Sonia Jones ND from The Haven Spa and Health Clinic

The B vitamins and zinc are some very important nutrients needed by the brain to enable it to manufacture neuro-chemicals out of amino acids (proteins). A good supply of B3 (needed for a whole host of functions in the body) is very important (found in all sorts of whole foods) otherwise our body will make it out of tryptophan.

This is not a good idea as your body would use your reserve of stored up tryptophan to convert and produce B3, as you want your body to produce serotonin from your tryptophan reserves and not use it for making B3.

Eating foods that contain a good amount of tryptophan as well as the B vitamins will ensure better levels of serotonin.

These foods are a good source of tryptophan

· Seeds – pumpkin, sunflower, sesame

· Nuts – hazelnuts and almonds

· Wild game

· Chicken

· Turkey

· Bananas

· Prawns

· Yogurts