Natural Supplements to Increase Dopamine and Serotonin

What is Serotonin?
What is Dopamine?
Are Your Neurotransmitter Levels Sufficient?
4 Natural Ways to Boost Dopamine and Serotonin

Our bodies have hundreds of neurotransmitters. These chemical messengers are ultimately the signals controlling everything our bodies do, both voluntary and involuntary, conscious and subconscious.

It is vital to help our body keep our nervous system healthy so that our brain can function normally and at peak levels. You've probably heard dopamine and serotonin in conversations about brain and body health. Now you must be wondering, how do they affect your mind? Let's find out.

What are Dopamine and Serotonin?

Dopamine and serotonin are some of the better-known neurotransmitters that humans have. They are chemicals produced by and responsible for communication between nerve cells.

Both of these neurotransmitters affect things like mood, digestion, and sleep, among others thereby having an incredible impact on your body's general function.

Serotonin

is synthesized from the amino acid called tryptophan and is mostly produced within the digestive system. If your body is lacking tryptophan then, proportionately, you lack serotonin.

It has often been referred to as the joy, calm, or well-being transmitter. Depending on its concentration, serotonin plays a role in disorders like depression and anxiety.

Dopamine

is called the pleasure or reward neurotransmitter because it is often seen to increase when a person is motivated towards a goal. On the other hand, dopamine levels are lowered in association with feelings of hopelessness.

Since it is linked with the anticipation of a reward and is not the "high" you get from being rewarded, dopamine can help the body gauge what you like and want to do.

Are Your Neurotransmitter Levels Sufficient?

To determine if you are getting enough dopamine or serotonin to support your body functions, consult a doctor or nutritional therapist. They will do a blood test to check the concentration of chemicals in your platelets, which is a good measure for a similar presence in your brain fluids.

If any imbalances are indicated from your tests, a healthcare practitioner will be able to suggest ways for you to modify your lifestyle to produce more normal levels or strategies to help you cope with the symptoms.

You might want to seek the attention of a medical professional for these tests or recommendations on supplements if you notice some changes in your mental or physical health.

Remember that symptoms of imbalance are varied, but some conditions to note include:

• Reduced serotonin can result in increased irritability or persistent constipation.
• An abundance of this neurotransmitter is not good either with researchers studying connections to conditions like osteoporosis.
• Since incentives stimulate dopamine, addictive behaviors like drug or alcohol abuse, gambling, and even shopping have been associated with this neurochemical imbalance.
• The mental disorders that have been linked to both of these transmitters (such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder) all have symptoms of feeling helpless, unmotivated to do things you used to enjoy, or unable to cope with the pressures of regular life.

4 Natural Ways to Boost Dopamine and Serotonin

Don't worry. You won't have to rely on prescriptions to balance your dopamine and serotonin levels. Try some or all of these methods to help you boost brain power naturally.

1. Exercise

Mood disorders have been shown to improve with consistent exercise. If you stick to a routine of a moderate aerobic workout, you will begin to see a change in the frequency of mood-related issues.

2. Go Outside

Research has proven that breathing fresh air and being exposed to natural light from the sun reduces the negative symptoms seen in mood disorders.

3. Therapy

Whether it’s clinical therapy or the therapeutic effects of meditation. Your body responds to emotional release. Meditation and practicing gratitude help you to promote a feeling of calm and, according to GoodTherapy, activate your body’s reward system.

4. Natural Supplements

Supplements are a great option since studies have shown that the body does not prioritize the synthesis of serotonin from tryptophan through food intake alone. Consider the following supplements for your health:

• Low levels of folic acid relate to diminished neurotransmitter presence. Increasing uptake of folic acid, as well as vitamin B12, has positive outcomes in depressive cases.
• Vitamin B6 aids the process of transforming tryptophan to serotonin and also in converting 5-HTP.
• 5-HTP is a precursor to serotonin and is suitable for short-term supplementation to increase low neurotransmitter concentrations.

Consult a doctor before making significant adjustments to your lifestyle or diet or for helpful suggestions on how to improve mood and boost dopamine and serotonin naturally.

Pay attention to changes in your physical and mental health, and make an effort to heal yourself naturally whether it’s through exercise, therapy, or supplements.

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