What is your experience with L-Tyrosine and L-Phenylalanine. Atkins recommends both of them for hunger controll but I found that only L-Tyrosine works. Since L-Tyrosine is also a mood enhancer I was wandering if it would slow down my weight loss. I need help!

Hi! I will try and help you a bit.

Tyrosine is an amino acid. Amino acids make up proteins in our body--proteins can be enymes among other things that help provide energy to our bodies.

This amino acid gets converted into neurotransmitters called dopamine and serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a major regulator of our bodies--regulates temperature, sex drive, mood and EATING habits. Serotonin levels increase when we eat tons of carbs as well as other processes. When these levels increase, people feel satisfied. Therefore, with high carb diets (ie the low fat crap that the media loves to feed to us) people eat low fat, high carbs to make themselves feel better (Sound familiar? **Raises hand-used to do that**) Its a never ending bad cycle to get into and then we tend to GAIN weight.

The reason he suggests phenylalanine (another amino acid) is because this amino acid can make tyrosine by simply adding a small chemical group onto it. Both are thought to control hunger because if serotonin is around, then you should be satisfied (mood). Also, both of these amino acids can eventually be converted to adrenaline and noradrenaline, which are thought to mobilize fat and help in mood and memory.


Hope this helps a bit. I dont know why these would slow down your weight loss, although everyone is different. Some of the anti-anxiety and anti-depression drugs regulate serotonin in the body and some people seem to gain weight. You will have to try it out and see how your body is effected. Make sure you ask your Dr too!!!

Vicki