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Serotonin
A Powerful Neurotransmitter
By CJ Johnson
Weight Management
Young says that low serotonin levels cause the body to crave carbohydrates and sweets. "Carbohydrates contain tryptophan, the amino acid used to make serotonin inside the body," she says. "Eating these foods in an attempt to relieve the cravings leads to weight gain." The role of serotonin in weight fluctuations is not straightforward. "The connections between serotonin, appetite and eating disorders are very complicated, and a simple answer to this is not possible," says Dr. Beltz.
For example, Dr. Beltz explains that in some situations involving eating disorders the receptors for serotonin may be altered. "So the 'fix' is not necessarily to simply raise serotonin levels," she says. "There may be other aspects of the serotonin chemical pathway – the receptors, transporters and metabolism – that are not functioning in a normal way."
Natural Sources of Serotonin
Tryptophan is a naturally-occurring substance that can be found in a variety of foods. This substance is a precursor to serotonin and can act as a mild sedative on the human body. Some of the better-known foods that contain tryptophan are turkey, bananas, milk, yogurt, eggs, meat, nuts, beans, fish and cheddar gruyere and Swiss cheese.
