dangerous increase in heart rate.
Sleeplessness or Insomnia
The results of taking phenylethylamine include stimulating the brain for greater energy and focus. Therefore, it is not advisable to take this supplement close to bedtime.
Pregnant and Lactating Women
There is not enough current research to know the safety of this supplement for pregnant and lactating women. Therefore, it is not advisable for pregnant or lactating women to take this supplement.
Phenylethylamine and Surgery
Because phenylethylamine affects the central nervous system, it’s incredibly important to stop taking phenylethylamine supplements a full two weeks before going into surgery.
Schizophrenia & Bipolar Disorders
Phenylethylamine supplements can shift a bipolar patient from depression to mania. The supplement can also increase hallucinations and delusions in schizophrenia patients. Therefore, taking this supplement is not advisable for patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorders.
PKU is a rare disorder wherein phenylalanine builds up in the body. The cause is a defective gene that does not properly produce the enzyme necessary to break down phenylalanine. People with this disorder must be cautious their entire life about consuming foods with high levels of phenylalanine and must never take phenylethylamine or phenylalanine supplements.
This supplement is available in powder, salt, and tablet or capsule form. If you can find a slow-release formula – all the better.
Please take precautions and read your labels carefully. In the case of phenylethylamine and phenylalanine, it is important to avoid confusing them when shopping for your supplements. Also, take this same precaution when researching this topic – it’s easy to get confused. Remember that the body synthesizes (derives) phenylethylamine from phenylalanine. So, although they are part of the same system, they are distinctly different when purchasing in supplemental form.
The recommended dose is 100 to 500mg. Start with the lowest dose and gradually increase but do not exceed 500mg. If you experience the unpleasant side effects of anxiety, sleeplessness, or nausea, lower your dose, or stop taking this supplement. As with all supplements, it is advisable to consult with your medical professional before starting this regimen to ensure safety.
Again, studies show that patients with depression usually have low levels of phenylethylamine. Phenylethylamine supplements increase serotonin and dopamine the brain thereby reducing the depressive symptoms. In patients with Parkinson’s disease, pairing 60mg of phenylethylamine with selegiline reduces depression over a one-year timeline.
Food Sources for Phenylethylamine
Do you prefer to think of food as a supplement? Or, perhaps you simply like to enhance your supplements with the right foods. Either way, it is valuable information to know which foods contribute and enhance your supplemental regimen.
Developing your knowledge of foods that deliver the nutrients you need is important. However, most of us don’t get enough phenylethylamine from our diets so supplementation is something to seriously consider. To help you enhance your diet, here is a list of foods that are high in phenylalanine which the body then converts to phenylethylamine.
Phenylethylamine and Chocolate
Earlier in this article, we stated that chocolate contains prominent levels of phenylalanine. Even though humans have consumed chocolate for centuries, it wasn’t until the late 1980s that scientists established that chocolate is indeed a fantastic source of phenylalanine.
Another interesting fact is that the body releases phenylethylamine when you’re in love. So, it’s not surprising that many refer to phenylethylamine as the “love molecule”. It’s also not surprising that chocolate has elevated levels of phenylalanine along with other stimulants such as caffeine, theobromine, and the cannabinoid anandamide. With that knowledge, it naturally makes sense that the combination of these stimulants is why chocolate remains popular worldwide.
Meats High in Phenylalanine
|Type of Meat
|Buffalo Sir