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"Prozac" Alternatives |
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Inside you, the essential
amino acid L-tryptophan is broken down into anxiety-reducing,
snooze-inducing niacin. Even more important, tryptophan is also
made into serotonin, one of your body's most important
neurotransmitters. Serotonin gives a feeling of well-being and
mellowness, or as the Australians would say, "no
worries." This is such a profound effect that Prozac, Paxil and
similar antidepressants usually either mimic serotonin or artificially keep
the body's own serotonin levels high. You can do the same thing with
your food. And no one can tell us that beans, peas, cheese, nuts and wheat
germ are toxic if you eat a lot of them!
Plenty of carbohydrates
(starches) in your meals help tryptophan get to where it does the most good:
in your brain. In order to cross the blood-brain barrier to get in,
carbos are required. So cheese and crackers provides a better effect
than the cheese standing alone. An egg or two on toast is better than
just the egg. Beans, peas, and nuts already contain carbohydrate, so
you are all set there. Consider that five
servings of beans, a few portions of cheese or peanut butter, or just one big
handful of cashews provides one to two thousand milligrams of tryptophan,
which will work as well as prescription antidepressants... but don't tell the
drug companies. Some skeptics think that the pharmaceutical people
already know. Here are two quotes in evidence: "Pay careful
attention to what is happening with dietary supplements in the legislative
arena... If these efforts are successful, there could be created a class of
products to compete with approved drugs. The establishment of a separate
regulatory category for supplements could undercut exclusivity rights enjoyed
by the holders of approved drug applications." (FDA Deputy Commissioner
for Policy David Adams, at the Drug Information Association Annual Meeting,
July 12, 1993) "The task force
considered many issues in its deliberations including to ensure that the
existence of dietary supplements on the market does not act as a disincentive
for drug development." (FDA Dietary Task
Force Report, released June 15, 1993)
Remember that tryptophan
is one of the ten essential amino acids you need to stay alive. It is by law
added to liquid feedings for the elderly and all infant formulas. This
says a great deal about its safety, as well as its importance. And, tryptophan is really
quite easy to get from the good foods listed below. So go; eat; and be happy! Foods high in the
Amino Acid L-Tryptophan (in milligrams (mg) per 100 gram (3.5 ounce) portion),
about the size of a deck of playing cards. That is not a large serving, and
in a single meal you might easily double or triple the figures listed here. Beans Nuts and Seeds Other nuts
generally provide at least 130 milligrams per small serving; usually more. Grains Cheese Other cheeses tend to
be lower in tryptophan, but are still very good sources. Eggs 210 mg Brewer's Yeast 700 mg (Source: US Department of
Agriculture, Amino Acid Content of Foods.) Meats are generally
regarded as a good source of tryptophan, organ meats supposedly being the
highest. However, most meats are in the range of 160 to 260 mg/100
g, (chicken is about 250) with organ meats ranging between 220 and
330. These figures certainly do not compel meat eating. Compare
with soybeans, split peas, cheese and cashews! Copyright C
2008, 2004 and prior years Andrew W. Saul. Andrew Saul is the author of the books FIRE
YOUR DOCTOR! How to be Independently Healthy (reader reviews at
http://www.doctoryourself.com/review.html
) and DOCTOR YOURSELF: Natural Healing that Works. (reviewed at http://www.doctoryourself.com/saulbooks.html
) For ordering information, Click Here .
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AN IMPORTANT NOTE: This page is not in any way offered as prescription, diagnosis nor treatment for any disease, illness, infirmity or physical condition. Any form of self-treatment or alternative health program necessarily must involve an individual's acceptance of some risk, and no one should assume otherwise. Persons needing medical care should obtain it from a physician. Consult your doctor before making any health decision. Neither the author nor the webmaster has authorized the use of their names or the use of any material contained within in connection with the sale, promotion or advertising of any product or apparatus. Single-copy reproduction for individual, non-commercial use is permitted providing no alterations of content are made, and credit is given. |
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