerve cells to improve sleep quality, suppress appetite, enhance mood, and much more.
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Is 5-HTP Good For Weight Loss?
If you plan to use 5-HTP to lose weight, you must wonder whether it is suitable for weight loss. The answer is YES. 5-HTP is good for weight loss. The weight loss process often leads to the production of hormones that make you feel hungrier.
If you feel hungry, you are more likely to eat unhealthy foods that will hinder your weight loss effort. The constant feeling of feeling hungry can frustrate your weight loss journey and eventually make you give up.
Multiple studies have shown that people taking the 5-HTP supplement usually have a more successful weight loss journey. This is because it helps suppress their hunger by making them feel full for a long time.
Taking 5-HTP will help counteract the hunger-inducing hormones, thus helping you suppress your appetite and make your weight loss journey smoother.
Studies have also shown that 5-HTP can help inhibit the intake of calories from carbohydrates, which is one of the top reasons many struggles to lose weight. So, taking a 5-HTP supplement makes your body less likely to store excess fat.
When Should I Take 5-HTP For Weight Loss?
You can start taking 5-HTP when ready to begin your weight loss journey. Experts recommend that you start taking this supplement when you decide to start losing weight.
It will help make your weight loss journey easier by suppressing your appetite, thus refraining you from unnecessary snacking and overeating. Take the 5-HTP supplement alongside your diet and workout routine. You will see great results within a brief period.
Does 5-HTP Increase Metabolism?
There is still no evidence that suggests that 5-HTP helps to increase metabolism. However, a recent study revealed that 5-HTP could help speed up your metabolism, which is why it is very effective in weight loss.
When you take this supplement for 12 weeks, the increased serotonin level will positively impact your metabolism. It will help speed up your metabolism, thus allowing your body to burn more calories into energy instead of storing them as fat.
So, besides suppressing your hunger, 5-HTP can help boost your metabolism, thus allowing your body to burn more calories for energy.
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Is 5-HTP an Appetite Suppressant?
YES, one of the top functions of 5-HTP is to suppress your appetite. 5-HTP help increase your serotonin levels, which, in turn, suppresses your hunger. Weight loss usually leads to the production of hormones that make you feel hungry.
5-HTP helps counter the hunger-inducing hormones by suppressing your appetite while losing weight. When you take 5-HTP, you will have a more incredible feeling of fullness and satiety, leading to decreased food intake.
If you want to lose weight by following a strict weight loss program, then 5-HTP will help to make the process smoother by suppressing your hunger.
Best 5-HTP For Weight Loss
With several 5-HTP supplements on the market, choosing one that suits your needs can be daunting, especially if you are buying this supplement for the first time. Fortunately, today you have landed in the right place. Below is a list of the best 5-HTP supplements for weight loss.
1. Nested Naturals
Nested naturals are one of the best 5-HTP supplements for weight loss. This supplement has undergone four stages of tests. It has proven beyond a reasonable doubt to be effective in weight loss.
Besides, this supplement also does not contain GMOs. Besides aiding in weight loss, Nested Naturals also help to enhance calmness and relaxation.
2. Myprotein 5-HTP capsules
Myprotein 5-HTP capsules have been designed to help people who want to smooth their weight loss journey and be stress-free. It is FDA approved and delivers fast and effective results.
This supplement also helps to enhance your quality of sleep, which is essential for people who want to lose weight.
3. Natrol-5-HTP
This product contains very effective ingredients that give quick and long-term results. Natrol-5-HTP works quickly and delivers excellent results.
It will suppress your hunger, thus making your weight loss process smooth. This supplement will also help relieve stress and help you maintain a positive outlook.
4. Swanson 5-HTP Maximum strength
Swanson 5-HTP Maximum strength is a powerful supplement that has been tested by a third party and proven to be effective. This product will aid in weight loss by suppressing your hunger, thus making you feel full for a long time.
Besides aiding in weight loss, this supplement also helps to enhance your mood and emotional well-being.
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How to Take 5-HTP For Weight Loss?
Before we discuss how to take 5-HTP for weight loss, it is essential to note that the recommended dosage for 5-HTP depends on the reason for taking it. For instance, the dosage for mood enhancement differs from the dosage for weight management.
5-HTP manufacturers sell their supplements in various dosages, including 25, 50, and 100mg. There is no specific recommended daily dosage for 5-HTP for weight management. But generally, most people taking 5-HTP for weight management take a daily dosage of between 250 and 300mg.
The dosage should be taken 30 minutes before taking your meal. Ensure that you take your 5-HTP as the manufacturer recommends to minimize the chances of suffering from side effects.
5-HTP Side Effects
Before discussing the side effects of 5-HTP, it is essential to point out that 5-HTP is generally a safe dietary supplement. To minimize the chances of suffering from side effects, ensure that you buy this dietary supplement from a reputable brand that the FDA has approved.
When purchasing a 5-HTP supplement, check for USP or NSF seals that indicate high quality. USP and NSF are third-party companies that guarantee that the supplement contains what they claim on the label, without any impurities.
Additionally, ensure that you follow the recommendation given by the manufacturer when taking this supplement to aid in weight loss. Also, start with a small dosage of between 50-100mg daily, increasing your dosage gradually.
Lastly, if you have a medical condition or are under medication, consult your doctor before taking this supplement to ensure that it will not negatively affect you.
Possible Side Effects of The 5-HTP Supplement Include:
It decreases the number of other neurotransmitters, such as norepinephrine and dopamine. This can make other medications such as hyperactivity disorder, Parkinson’s disease, obesity, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and much worse. This is more likely to occur in individuals who take this dietary supplement for a long time.
Other potential sides of taking 5-HTP include:
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
How long does 5-HTP take to work?
The good thing about 5-HTP is that it gives long-term results. Experts say it takes about two weeks to notice the beneficial effect of the 5-HTP supplement on weight loss.
So when you start taking this supplement, don’t expect to see positive results overnight. Take it consistently as the manufacturer recommends for at least two weeks, and you will start noticing a beneficial effect.
What Does 5-HTP Do to Your Body?
Taking a 5-HTP supplement will raise your serotonin levels in the brain. Because serotonin helps to regulate your behavior and mood, it may positively affect your appetite, anxiety, mood, sleep, and pain sensation.
For instance, taking this supplement to aid in weight loss will suppress your hunger-inducing hormones, thus making you feel not hungry for a long time.
On the other hand, if you take this supplement to manage your anxiety and depression, serotonin will enhance your mood, giving you a relaxed and happy feeling.
5-HTP supplement will regulate your mood and behavior, giving you the desired effect that you are looking for.
What Are Other Benefits of 5-HTP?
a) It improves your quality of sleep.
Another benefit of 5-HTP is that it helps to improve your quality of sleep. Anxiety is a common factor that affects the quality of sleep. This supplement helps reduce depression, anxiety, and panic attacks, thus improving your overall sleep quality.
5-HTP will also improve your sleep quality by increasing melatonin production in your body. So, this supplement can help you get quality and uninterrupted sleep if you have sleeping problems.
b) It helps to get rid of migraine.
If you have wanted a supplement to help get rid of migraine, 5-HTP can help. Various clinical studies have shown that 5-HTP can help eliminate migraines, a headache usually accompanied by disturbed vision and nausea.
According to experts, migraines are often triggered by low serotonin levels. 5-HTP supplement works by boosting your serotonin levels and can significantly reduce the number of migraine attacks.
c) It helps to improve symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Taking 5-HTP can help improve the symptoms of fibromyalgia, which causes bone, muscle pain and general weakness. The leading cause of fibromyalgia is not yet known.
Still, various clinical studies have found that low serotonin levels are linked with this condition. Taking 5-HTP suppliant will help boost your serotonin levels, thus improving fibromyalgia symptoms.
Final Verdict
If you have been thinking of taking a 5-HTP dietary supplement to aid in weight loss but are wondering if you are making the right decision, the answer is YES. 5-HTP is one of the best supplements to take when you are on a weight loss program.
This supplement will help boost the serotonin level, which will, in turn, suppress your appetite, thus making you feel not hungry for a long time. 5-HTP supplements work by suppressing hunger-inducing hormones, thus making your weight loss journey smooth by limiting your chance of snacking and overeating.
However, to get the best results from using a 5-HTP supplement, ensure that you buy one with a USP or NSF seal. Also, ensure that you take the supplement as recommended by the manufacturer.