The Many Benefits of L-Tyrosine Amino Acid

As you may now know, tyrosine is one of the non-essential amino acids that are used by your body for important functions and processes.

Tyrosine Benefits: What does tyrosine do?

Tyrosine helps stimulate the nervous system to keep it functioning well. It helps synthesize several brain chemicals and neurotransmitters that control pain, helps regulate your appetite and facilitates in stabilizing your body's reaction to stress factors. It helps regulate your moods and helps stimulate your nervous system to keep it functioning properly. The body literally can not function properly without adequate supply of L-tyrosine.

Neurotransmitters are central in body functioning mainly because they are the main chemical messengers that transport information from the brain to the rest of your body. Tyrosine plays an important role in the synthesis of three neurotransmitters, namely, dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine. The effect of L-tyrosine on these neurotransmitters is the main reason why this non-essential amino acid has health benefits in your body.

Tyrosine Supplementation

Your body has the natural ability to produce L-tyrosine. However, ironically, this non-essential amino acid is produced only via the essential amino acid called phenylalanine, which the body can not produce naturally. Some people might need to take in L-Tyrosine supplements for the body to function well. You may need to take L-tyrosine to overcome specific health conditions, or for therapeutic purposes, while other may need to take supplements due to the lack of it in their diets.

Health Benefits of Taking L-Tyrosine Supplements

Here are some of the most widely-known tyrosine benefits:

Tyrosine and the Brain

Tyrosine helps produce neurotransmitters. By virtue of this, L-tyrosine can also prove helpful in treating a variety of brain conditions including, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, narcolepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome and dementia.

Tyrosine and Stress

If you are under a lot of stress often, you can benefit from tyrosine. During stressful situations, your brain may fail to synthesize adequate amounts of tyrosine from phenylalanine. There is that added threat of neurotransmitter depletion rate higher than the rate of their rate of production. L-tyrosine supplements can offset some of the negative effects that stress brings.

Tyrosine and Depression

l-tyrosine also has been seen to have significant effects in fighting depression. The amino acid has the ability to regulate moods.

Tyrosine and Thyroid

L-tyrosine is also closely linked to thyroid function. Tyrosine is facilitates the production of the hormone thyroxin in the thyroid.

L-Tyrosine and Menopause

In relation to mood swings and the effect of L-tyrosine on them, this nutrient has also been used widely by women undergoing menopause to battle against symptoms such as depression, fatigue, appetite loss and headaches. It can also be used by women going through premenstrual syndrome or PMS.

Serotonin, Tyrosine and Dopamine

The effect of L-tyrosine on brain functions is complicated. However, in the brain, tyrosine helps regulate dopamine and serotonin levels. High serotonin levels translate to a deep sense of relaxation, while high dopamine levels produce sharpness, well-being and mental alertness.

The benefits of L-tyrosine can be taken full advantage of with the intake of tyrosine and phenylalanine-rich food sources as well as supplements. However, care must be taken not to overuse or take too much as it has potential detrimental effects.

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