Stressful lifestyles and poor diets often cause a depletion of serotonin levels. 5-HTP is an amino acid that plays an important role in the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter known to be associated with the feeling of well-being. In addition to supporting a healthy mental outlook and a positive mood, studies have also shown serotonin to encourage deeper sleep and to support healthy appetite regulation. Unlike oral serotonin, 5-HTP is able to effectively cross the blood-brain barrier and increase synthesis of serotonin in the central nervous system. This formulation of 5-HTP is extracted naturally from the seed of the African plant Griffonia simplicifolia.
