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Is Tryptophan Good for You? The Other Side of This Infamous Amino Acid.

anti-inflammatory inflammation inflammatory macros melatonin protein serotonin

Yes, tryptophan is “essential," meaning that we must get it from our diet because we cannot make it ourselves. But the amount of tryptophan a person requires decreases as they age and their growth slows.
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Tryptophan is the only protein that’s carcinogenic...and it has a lot to do with its relationship with serotonin. It produces toxic metabolites, is very unstable and since it’s the PRECURSOR to serotonin, the amount in our diet can affect our stress levels, metabolism and more.
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As you learned in my last post, the cycle of serotonin is self-perpetuating. Serotonin buildup causes stress and vice versa.
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When we’re in a stressed state, the body also breaks down muscle. Even though muscle is precious, just like that of animals, it’s made from more inflammatory proteins like cysteine, methionine and tryptophan. In large amounts, these proteins can cause inflammation as well as suppress thyroid function.
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When stressed, the body also releases free fatty acids (PUFA) from our tissues, which increases the uptake of tryptophan into the brain, generating more serotonin (not great).
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In a healthy body, only about 1% of the tryptophan we get from food is converted into serotonin. But in an inflamed body, 60% gets converted.
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Avoiding excess tryptophan can be anti-aging, as well as improve learning, alertness, metabolic rate and potentially fertility.
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One of the main reasons traditional diets are anti-inflammatory is because they focus on eating nose-to-tail, not just muscle meat. Things like organ meats, collagen and gelatin were consumed far more frequently by our ancestors, which led to about 50% less tryptophan consumed in proportion to other amino acids.
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I’ll never cut out a food completely, but not overdoing it on high-tryptophan foods like chicken, turkey, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, peanuts, tofu and soy can potentially lower inflammation.
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Diversifying our protein intake with foods like bone broth, high-quality dairy, fresh fruits and saturated fats is another great way to lower inflammation and boost our overall metabolism.

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This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before pursuing any changes to your personal healthcare regime.

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References

Biggers, A. (2018). What is Tryptophan?. Retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/health/tryptophan#:~:text=Tryptophan%20is%20an%20essential%20amino,%2Dtryptophan%20and%20D%2Dtryptophan.

Peat, R. (2006). Tryptophan, serotonin, and aging. Retrieved from: http://raypeat.com/articles/aging/tryptophan-serotonin-aging.shtml.

Peat, R. (2012). Serotonin, depression, and aggression: The problem of brain energy. Retrieved from: https://raypeat.com/articles/articles/serotonin-depression-aggression.shtml.

Peat, R. (2015). Serotonin: Effects in disease, aging and inflammation. Retrieved from: http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/serotonin-disease-aging-inflammation.shtml.

Whitbread, D. (2019). Top 10 Foods Highest in Tryptophan. Retrieved from: https://www.myfooddata.com/articles/high-tryptophan-foods.php.

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Remember: this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here. While the owner of this website tries to keep the information up to date, there may be things that are out-of-date and out of their control.