Tyrosine May Help Control Your Appetite

Tyrosine is an amino acid; that means it’s a building block of protein. Tyrosine is required by your body for two main reasons:

1. It is necessary for the production of thyroid hormones. Your thyroid gland controls your metabolic rate; helping you to burn the calories from your meals and use them for energy.
2. It is used as a building block by your brain to make the neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) dopamine and norepinephrine. Norepinephrine helps to keep you alert and improves concentration. Dopamine is required for feelings of satisfaction and contentment. Some research has shown that some overweight people do not produce enough dopamine after eating, and hence don’t experience adequate satisfaction after a meal. This may prompt them to over eat.

Tyrosine is found in protein rich foods such as meat, poultry, fish and eggs, but is also found in bananas, avocados and almonds. Some people have a higher requirement for tyrosine than others and some people don’t absorb it well enough from food because of digestive problems. Drugs that reduce stomach acid reduce your ability to absorb tyrosine.