{"id":7958,"date":"2018-11-30T14:00:14","date_gmt":"2018-11-30T22:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/?p=7958"},"modified":"2025-09-11T13:42:05","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T20:42:05","slug":"the-individual-amino-acids-glutamine-gaba-tryptophan-or-5-htp-dpa-and-tyrosine-are-powerful-for-eliminating-sugar-cravings-often-within-5-minutes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/the-individual-amino-acids-glutamine-gaba-tryptophan-or-5-htp-dpa-and-tyrosine-are-powerful-for-eliminating-sugar-cravings-often-within-5-minutes\/","title":{"rendered":"The individual amino acids glutamine, GABA, tryptophan (or 5-HTP), DPA and tyrosine are powerful for eliminating sugar cravings, often within 5 minutes"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The individual amino acids glutamine, GABA, tryptophan (or 5-HTP), DPA and tyrosine are powerful for eliminating sugar cravings, often within 5 minutes. It seems that this wonderful benefit \u2013 over and above the anxiety-reducing and mood-boosting benefits – is often overlooked or poorly understood.<\/p>\n

I recently posted this on Facebook: GABA for ending sugar cravings (and anxiety and insomnia)<\/a> and I\u2019m writing this blog today because it\u2019s clear there is some confusion about this cravings aspect.<\/p>\n

Let me first recap Melissa\u2019s experience with Source Naturals GABA Calm during her family holiday trip (the link above has all the details):<\/p>\n

I\u2019m glad I bought it before traveling home for Christmas \u2013 I was cool as a cucumber at the airport and was much calmer when visiting family and friends compared to last year! I notice a general calmness and am sleeping well.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As well as the calming benefits of GABA, Melissa found this unexpected reduction in cravings for sweets, chocolates, truffles and ice cream after about a week of taking it:<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t even realize this until I was grocery shopping and out of habit walked towards the ice cream \u2013 I stopped and realized I didn\u2019t want ice cream. So I walked toward the chocolate \u2013 same reaction. For once in my life, I was not craving sweets. I made truffles for a NYE party and only ate two. But what is really shocking is that the leftovers are still in my refrigerator two days later and I haven\u2019t touched them.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is a very typical response that I see with my clients and when I shared the above blog, others on Facebook shared similar experiences and surprise about the connections. Kim found it fascinating and very timely saying:<\/p>\n

I ran out of GABA a month ago. Not only has my anxiety been very difficult to manage but literally I haven\u2019t been able to stop eating. Sugary, high carb, total junk has consumed my thoughts. I never realized the correlation.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

April also seemed surprised to learn that GABA was also actually helping with her sugar cravings too:<\/p>\n

I think my sugar cravings are down (not looking for something sweet every night after dinner, maybe I treat myself to once a week and not overindulge when I do) and when I think about it, I\u2019ve lost a bit of weight as a result. Most of all it helps me sleep and reduces tension in my neck.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In the above examples, due to low GABA levels in these women, GABA was helped with both the anxiety and the stress-eating, leading to a calming effect and reduced sugar cravings. If you have low blood sugar cravings then glutamine is the amino acid to use; low serotonin cravings then tryptophan or 5-HTP will help; low endorphin cravings then DPA will do the trick; and low catecholamines then tyrosine is the amino acid to use.<\/p>\n

The best way to figure it which neurotransmitter deficiency is affecting your sugar cravings<\/h2>\n

The best way to figure it which neurotransmitter deficiency is affecting your sugar cravings is to do the amino acid mood questionnaire and also review this list for further clarification:<\/p>\n

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  1. If you have to eat sugar when you haven\u2019t eaten in awhile it\u2019s likely low blood sugar and glutamine on the tongue stops the sugar desire almost immediately and also helps with the low blood sugar symptoms of shakiness and irritability<\/li>\n
  2. If you stress-eat your sugar cravings are likely due to low GABA, and GABA will stop the stress-eating and calm you down<\/li>\n
  3. If you eat sugar or carbs to feel happy (and especially from late afternoon into the evening) then your sugar cravings are likely due to low serotonin, and tryptophan (or 5-HTP) stops the cravings and boosts mood and reduces anxiety<\/li>\n
  4. If you are a comfort-eater then it\u2019s likely due to low endorphins and DPA will stop that feeling of \u201cI deserve-it\u201d kind of reward-eating or comfort-eating and also give you a hug-like mood boost<\/li>\n
  5. If you eat sugar for an energy boost or to give your focus then it\u2019s likely due to low catecholamines and tyrosine will stop those cravings and give you a mood and energy boost, and help with mental clarity<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    It\u2019s not uncommon for my anxious clients to have issues in all these areas and I have them address low blood sugar and each neurotransmitter deficiency one by one (for 2 through 5) and very methodically so they know exactly which areas are problematic for them.<\/p>\n

    When it comes to low blood sugar, addressing adrenal health is also key. And as always, we need to be making dietary changes, fixing gut health, addressing other deficiencies, removing toxins and more, using a complete functional medicine approach.<\/p>\n

    How quickly can you expect to get results?<\/h2>\n

    However, using the amino acids in a targeted way like this gets you results quickly while you\u2019re figuring out everything else.<\/p>\n

    You may say \u201cwhat exactly do you mean by quickly\u201d?\u00a0\u00a0 When opened onto the tongue and used with the trial method, based on your unique needs, if you have low levels, you can expect to notice effects in as quickly as 5 minutes and sometimes up to 15 minutes in some cases! This is why I like to refer to them as the amazing amino acids! They truly are amazing for eliminating cravings, reducing anxiety and improving mood and even sleep \u2013 provided they are needed.<\/p>\n

    Each of the individual amino acids<\/h2>\n

    Last year I wrote a series of blog posts on each of the above-mentioned amino acids. If you missed them you may find them helpful for getting a better understanding, even though they are not specific about sugar cravings:<\/p>\n