The problem with a serotonin supplement is that it seems to affect only the serotonin. The matter is further complicated by the fact that appetite and sex drive are also affected by this neurotransmitter. Dopamine and norepinephrine also play a role. The first thing to know then is that strictly speaking, a serotonin supplement does not exist as it does not come in a bottle, unfortunately!
The second thing to know is that if you produce too much serotonin you may become very relaxed and your sex drive will also take a holiday! If we do not produce enough of this chemical, then we are going to feel so sad and we will lack motivation, drive and energy.
But even if the serotonin supplement does not exist, we can stock up with plenty of elements and foods which contain tryptophan which is the precursor and is vital in serotonin formation. These are what I call the good mood foods and there is a very interesting book on this very subject which is a must read if you ever get the chance. The name of the book is The Serotonin Secret. It was written by Katrin Hempel and Caroline Longmore. Some of the best foods to opt for are spinach, bananas, turkey, avocado, nuts and sunflower seeds.
So, apart from the foods rich in tryptophan, one of the best supplements to take in this case is 5 HTP, an amino acid, which will increase the levels of tryptohan which will then go on to manufacture the serotonin. It has been noted that there is also a reduced sex drive while taking this supplement.
If losing sex drive is a worry, there are other herbs for depression such as St.John's Wort and the Passion Flower which do NOT have any side effects such as these, they are generally well tolerated and their safety record is excellent too.
So, there you have it. The third thing to know is that while the serotonin supplement does not exist, there are many other equally effective alternatives which will help you to get out of the black hole of depression in a short time.
