Welcome back to another series of my nootropics journey.
Three months ago, I discussed caffeine+L theanine. I tested the 15 capsules one, and it helped me become productive and focused without the jittery. Another benefit I see is that I am more aware of how much caffeine runs into my system compared to when I take coffee. Yet, That compound is overrated in the world of nootropics. So, as I want to dive in more, I decided to step up my game. But if you are first in the world of nootropics, check out my previous post.
Nootropics are supplements and compounds that enhance cognitive performance, mental function, or moods.
MoViFoMe
If you are reading this post, familiarize yourself with MoViFoMe. It stands for " Mood, Vitality, Focus, Memory, and Energy". I am someone who tries to focus more on Mood, Memory, Focus, and Energy. For some, mainly males, you might want to explore the "vitality" part of nootropics such as barrenwort or marketed as Horny Goat Weed.
My comfort zone has always been in the Racetams world. But as aligned with my 2021 goal, I decided to step up and tried another compound. This time, I am tying 5- HTP or called 5-hydroxytryptophan. There is various research mentioning its benefits in treating depression, fibromyalgia and even weight loss.
MedlinePlus specifically categorized the effectiveness of 5 HTP as having sufficient information and evidence versus insufficient information. It mentions that 5 HTP is possibly effective for treating depression. But before we dive into the benefit, let's dive in a little bit into its pharmacology and the origin.
5 HTP is a naturally occurring chemical of the protein building block L-tryptophan. But it can be produced from Griffonia simplicifolia; a woody shrubs plant native to Africa. The seeds used as a herbal supplement for 5-HTP.
The process of converting serotonin to melatonin can be found from this informative video. It explains step by step how 5 HTP synthesized to Melatonin.
Other than KSM-66 Ashwagandha, Ginseng, Rhodiola, NALT, there is 5-HTP. These are considered mood stacks of the Nootropics world. In the Western hemisphere, 5-HTP can easily be found as dietary supplements and used as an anti-depressant. Meanwhile, in the eastern hemisphere, I still can't find 5-HTP over the counter. But, I can find them online from e-commerce.
Fortunately, I can find the repackaged version of 5-HTP from my regular vendor. The repackaged version is 5gram along with 50mg measuring spoon. I read through its drug interaction and I don't take any drug that may cause dangerous interaction. Though known for serotonin booster, according to some research, 5-HTP can also be used to treat obesity when combined with other drugs. Interesting isn't it?
I recently got 5-HTP as part of my goal experimenting with more nootropics. For a background, my current daily stack are :
Morning stack
- Caffeine 200mg + L-theanine 100mg
- Multivitamin B complex, Zinc, Magnesium, Vit C
- Omega3
- Kratom 100mg
- Vitamin D3 1000 iu
Before Activity
- Piracetam 800mg
- Gotu Kola (Centella Asiatica) 500mg
- Choline (egg source)
Afternoon stack
- Piracetam 800mg
- Gotu Kola (Centella Asiatica) 500mg
- Choline (eggg source)
So essentially, I have focus, memory and energy stack. And I am missing out on Mood stack. Which is why, I am giving 5-HTP a try. I initially wanted to try KSM but 5-HTP wins this time.
I have administered 5-HTP for about a week now. The first time I took 5-HTP was in the morning with a 50mg dose. That early experience sent me to sleep an hour later. I was a bit annoyed because I don't like sleeping. I am someone who needs more wakefulness and energy instead of being restful and idle.
Then, the next day, I took 50mg at night, and it worked like a charm. I did not feel guilty about sleeping because it was at night. I also wake up early the next day without feeling tired. What I noticed after about a week of taking 5-HTP is my increased fullness. I get full quickly and my brains finally understand the word "enough". So, that definitely helps in tackling my binge eating problem.
What I like about 5-HTP is the nutty taste. Honestly, I can take spoons, but I don't want to be a sleeping beauty :D so, I dose as recommended. However, with depression, the dose is mostly around 200-300mg/day, as written by drugs.com. But for me, I take only 50mg/day and only at night.
Moving forward, this is going to be my permanent stack. The safety drug interaction is safe for me because I don't take an antidepressant, which may cause significant interaction with 5HTP. For more list of drug interaction, check 5 HTP drug interaction published in Webmd. As usual, always check the drug interaction and keep track of what you have. Don't forget to also consult your physician before taking any drugs.
Let me know if you also take 5 HTP and your experience with it.
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