L-Tyrosine Information

L-Tyrosine is an amino acid, which is also known as a protein building block. It is a type of non-essential amino acid, which means that they can be made within the body. It can be attained through diet or dietary supplement. The body puts L-Tyrosine together by combining phenyalanine with another different amino acid. This amino acid is vital to the structure of the majority of the body's proteins.

    Health Conditions

    • This amino acid benefits several kinds of medical conditions due to its relationship with neurotransmitters. It can help conditions, including depression, various other mood disordersand Parkinson's disease (a neurological disease). It can also help manage dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease.

    Phenylketonuria

    • Phenylketonuria is a rare disorder in which babies are unable to break down phenylalanine, which is an amino acid. This condition can bring upon serious disabilities. Restricting phenylalanine (through diet) due to this condition can cause deficiencies of PKU. Taking L-Tyrosine nutritional supplements can help this matter.

    Getting L-Tyrosine

    • Apart from taking nutritional supplements that consist of L-Tyrosine, it can also be extracted naturally through diet. Some foods that contain L-Tyrosine include oats, wheat, fish, meats and dairy products.

    Other Uses

    • L-Tyrosine is often used as an antidepressant, generally when combined alongside various other herbs and nutrients that have characteristics capable of raising mood. It can also help to suppress the appetite and assist in weight loss, as it can bring upon the release of cholecystokinin--a hormone that can suppress the appetite.

    Side Effects

    • This amino acid can also bring upon several different side effects, which include restlessness, sleeplessness, overstimulation, nervousness and anxiety. High dosage amounts can bring upon side effects like heart palpitations and irregular heartbeat (also known as arrhythmia).

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