Everyone struggles from time to time with cravings for certain foods and/or a seemingly insatiable appetite. However, some people have these feelings every day, which can make maintaining a healthy weight and making good food choices difficult if not impossible. Amino acid therapy can help these people get their cravings and appetite under control.
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that tell the body what to do. Therefore, imbalances in neurotransmitter levels can cause the body to send the wrong signals, which can make you feel like doing things that you KNOW are not in your best interest. If you suffer from a seemingly insatiable appetite or strong cravings for certain foods, you have experienced this dysfunctional process in action.
Two neurotransmitters – serotonin and norepinephrine – are thought to control the appetite center of the brain. Any imbalances with these key neurotransmitters can spell doom for those that are trying to make better food choices, More specifically, if your serotonin levels are low, not only can your mood suffer, you will also be much more likely to crave carbohydrates, especially in the mid‐afternoon and evening. This will make it particularly difficult to lose weight (or at the very least, avoid obsessing over food), because your will power is no match for your brain chemistry and you will eventually ‘blow’ even the most well planned out dietary program and give into the cravings.
Once more, low norepinephrine (and dopamine) levels can cause binging-type behavior, and are at the root of many addictive‐type behaviors ‐ including addictions to various foods, alcohol, drugs, and actions ‐ all of which will thwart any attempt at losing weight through traditional weight loss methods. In addition, low norepinephrine levels will dramatically increase your appetite, so you will want to (and eventually will) eat more than your body needs, causing you to gain weight.
Causes of Neurotransmitter Imbalance
Neurotransmitter imbalances can be caused by many different factors, including:
- Food intolerance and/or hypersensitivities
- Stress
- Toxic burden
- Sleep disturbances
- Alcohol
- Digestive imbalances
- Dietary deficiencies
- Genetics
- Illicit drug use (especially amphetamines, cocaine and LSD)
- Medication use, including antidepressants, anti‐anxiety, sleep and migraine medications
Therefore, one of the keys to determining how to correct the underlying imbalances is to determine each individual’s unique cause(s) of imbalance and to properly address them.
Using Amino Acids To Eliminating Cravings and Reducing Appetite
The key to being able to reduce and eliminate your cravings and appetite is often found in optimizing neurotransmitter function. This begins with identifying if any of the factors above are at the root of your imbalances and addressing them so you can prevent further depletion. Next, we must give the body the nutrients it needs to restore optimal neurotransmitter function.
Neurotransmitters are made in the body from specific amino acids and co-factors, like B‐vitamins, selenium, and other vitamins and minerals. If the body is given the right proportions of each of these nutrients at the right time, it can almost always make the neurotransmitters it needs.
Trial-and-error used to be the only way to determine if and what amino acids would help each person. Now, there are many tests that can be used to help guide recommendations. Working with a provider that is well versed in the use of amino acid therapy can save you countless hours, and substantial amount of money and seemingly endless frustration when trying to get your appetite and cravings under control; and you CAN get them under control
By identifying and addressing your neurotransmitter imbalances you can effectively and efficiently control your cravings and appetite and regain control of what you choose to eat.
