5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)

Another natural remedy for losing weight that has raised a few eyebrows is a substance called 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP).  In fact, its been called into question for its safety record.  5-HTP actually replaced tryptophan  supplements banned due to its link to a rare and potentially deadly blood disorder. Also, there has been a difference of opinion on whether or not it is actually a viable substance for achieving weight loss.  Now, having said that, 5-HTP is found in some over-the-counter natural remedies for losing weight.

5-HTP is used to make serotonin for normal nerve and brain function. Lack of it affects sleep, emotional moods, pain control, inflammation, intestinal peristalsis (acts as a stimulant), and other body functions.  It's found in the cells of the brain(acts as a neurotransmitter speeding nerve impulses between synapses) and intestine and in platelets in our blood. When walls of blood vessels are damaged, serotonin is released from platelets to constrict the vessel and prevent hemorrhage.  

The human body doesn't make a lot of this.  5-HTP is derived from the seeds of a West African plant called Griffonia simplicifoli.  Dieters who use this product claim it helps suppress appetite, and helps promote weight loss. 

Initial research says 5-HTP is noted for its ability to reduce appetite by stimulating serotonin production in the brain. Clinical trials have appetite reduction and weight loss (averaging 11 pounds in 12 weeks) with 600 to 900 mg daily.  Trials using 5-HTP did show that some people taking large amounts of 5-HTP had nausea, headaches, sleepiness, muscle pain, or anxiety.

With this natural remedy for losing weight, and others as well, you must change your eating habits and increase exercise.  It will not work all that well just on its own.  In addition, if you happen to be pregnant or nursing, check with a Doctor, as there is no research in this area to indicate whether it is safe to take this substance under these circumstances.   Try not to get taken in with the common belief that if it is natural, it won't hurt you.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Get as much information as you can before you decide to try anything.

Weight Loss Tips

Are you looking to lose weight to improve your appearance, your health, or even both? If you are, you may be looking for advice. The good news is that there are a number of tips that you can use to help you successfully lose weight and hopefully achieve your weight loss goal.

When it comes to losing weight, the best thing that you can do is eat healthy. Eating healthy involves watching the foods that you eat, not necessarily how much food you eat. Of course, you may want to restrict the amount of foods that you eat, when on a diet, but it is more important to focus on the foods that you do eat. For instance, if you were to eat fruit instead of chips, you could have more fruit snacks with your meals than you would be able to if you were just to eat junk food.

Since eating healthy is an important component of losing weight, you may be wondering how you can go about doing so. One of the first things that you should do is find and familiarize yourself with healthy meals. You can do this by way of standard internet search or by buying a collection of healthy eating recipe books. To reduce the boredom often associated with healthy eating, especially if you are not use to it, it is important that you "spice," up your foods and try to not eat the same meals over and over again each week.

In connection with healthy eating, regular exercise is also important to weight loss. If you are looking to lose weight, you should start an exercise plan for yourself. Exercise is important as it burns off calories. When you burn calories, the amount of calories that your body absorbs decreases. This is, essentially, what makes it possible for you to lose weight. If you haven't been exercising regularly in the past, it is important that you take it slow. Exercise is a great way to lose weight, but you do not want to overdo it, especially at first.

If you don't currently have an exercise plan or program in place, you may be wondering more about what you can do. One of the many ways that you can go about finding exercises or workouts to do is by buying a collection of fitness magazines. Many fitness magazines have detailed exercises outlined in them, often accompanied by pictures. You may also be able to find free instructional workout videos or exercise moves online. As a reminder, it is important to start out slow or at least start with exercises that would be easy for you to.

Eating healthy and regular exercise are both important components of losing weight, but there are additional tips that you can use to help you lose weight. One of those tips involves finding a workout partner or a workout buddy. This is a person who can exercise with you, whether your exercise involves visiting a local gym or just going for a walk at a local shopping center. Having a workout partner may help to keep you motivated and it may help to keep exercising and losing weight fun and exciting for you.

Another way that you can go about successfully achieving your weight loss goal is by "spicing," up your exercises. As previously mentioned, you can use the internet or fitness magazines to find workouts for you to do at home. To help reduce the boredom often associated with exercising you will want to change up your exercises, often on a daily basis. For instance, one day you may want to use a treadmill, the next day you may want to lift weights, and the next day you may want to do an exercise DVD, and so forth.

You should also consider making exercise and healthy eating logs or journals for yourself. These items can be used to track your progress. If you have a good week, like one where you completed all of your exercises, you may want to think about rewarding yourself. Your reward doesn't have to include food; it can be something as simple as a sticker or treating yourself to a movie. Journals and logs have been known to help many individuals looking to lose weight and it may be able to do the same for you.