Supports a Healthy Mood And Normalized Sleeping Patterns! There is something to be said about the millions of individuals who turn to powerful antidepressants in order to improve their mood status. Many, however, do not take the many well-documented side effects into consideration. What these popular drugs do, within the body, is raise the brain's production and use of serotonin (and other neurotransmitters) that the body relies on for reward and feelings of pleasure. 5-HTP, or 5-Hydroxytryptophan, is precursor that to the production of serotonin a key, mood supporting chemical that is involved in many fundamental aspects of healthy brain activity. 5-HTP is not commonly found in food, but the amino acid L-tryptophan can be found in such foods as turkey, chicken, milk, potato, turnips and collard greens. 5-HTP is a naturally occurring amino acid, found as an intermediate metabolite in the biosynthesis of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) from the essential amino acid L-tryptophan. It is produced commercially from the seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia, a tropical shrub found in West Africa. Both L-tryptophan and 5-HTP help raise serotonin levels in the brain, which may have a positive effect on sleep, mood, anxiety, aggression, appetite control, temperature, sexual behavior and pain sensation. NOW 5-HTP is a popular mood-support supplement that can be taken to help support healthy mood and/or sleep patterns.