But there’s more to 5-HTP than simply being a stackable sleep supplement. It’s got plenty of other benefits, including:

Improved gut health

“5-HTP is the direct step that our body needs to create serotonin,” explains Alex Glover, senior nutritionist at Holland & Barrett. “That’s important because we associate serotonin with happiness and mood, but it’s also highly involved in our digestive system as well. It’s responsible for pushing food through our intestinal digestive tract.”

Often when we feel anxious, we feel it in our stomach. We also know that 95% of our serotonin is made in the gut, so if your digestion is sluggish, it makes sense that your mood’s probably going to be impacted.

Better mood

Taking 5-HTP can “immediately” boost your serotonin level, according to Glover, and that may improve mood and relaxation.

5-HTP and magnesium: are these supplements the key to better sleep and mood?