If you’re familiar with mood enhancing supplements, then you’re probably aware of the mood-boosting neurotransmitter known as serotonin. There’s no doubt that this brain chemical influences our mood, however, it also plays a key role in appetite and weight loss.
There are serotonin pills on the market, targeting weight loss for those who have been struggling to shed those extra pounds. Do these pills work? If you have been trying to lose weight, you know that it is a challenging and sometimes overwhelming task. Based on reports from the Center for Disease Control, more than one-third of adults in the United States are considered to be obese.
That means that millions are combatting their weight which is directly threatening their health. Why is it so challenging to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight? What can be done to make the weight loss journey easier? In many cases, the inability to control one’s appetite plays a major role in being overweight.
In this regard, serotonin pills could help target this aspect of one’s weight loss efforts. When following a healthier lifestyle, focusing on a more balanced diet and exercise, taking serotonin supplements have been shown to boost serotonin levels, promoting weight loss.
Obesity and Serotonin Diet Pills
Obesity is currently an epidemic, threatening the health of millions and costing the United States billions of dollars each year. In 2008, the annual cost of obesity was nearly $150 billions dollars, as individuals who are obese experience medical costs that were $1400 more than the average person.
Based on research over the past decade, factors relating to appetite have been shown to influence one’s level of success when aiming to lose weight. Due to this research, supplements which boost serotonin levels may help reduce appetite and better control hunger cravings.
Your appetite is controlled by a number of chemicals, including ghrelin and leptin, as well as hormones that stimulate the vagus nerve. One of the key chemicals that influences appetite is, of course, serotonin. This brain chemical is both a neurotransmitter and hormone, which signals how much food is available.
When food is available and we’re able to consume carbs and other sources of glucose, serotonin levels are enhanced. When food becomes more scarce, serotonin levels dip and we begin to crave energy-dense food sources. By taking serotonin energy pills, you’re able to trick your brain into thinking that you need less food in order to lose weight.
How Does Serotonin Pills Work?
Serotonin is produced in the pineal gland, known as the feel-good hormone. It is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan which is first converted into 5-HTP, then converted into serotonin. This neurotransmitter not only controls appetite, but also mood, sleep cycles, and bladder function.
Those who exhibit low serotonin levels, often manifest symptoms such as depression, anxiety, impaired judgement, weakness, irritability, compulsive behavior, bipolar disorder, and weight gain. This is especially apparent within the winter months, as more than 25 million Americans suffer from seasonal affective disorder. This lingering type of depression affects more women than men and is caused by low levels of serotonin.
How Serotonin Levels Influence Food Cravings
When experiencing low levels of serotonin, issues with weight gain occur. Research shows that when serotonin levels are low, the body craves foods that are high in carbohydrates. Neuron function and the amount of serotonin released, is highly dependent on food intake. Greater carbohydrate consumption causes a release in serotonin.
Although serotonin precursors, such as tryptophan, are high in protein-rich foods, eating protein does not trigger the same release. It’s believed that this may be due to the amino acids found in protein, which compete with tryptophan in order to access the blood-brain barrier.
We all understand the basic relationship between food and mood, right? That is why ice cream is often associated with a break-up and everyone tends to have their personal favourite when they feel emotionally low. Although these foods temporarily improve mood and energy levels, individuals often experience a period where they crash, experiencing low energy levels and increased irritability.
This irritability and poor mood may be due to one’s desire to consume more carbohydrate-rich foods. Using carbohydrates as a mood-booster is a concern regarding obesity and weight gain. Those who emotionally eat, are at a great risk for both weight issues and overall health complications.
When giving into these urges, individuals may experience increased symptoms of depression, low self-esteem, weight gain, and reduce appetite control. When taking a serotonin supplement, you can essentially reduce cravings and maintain stable neurotransmitter levels. Based on the effects of serotonin diet pills, users not only achieve greater dieting success, but they also experience improved mood.
How Serotonin Influences Appetite
While focusing on appetite, serotonin levels can dramatically influence behavior. This chemical is what’s known as nature’s appetite suppressant, regulating digestive functioning. It also controls muscle contractions relating to food within our intestines. When serotonin levels are high, appetite signalling is suppressed, curbing cravings and creating the satisfaction of being full.
When you experience a feeling of satiety, you tend to eat less and in turn, lose weight. Many individuals are now taking advantage of serotonin diet pills, reporting that they eat less without much effort. Throughout various research studies, individuals who were given serotonin naturally consumed fewer calories throughout the day.
When calorie consumption dips, weight loss is the result. Research trials have confirmed serotonin’s ability to reduce appetite and promote effective and safe weight loss. In one specific study, obese individuals were given 900 mg 5-HTP pills, over the course of 12 weeks. One group was told to not make any changes to their diet, while the second group was put on a strict calorie restriction.
At the end of the study period, both groups lost weight. The first group lost an average of 1.7 kg and the second lost an average of 3.3 kg. This clearly shows that serotonin diet pills can help users lose weight, without making serious changes to their diet.
It also showed, that when taking serotonin pills and making lifestyle changes, you can significantly increase the amount of weight you lose. To naturally boost levels, you can also reduce your intake of alcohol and caffeine, avoid smoking, manage stress levels, increase your sun exposure, exercise regularly, and consume a nutrient-rich diet.
