Herbal Remedies and Medical Tips

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Tyrosine and tryptophan are two molecules that has been suggested that could be “natural” alternatives to antidepressant drugs for treating depression. With the information available so far suggest that there may be evidence that these products have antidepressant effect.

I will try to clear up a widespread misunderstanding. The misconception is that “the tyrosine and tryptophan are products with antidepressant effect.

In which certain ideas behind this misunderstanding:
* Neurotransmitters are molecules that the body uses for nerve cells (neurons) communicate with each other. Norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin are some of these neurotransmitters.
* Chemicals that get to have more amount of dopamine, norepinephrine and / or serotonin in neurons or in the junction points between neurons (synapses) have antidepressant effect.
* The body makes serotonin from tryptophan that is ingested with food.
* The body produces norepinephrine and dopamine from tyrosine that is ingested with food.

So far, all right. But from here a wrong deduction: If you eat extra contributions of tyrosine and tryptophan will have more amount of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine and, by increasing the amount of these neurotransmitters, improve depression.

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