Quote:Isn't that a diet suppressant?
I actually love tryptophan because it can serve so many purposes, because it is a raw amino acid that your brain uses to turn into exactly what it needs for mood and sleep regulation.
Basically, l-tryptophan is processed in your body (not sure if only in your brain) and is turned into 5-htp, which in turn is turned into any amount of serotonin your body needs, and if you're looking for sleep, into melatonin.
Most people's diets today contain little to no tryptophan, and this poor or nonextistent uptake is further hindered by the fact that if you eat something with tryptophan, there are usually going to be many amino acids along with it, which are going to "compete" for brain uptake, leaving very little tryptophan to be absorbed and transformed into the amazing mood-regulating neurotransmitters we all need.
This is why it is very recommended to take l-tryptophan in supplement form in a mostly empty stomach. Taken like this, the body will absorb it right up and will know exactly what to do with it (trust your body with this amino acid, nature is the wisest healer of all).
I had thankfully not eaten anything while on the substance, making absorbtion extremely fast and easy. I literally didn't have to sleep to feel "restored" again. That's how awesome l-tryptophan is.