SSRIs do not produce Seratonin, they reduce the loss. They make me physically sick and suicidal. So for me I want to replace the Seratonin I lose. Seratonin can not cross the blood brain barrier. Tryptophan can and the brain makes Seratonin from it which can not cross back. But consuming high Tryptophan foods is not enough. (poultry, meat, fish,
dairy, nuts, beans, tofu, oat bran and oats) Because other Amino acids that are in higher proportions are competing to get into the brain Tryptophan gets left behind. Consuming carbohydrates removes the carrier needed for the other Amino acids to get into the brain and sends them to be used for other things like muscles or to be stored. This leaves the door open to Tryptophan. You can not get too much Tryptophan because only the needed amount will convert to Seratonin. Where if you take too much SSRI, you can get poisoning. Even St Johns Wart and an SSRI can do this. I strongly recommend people not to use St. Johns Wart. Aging people eat less and are inclined to eat more salads in an attempt to lose weight. Low seratonin contributes to weight gain because the body craves foods high in Tryptophan and instead it gets foods that do not contain it. Sneaking in cookies and donuts and non protein foods not only doesn't help your seratonin levels it doesn't give you the building blocks to keep healthy muscles. Healthy body, healthy brain.
Vitamin B6 helps Tryptophan get used. That you can get from your salad.
Tofu, soy and other beans, nuts and grains will give you plenty of Tryptophan if you are Vegetarian orVegan. But you still have to have carbohydrates with it.
Davit
