Sleep is critical. We can't overemphasize the importance of getting enough sleep - especially good quality sleep. Consider this:

. About 7 in 10 adults say they experience frequent sleep problems.

. More than two-thirds of Americans say they don't get 8 hours of sleep a night.

. At least 100,000 traffic accidents each year are reportedly caused by drowsiness or fatigue.

Many of us are too wired - or too tired - to get to sleep. Yet the research shows that getting an abundant amount of sleep is vital to our immune function, stamina, mental performance, and emotional stability. We must have refreshing sleep for a good quality of life.

^Top

Sleep is all in your head. We know that serotonin is the key neurotransmitter that signals our brain when it's time to go to sleep. If we don't have enough serotonin, we have difficulty unwinding. It is the soothing, relaxing effects of serotonin that allow us to relax and fall asleep.

Raising serotonin levels. The raw material your body needs to make serotonin is tryptophan. Without it, we literally cannot make serotonin. Research suggests that many people have low tryptophan levels. Taking tryptophan supplements increases body stores of this amino acid and supports the production of serotonin, encouraging natural sleep.

^Top

Level 1 . Mild and occasional sleep issues.

Level 2 . Chronic or more stubborn sleep issues.

Buy a large size Tryptophan and get a Tri-Phos-B for half price. [Buy]

Level 3. Interrupted Sleep . If waking up too early it is OK to have another dose of the Serotonin Support program - Tryptophan and Tri-Phos-B. If you have a history of interrupted sleep, set up an extra dose or two, with water to take the pills with, by the bed.

Level 4 . Full Sleep Support Program . This includes Melatonin 1.2mg Time Release , an additional step that is helpful for some people. Melatonin activates the process in the brain that sets the stage for sleep in the body. This hormone is produced from tryptophan; some people benefit from taking a small dose of melatonin with tryptophan.

Buy a large or small size Tryptophan and a bottle of Tri-Phos-B and get a bottle of Melatonin 1.2mg Time Release free. [Buy]

^Top

Serotonin promotes relaxation in the body. By supporting serotonin levels with tryptophan, we can encourage restful, natural sleep. Taking steps to ensure that we get quality sleep can improve our health and reduce wear and tear on the body. Sleep is the time when the body repairs and rebuilds and also performs other essential housekeeping and metabolic functions.

This approach encourages sleep by supporting the body's normal processes, by providing the raw material tryptophan. This enables us to sleep without the problems associated with synthetic sleep aids. With tryptophan, it is extremely rare to feel groggy or hung-over the next day.

Tryptophan and melatonin work together synergistically. We know that these nutrients, normal components of our body's chemistry, work well in combination. They both have been well researched with regard to sleep.

Cautions If You Are on Certain Types of Medication

If you are taking certain types of medication, you should consult your physician before taking tryptophan. These medications include anti-depressants (particularly SSRIs), anti-anxiety drugs, tricyclic drugs, MAO Inhibitors, some sleep medications, certain Parkinson's medications, or amphetamines. Tryptophan may interact unfavorably with medications, particularly those used for mood conditions such as depression or anxiety.

Serotonin Syndrome

Some medications, especially anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs, can raise serotonin levels in the body. The addition of tryptophan while taking these medications could possibly raise serotonin to a dangerous level. This is called Serotonin Syndrome. The symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome can resemble the symptoms of low tryptophan. If you are taking medication in combination with tryptophan and you develop any type of adverse symptoms, contact your physician immediately. It is important not to increase the dosage of either the medication or the tryptophan, as that could raise serotonin levels even higher.

If you are taking any of the medications mentioned above and would like to use tryptophan, inform your physician and get guidance on reducing your medication dosage. Do not do reduce or stop your medication without medical supervision.

^Top

. Tri-Phos-B - Contains the B vitamins required to convert tryptophan to serotonin.

. All-Basic - A multi amino acid formula that helps with stress, energy and mental function.

. AntiOx - A scientifically balanced blend of anti-oxidants nutrients that protects against the effects of stress and helps the body use amino acids.

. OcuDyne II - An exceptional multi-vitamin and mineral formula rich in anti-oxidants.

^Top

I Arnulf and others. "Mid-morning tryptophan depletion delays REM sleep onset in healthy subjects." Neuropsychopharmacology. November 2002; Vol 27, No 5: pages 843-851

K Demisch and others. "Treatment of severe chronic insomnia with L-tryptophan: results of a double-blind cross-over study." Pharmacopsychiatry. November 1987; Vol 20, No 6: pages 242-244.

CF George and others. "The effect of L-tryptophan on daytime sleep latency in normals: correlation with blood levels." Sleep. August 1989; vol 12, No 4: pages 345-353

H Lehnert and others. "Effects of l-tryptophan and various diets on behavioral functions in essential hypertensives." Neuropsychobiology. 1989; Vol 21, No 2: pages 84-89

AN Nicholson and BM Stone BM. "L-tryptophan and sleep in healthy men." Electroencephalography in Clin Neurophysiology . November 1979; Vol. 47, No. 5: pages 539-545.

U Voderholzer and others. "Impact of experimentally induced serotonin deficiency by tryptophan depletion on sleep EEG in healthy subjects." Neuropsychopharmacology. February 1998; Vol 18, No 2: pages 112-124

RC Zimmermann and others. "Effects of acute tryptophan depletion on nocturnal melatonin secretion in humans." Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism . May 1993; Vol 76, No 5: pages 1160-1164.

^Top

Our moods and sleep are regulated by powerful brain chemistry, particularly serotonin, one of our most important neurotransmitters. Low serotonin levels have been identified as a cause of depression in hundreds of research studies. Serotonin is made in the brain from tryptophan, an essential amino acid. Tryptophan is the raw material the brain requires to make serotonin.

Tryptophan is a component of most proteins. Unfortunately, stress can deplete tryptophan. A number of other factors can also lead to tryptophan deficiencies, which in turn result in low levels of serotonin.

Extensive research has shown that tryptophan supplements raise serotonin levels. By using a nutritional supplement, we are simply providing the raw material the body needs to produce serotonin. Raising serotonin is a vital step in addressing depression, anxiety, PMS mood swings, and insomnia. The ability of tryptophan to support the body's production of this absolutely critical neurotransmitter is what makes tryptophan such an important, sought-after nutritional product.

^Top