6 Ways This Food Can Improve Your Mental Health

According to the Washington Post, the world is on the verge of a mental health crisis.

Half of Americans have reported the current world climate is affecting their mental health.

And research shows anxiety and depression are on the rise.

There’s anxiety about what the future holds, trouble concentrating as you’re suddenly working from home, depression because you can’t spend time with friends and family.

Which is why you need to hear about this mood-boosting nutrient.

Something that has shown to help improve mental health in 6 different ways.

And it’s not a medication that can have a long list of scary side effects. Or therapy that can cost a fortune.

But a simple nutrient called tryptophan.

You probably know about tryptophan for its post-Thanksgiving meal yawns and naps.

But what most people don’t realize is tryptophan is an essential building block for your brain’s “happy” chemical called serotonin.

Unfortunately, it isn’t that easy to boost your serotonin levels. You see, your body produces serotonin naturally on its own, so the only way to increase your serotonin levels is by encouraging your body to create more of it.

What is where tryptophan comes in. By feeding your body the raw materials it needs, you can produce more serotonin.

Let’s take a look at why you might want to do that and see what incredible benefits tryptophan holds for your mental health:

1. Depression

Several studies have shown that 3 to 6 grams of tryptophan can be just as effective as some antidepressant drugs. On top of that, one study followed 25 adults who ate a high-tryptophan diet and enjoyed decreased depression and increased feelings of happiness as a result.

2. ADHD

Several studies over the years have revealed a correlation between low levels of tryptophan (and therefore serotonin) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In fact, kids with ADHD have on average 50% lower levels of tryptophan!

3. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Since OCD is believed to be an issue related to an imbalance in serotonin levels, most treatments focus on increasing serotonin, which tryptophan plays a critical role in.

In many cases, people with OCD are put on SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), and studies have shown that tryptophan can boost the positive effects of SSRIs for OCD.

4. Anxiety

Our body’s protective response to anxiety and stress involves serotonin and its signaling systems. If serotonin is readily available and communicating properly, we’re able to manage our anxiety levels. That’s why tryptophan and its positive impact on serotonin is so effective for anxiety.

Tryptophan also reduces the amount of our primary stress hormone, cortisol, which plays a major role in anxiety.

5. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

If you struggle with SAD, you’ll most likely be prescribed more light exposure or light therapy. But as many as 33% percent of patients don’t respond well to that.

Recognizing the evidence of serotonin’s role in developing SAD, researchers set out to test tryptophan as a supportive therapy for those who didn’t respond to light alone.

In one such study, 64% of SAD patients who supplemented their light therapy with tryptophan enjoyed significantly reduced symptoms.

6. Mania

Lithium is commonly prescribed for those who suffer from manic episodes, but one study suggests that tryptophan might be even better.

In the study of 24 patients, tryptophan supplementation reduced their symptoms of acute mania by 43%!

It’s clear a regular supply of tryptophan can do wonders for your mental health.

And the best part is it’s natural! So you don’t have to worry about a long list of side effects like you get with most prescription drugs for mental health.

So how do you get a steady flow of tryptophan naturally?

According to the International Journal of Tryptophan Research, the richest food sources include tuna and oatmeal with poultry topping the list.

The problem with those foods is that you have to worry about either gluten or heavy metal contamination and/or GMOs….and you certainly don’t want to exchange the benefits of tryptophan for the dangers of toxins.

Finding clean, healthy sources of tryptophan can be a lot of work.

But it doesn’t have to be with Paleovalley Pasture-Raised Turkey Sticks. Be sure to use the code JOSH to get 15% off at checkout!

Paleovalley is a company that prides ingredient quality and nutrient density over everything else.

And their pasture-raised turkey sticks are one of the cleanest and easiest ways to work more tryptophan into your diet.

They are made from turkeys who are allowed to live as nature intended and enjoy all the benefits that come with that like fresh air, plenty of sun, room to exercise, and a completely natural diet.

The result is clean turkey meat that’s high in protein with more vitamins, minerals, and omega-3s than their caged, sickly, GMO-fed cousins….which make up the majority of the so-called “free-range” turkey.

But that’s not all.

A lot of meat sticks have a very long shelf life, which is great! Until you consider why…

Most meat snacks are loaded with preservatives so they can sit on grocery store shelves for months and months without going bad.

But being the ingredient snobs they are, the people at Paleovalley didn’t even consider preservatives.

Instead, their pasture-raised turkey sticks are naturally fermented using old-world methods. So instead of health-damaging chemicals you get a dose of gut-friendly probiotics and all of those benefits, too!

> Try Paleovalley Original and Cranberry Orange Pasture-Raised Turkey Sticks today and support your serotonin levels with a natural dose of tryptophan!

Save 15% off your Paleo Valley turkey sticks: use code “JOSH” at checkout

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