The best weight loss supplement? 5-HTP.

5-HTP, the best weight loss supplement

The weight loss supplement market is huge, for a reason.

There is a lot of demand.

The truth is, unfortunately, there is no miracle weight loss product.

There is no pill that will make you lose 5kg in 1 week, and no shake that will train for you.

So what's this 5-HTP story?

There is no miracle supplement, but there are good products that can help you. And not so good ones too, like CLAN, which do little or nothing.

5-HTP belongs to the first category, and in this article you will understand why.

How do you lose weight?

Before you think about supplements, it's a good idea to know how to lose weight, because no supplement alone will do it for you.

The opposite of losing weight is gaining weight, but what is the big difference between them?

What makes a person gain weight, or instead, lose weight?

Calories.

A person who takes in more calories than they burn will gain weight.

A person who takes in fewer calories than they burn will lose weight.

This is the basics of weight and fat loss.

Any weight loss diet follows this principle, no matter how strange it may seem.

So what does this have to do with the best weight loss supplement?

The best weight loss supplement

It is important to take into account how to lose weight, and only then decide which is the best weight loss supplement.

When someone looks for a product of this kind, they are looking for something that, when taken, directly reduces weight and fat.

Unfortunately, there are no supplements that are truly effective at this task, so we opted for a different approach.

To lose weight you need fewer calories, and to reduce calories you need to eat less, or eat better.

Instead of a supplement that in theory burns fat directly, how about one that helps with calorie control?

5-HTP?

5-HTP is a very interesting and little-known amino acid. It doesn't burn fat directly, but it helps a lot in the process.

As?

When looking to lose weight, you typically reduce carbohydrates.

This, together with the reduction in calories, brings some problems, such as irritability, difficulty falling asleep and a desire to eat, especially sweets.

Have you ever been through this?

This happens in part because carbohydrates are essential for Tryptophan – an essential amino acid – to be converted into Serotonin.

The more you cut back on carbs, the more likely you are to lower your levels of this neurotransmitter, and the stress your body will be under while you're trying to lose weight doesn't help either.

A Serotonin It is known for its importance for good mood and good disposition, but it also plays an essential role in appetite and sleep.

5-HTP is converted to Serotonin, and unlike Tryptophan, it does not share the same absorption problems as carbohydrates.

Are weight loss pills miracles?

No, but as you'll see, they're worth it.

What does this mean in practice?

In practice, you will have three essential benefits, which are basically interconnected.

Firstly, it will make it easier for you to eat fewer calories, by increasing satiety.

But not only that.

By sleeping better, you will achieve better recovery, and since sleep deprivation is associated with weight gain, it will help you in your weight loss goals.

In fact, according to this study, just one bad night's sleep is enough for ghrelin levels to rise, and the higher the levels of this hormone, the hungrier you will feel.

Finally, if you're feeling miserable and in a bad mood, not only will it be harder to stick to your weight loss program, but you're also likely to cheat a few times. And you'll irritate a few people, too.

A positive attitude will help you to actually lose weight, successfully, and without giving up halfway through.

Studies

No, 5-HTP was not chosen at random, and it is not just theory. There are some studies that look at its effectiveness in weight loss.

Here are two interesting ones that demonstrate their results in practice, and above all, in humans.

You can find references for each one at the end of the article.

Less weight, (even) without dieting

A group of twenty obese people was selected, half of whom received 5-HTP supplementation and the other half did not.

The study was divided into two phases.

In the first phase, neither group followed any diet for six weeks.

In the second phase, a specific and similar diet was recommended for both groups.

The results?

There was significant weight loss in the group that used 5-HTP, not only during the diet phase, but also in the first phase, without dieting.

Furthermore, this group not only ended up eating fewer carbohydrates, but also felt fuller sooner at mealtimes.

5-HTP and the Brain

This year, a very interesting study was published, which included 14 healthy participants, and analyzed whether or not 5-HTP influenced the brain's response to food.

Half of the group received a 5-HTP supplement, while the other half received Vitamin C.

The results?

Not only did 5-HTP influence areas of the brain that regulate appetite, it also promoted greater control and evaluation of the food consumed.

The conclusion of the study was simple.

“This supplementation promoted behaviors that lead to a healthy body weight, and a preference for protein-rich foods.”

Not bad.

How should I take it?

5-HTP should be taken about 30 minutes before meals and/or before bed, as it can make you drowsy.

It should be taken on an empty stomach, or close to it, and doses range from 200mg to 400mg per day.

Start with the minimum possible to see your response to this supplement, and only then, if necessary, should you increase the dose.

50/100mg before bed to start is a good starting point.

Please note that these recommendations are for healthy people. If you have any health problems, or especially if you are taking any type of medication, you should consult your doctor.

Finally, it is not a good idea to take this supplement forever, and you may need to use L-Tyrosine if you intend to use it in the long term to avoid imbalances.

Where to buy?

There are several 5-HTP supplements on the market, but here is a suggestion for a good product from Myprotein.

Myprotein's 5-HTP is excellent value for money, costing just €0.15 per capsule.

It is available here and you can even get a discount on this page.

Extra: Caffeine

Caffeine is a classic weight loss supplement, and for good reason.

It works.

There are three reasons for using caffeine specifically at this stage.

It slightly increases metabolism, helps a little with appetite and gives energy.

The direct increase in metabolism is not very significant, as would be expected, and the biggest impact is on people who do not usually use it.

It can help control your appetite, but the most important thing is the increase in energy, which tends to decrease with this type of diet.

By maintaining your energy levels, you can train better and therefore achieve better results.

But not only that.

Maintaining your energy levels throughout the day is also important, as if you feel less energetic, you tend to stay at home watching a series instead of going for a walk.

Or go by car to a place you usually go on foot.

This will make you burn fewer calories in your day to day life, which is obviously something you don't want.

Please note, this does not mean that it makes sense to take a coffee shower, and you should adapt the dose to your tolerance.

Conclusion

5-HTP doesn't work miracles, but it's probably the most interesting weight loss supplement on the market.

The most important thing is, and always will be, food.

In fact, as you may have noticed, the biggest advantage of this supplement is helping you follow a good diet, as it acts on the main difficulties that appear in a low calorie diet.

Appetite, sleep and mood.

This is what makes it a valuable ally at this stage, and the reason why we consider it the best supplement for those who want to lose weight.

If you also add Caffeine, you have a very effective and economical duo to help you lose weight and burn fat.

Leave your opinion in the comments below if you have already tried it, or if you prefer another supplement, don't keep it a secret and tell us which one it is!

Here are some articles that may be useful to you if you are trying to lose weight and fat.

• What to eat to lose fat.
• How to make your diet easier to follow.
• How many calories to eat to lose weight.
• How to diet to lose fat without starving yourself.
• What is the best type of cardio?

[toggle title=”References” state=”close” ] Less weight, (even) without dieting Cangiano C, Ceci F, Cascino A, Del Ben M, Laviano A, Muscaritoli M, Antonucci F, Rossi-Fanelli F. Eating behavior and adherence to dietary prescriptions in obese adult subjects treated with 5-hydroxytryptophan. Am J Clin Nutr. 1992 Nov;56(5):863-7

5-HTP and the Brain Ioannou S, Williams AL. Preliminary fMRI findings concerning the influence of 5‐HTP on food selection. Brain and Behavior. 2017;7(1):e00594. [/toggle]