Dr Oz: 5-HTP Natural Appetite Suppressant
Are you always hungry? Appetite can stand in the way of weight loss success, but Dr Oz introduced an all natural appetite suppressant called 5-HTP.
For emotional eaters and stress snackers, appetite suppressants can be tempting, but many of them come with side effects. Dr Oz said the natural supplement 5-HTP has been proven to improve mood and sleep. Could it also pack a wallop against hunger by increasing Serotonin levels in your body?
Dr Oz: How the Brain Controls Hunger
Dr Oz shared information about the natural appetite suppressant 5-HTP, concerns over its safety, and how it helps to control hunger signals in the brain.
Audrey told Dr Oz she has trouble controlling her appetite. She said that she is an emotional eater, and anxiety is one of her triggers. Dr Oz said that 5-HTP works on appetite as well as emotions.
Your gut is probably not responsible for your hunger, Dr Oz said. That’s because the brain controls your appetite. Some emotions cause a tailspin from hormones that make us think we are hungry. Whether you are stressed, sad, angry, irritable or anxious, these emotions could overwhelm the body.
However, 5-HTP can flood the brain and prevent your emotions from setting off your hunger. Feeling deprived of food is not the answer, and counting calories can be hard for a lot of us. So what does Dr Oz recommend?
Dr Oz: 5-HTP Guidelines
In two separate studies, results showed that women taking 5-HTP consumed 1,000 calories less per day on their own. Dr Oz admitted that there is plenty of additional information consumers still need to know about 5-HTP.
- Take 50 mg three times per day (before each meal)
- Look for “Pure 5-HTP” or “Griffonia Simplicifolia” on the package
- Find it in drugstores, health food stores, or online
Dr Oz: Is 5-HTP Safe?
Dr Natalie Azar from NYU Medical Center joined Dr Oz to talk about her patients’ results on 5-HTP. She said she has seen moderate weight loss of 1/2 lb to one pound in a week. “It’s not a chemical that’s going to boost your metabolism like crazy,” she said.
Calorie restriction can build into weight loss. But Dr Azar said that if you are already taking an antidepressant, you should not take 5-HTP, because it could make your Serotonin levels too high.
In the 1980s, bad batches of 5-HTP made headlines when they resulted in “disabling muscle diseases.” A batch in 1998 had similar complications. But in the years since, there have not been reports of adverse side effects from taking the supplement.
Dr Oz said you may see these warnings when you research 5-HTP online, but the product has seemed to be safe and reliable over the past 15 years.
Dr Oz: 5-HTP Weight Loss Diet Results
Dr Oz spoke with Heather, who started taking 5-HTP eight months ago. On her doctor’s recommendation, she began taking it. It helped her sleep through the night for the first time in recent memory. She has lost 15 pounds and “multiple inches,” as well as shutting down her afternoon cravings.
Would you try 5-HTP to control your appetite?
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