Does your body have enough tyrosine? Also called L-tyrosine, tyrosine is one of the non-essential amino acids in human bodies. It’s “non-essential” because you don’t have to get it from food like others. Amino acids are known as the building blocks of protein. If you’re doing moderate-level work like exercising or studying then Tyrosine can help with issues like fatigue and stress. You should also worry about issues like tyrosine deficiency. Like other amino acids, it’s not just enough to have this one in your body. You also need enough of them so your body’s systems work effectively and avoid possible physical/mental issues.
Physical and mental work is part of life whether it’s doing a gym workout or studying for a big test. One possible result is stress. That’s where L-tyrosine comes into the picture. It’s related to messages sent between the mind and body. When we do this kind of work it can have negative results like stress, fatigue, and even depression. When you don’t have enough of this amino acid it can cause a world of trouble. There are many causes so it’s important to know what causes the deficiencies and what to expect. Supplements can help boost your body’s Tyrosine levels.
Why Do You Need Tyrosine?
Before we take up the possible results of a deficiency in L-tyrosine it’s important to consider why you need the amino acid, to begin with. The human body has 20 so what’s the big deal about this one? Tyrosine is an amino acid that produces stuff that helps your body fight stress. This stress is mid-level and could be physical or mental like preparing for a test/review or doing tough housework.
L-tyrosine works by making chemical compounds that help to make the message-sending neurotransmitters. The building blocks make more building blocks to deal with stress. L-tyrosine seems to provide other benefits related to better memory and less fatigue, for example.
You might have heard that this amino acid can help with weight loss. In theory, it might since it can boost the person’s metabolism.
However, there aren’t any studies that show that these supplements can specifically help someone lose weight. Many experts recommend only taking these supplements for weight loss if you also suffer from symptoms like fatigue and depression.
How about athletic performance? Since Tyrosine boosts metabolism it seems it might help boost endurance and strength. It hasn’t been proven yet but it seems to be effective when exercising in hot weather.
When picking a new dietary supplement, you should also consider side-effects. This L-tyrosine is an over-the-counter (OTC) product it doesn’t have the strong chemicals in prescription meds.
That said, it might produce some minor side-effects like fatigue, headaches, heartburn, and nausea. If you start experiencing multiple symptoms you should stop taking the supplement immediately and contact your physician.
The amino acid might also affect how your body interacts with other things. That includes the thyroid hormone and amino acid Levodopa.
Various factors can cause a lack of this amino acid in the body. An example is the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) system, which affects the nervous system.
Symptoms of Tyrosine Deficiency
Like other symptoms, it’s important to know if you have a deficiency in the amino acid. This makes it easier for your doctor to determine the best ways to boost your body’s levels of the protein building blocks. Here are some of the main symptoms of not having enough L-tyrosine:
1. Flu-like Symptoms
Several of the symptoms related to a deficiency in Tyrosine are difficult to determine because they’re like basic infections like flu. You might be very tired and feel weak. Your skin might be pale and your joints might feel achy, stiff, or swollen. You also might not have much motivation.
These are mild symptoms so they’re a sign that you have a mild deficiency in L-tyrosine. It’s important to treat these symptoms early to help prevent the situation from getting worse.
2. Low Blood Pressure
Your blood pressure might drop if your body doesn’t have enough Tyrosine. The fancy name is hypotension. You might experience symptoms like dizziness, weakness, headaches, and blurred vision.
3. Weight Gain
It’s easy to gain weight with today’s fast food and junk food. The real problem is when it happens unexpectantly. In other words, if you gain weight quickly and there doesn’t seem to be a reason it could be related to low levels of tyrosine.
Here’s why. A person’s thyroid hormone regulates the body’s daily metabolism. So, if your body has below-normal levels of thyroid hormones it might cause weight gain.
So, if you don’t have enough of L-tyrosine you might experience weight gain. That’s even the case if you haven’t changed your daily eating routine. Another effect is a puffy face because of water retention.
4. Bad Temperature Control
If you have don’t have enough Tyrosine this can affect your body’s internal body temperature. For example, you might have cold hands or feet.
How to Boost Tyrosine
If you want to avoid a deficiency in the amino acid then It’s critical to know the best sources of this non-essential amino acid. Here are some of the main ones:
1. Seaweed
Most of us aren’t experts about the different types but one of the best options is spirulina. This seaweed is loaded with other good stuff like Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, and other nutrients.
2. Salmon/Poultry/Pork
These are some of the best meats to eat if you want to boost your body’s level of Tyrosine. While fish is healthy in general salmon is an excellent source of this amino acid and Vitamin A. Chicken and turkey also are high in Tyrosine. Another good source is pork but make sure it’s lean!
3. Eggs
This yet another good source of tyrosine. The food is also high in other nutrients like Vitamins A/E. White eggs are a very good source of the amino acid and whenever possible fresh is best.
4. Soybeans
This can include the beans themselves or products like soy protein, soy milk, tofu, and so on. This stuff is chock-full of tyrosine with around 2000mg/ounce.
Soy is also high in many other nutrients. They include minerals like iron, potassium, and copper. The healthiest soybeans are organic because they weren’t grown with any artificial chemicals like fertilizers and pesticides.
5. Cheese
Are you looking for an excuse to eat more cottage cheese and pizza? If so, then use it to get this non-essential amino acid.
6. Supplements
This is one of the easiest ways to boost your intake of the amino acid. You can get more L-tyrosine at any time when you don’t have access to food sources. Make sure to avoid this supplement for reasons like pregnancy hyper-active thyroids, and PKU. Otherwise, it’s a good option for tyrosine deficiency.