Do Amino Acids Help Depression?
There is much research evidence available to support the idea that amino acids help depression. The well-known natural health researcher, Dr. Norman Shealy, has said that in his work with depressed people, nearly 100% were deficient in amino acids! One function of amino acids is the creation of neurotransmitters in the brain and nervous system. These transmitters play an important part in helping to regulate mood and processing the proteins that our bodies need to survive. There are over 20 amino acids that are essential for optimal health, and several of them have been shown to be helpful in treating depression. Some amino acids that help depression are: • Phenylalanine • Glutamine • Histidine • Taurine • Tyrosine • Valine Other nutrients that can help with depression are SAM-e, 5 HTP, omega-3 fatty acids as well as vitamin B6, B12 and folic acid. A high quality multi-vitamin may include some of these nutrients. Other Nutrients That Are Helpful for Depression 5 HTP is an amino acid co