5-HTP can help to induce deep, restful sleep so that your body can repair itself, which is especially beneficial after intense exercise. 5-HTP may enhance the loss of fat by helping your brain to reduce the desire for high sugar foods as well as lesson anxiety and weight gain caused by excessive stress.

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L-Tryptophan- Tryptophan is an essential amino acid as well as within the group of only twenty standard amino acids that are required by the human diet. It is one of the building blocks required for protein biosynthesis. It is also viewed as a precursor to serotonin and thereby also melatonin, niacin and also auxin. Interestingly enough, lactose intolerance and fructose malabsorption have the side effect that tryptophan is only improperly absorbed in the intestines which leads to diminished levels of it in the system. Dietary sources of tryptophan are plentiful, it can be found in red meat, poultry, fish, milk, milk products, peanuts, mangoes, dates, chocolate and oats, among others. As a dietary supplement tryptophan has found applications as a safe sleeping aid and also as a calming agent.

Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain regulating other hormones and circadian rhythm in the body. It determines when we sleep and when we awake. Activated by darkness, it remains suppressed during the day. Melatonin levels are age related, with children having high levels which diminish with increasing age leading to disturbed sleep in the aged. It controls the onset of menstruation and menopause in women. Melatonin is known for its antioxidant properties. Melatonin supplements prevent insomnia, improve the quality of sleep and increase morning alertness. It is known to stimulate bone growth, prevent headaches and migraines and reduce depression and anxiety. It reduces sleep disturbances in children with ADHD. Reduced melatonin production leads to an increased risk of cancer.