According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, every year approximately 26% of Americans aged 18 or over will struggle with a diagnosable mental health disorder – such as depression or anxiety.
Symptoms of depression and anxiety commonly present as:
- Depressed mood
- Reduced interest in doing things you once enjoyed
- Apathy, lack of motivation
- Increased fatigue
- Thoughts of letting yourself or those around you down
- Insomnia
- Inability to relax/”busy brain”
- Unexplained body aches
This is a heavy subject but there is hope!
Along with counseling, therapy, and appropriate evaluation to determine course of action, supporting your health with appropriate amino acids may provide additional mood balancing.
Amino acids come from the proteins we eat in our diet.
The following play a role in mood support:
5-HTP
- Supports healthy biosynthesis of serotonin
- Supports healthy mood and positive outlook
- Supports normal appetite
- Supports restful sleep pattern
L-Theanine
- Promotes relaxation without drowsiness
- Supports nervous system health and function
- May support blood pressure already within the normal range
- Supports antioxidant and detoxification mechanisms
- May support liver health and function
L-Tyrosine
- Maintain healthy levels of Dopamine, Norepinephrine and Epinephrine
- Supports healthy mood and memory under stressful conditions
- Supports mental focus and alertness
- Supports individuals with polymorphism in dopamine receptors
These amino acids then help boost the production of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are messengers that relay chemical messages between our cells, including the ones within the brain. The mood stabilizing neurotransmitters we are talking about are: Dopamine, Serotonin and Norepinephrine.
Our bodies are incredible but sometimes they need support.
So… if you are feeling a down or anxious, amino acids can help bring you back into alignment.
Optimizing nutrients such as Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Methylated B12 will reinforce the production of amino acids leading to improved mood as well.
As always, the providers here at Inspired Health are here to help guide you.
*Please consult with your healthcare provider before taking any supplements.
Be well!
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References
[1] “Mental Health Disorder Statistics.” 2022.
[2] “Fighting Depression using Amino Acid Therapy.” N.D.
[3] “Neurotransmitters.” 2022.
