Amino acid therapy for anxiety, depression, cravings and focus starts with the building blocks. Your brain makes serotonin from tryptophan and dopamine from tyrosine, and research on tryptophan depletion shows that lowering this one amino acid can drop mood, especially in people with a history of depression.

Laurie Hammer, Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and founder of Mind Thrive Academy, joins Freddie Kimmel to explain how targeted amino acid therapy feeds the neurotransmitters behind mood, sleep and stress resilience. Laurie found amino acids in 1996, after twelve years of bulimia, depression and anxiety, and calls them the foundation of her recovery. She walks through her virtual intake and the under-the-tongue test she uses to see how someone responds, then assesses Freddie live on air.

In this episode

Essential amino blends vs. peptides vs. targeted amino acid therapy
The five categories Laurie assesses: endorphins, serotonin, catecholamines, GABA and glucose regulation
Why she plans on 3 to 6 months of therapeutic use, then tapers
GLP-1s, cravings, cost, and who should be cautious

This episode is for education only and is not medical advice. Don’t start, stop or taper any medication without your prescriber. If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 (US).

Connect with Laurie Hammer

lauriehammer.com

Take Back My Brain Podcast

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Book mentioned: The Mood Cure by Julia Ross

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The Biological Blueprint

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Episode highlights

00:00 Welcome Laurie Hammer 03:37 Laurie's take on mood medications 06:16 What is amino acid therapy? 07:06 Freddie's pre-show amino acid snack 09:45 Can you get therapeutic doses from food? 10:43 "Is there a model for this in nature?" 12:11 Laurie's story: bulimia, depression and a GNC article 17:18 Leaving nursing school for prevention 18:35 How a virtual consult works 20:18 Essential amino blends vs. targeted therapy 23:14 The five neurotransmitter categories 24:59 Lithium orotate 27:13 Live assessment: Freddie's profile 30:47 How long do you take them? 34:38 Cost: aminos vs. IVs and supplements 35:51 GLP-1s and coming off them 38:55 GLP-1s and bone density 41:25 What it costs to work with Laurie 43:18 Amino acids and addiction 45:53 Youth antidepressant use since the pandemic 46:38 The equalizer in your brain stereo 49:21 Book recommendation: The Mood Cure 50:00 Who amino acid therapy isn't for 55:12 Your body is designed to heal

Read the full transcript

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