A recent study found that a food chemical, most famous for being contained in turkey, may relieve the effects of depression.

Tryptophan was administered in an hydrolysate (powder-added-to-liquid form) and administered to middle-aged women. A control was given the same hydrolysate without the protein.

The result was that “this supplementation dose of tryptophan rich protein hydrolysate led to a positive emotion and reduced negative bias”.

More studies will have to be performed to confirm this, but this is good news for folks who suffer from depression and feel trapped by having to take pharmaceuticals to relieve symptoms.

The study’s author claims that tryptophan may “promote feelings of wellbeing” and “[resist] deterioration in mood…or depressive episodes”.

This study shows just how important food and diet are to overall health and well-being (the often neglected part of health).

nuts, rich in tryptophan