Serotonin is a neurotransmitter and also acts as a hormone in the body, which is responsible for many functions in the body.
For example, if you don’t have a balanced level of serotonin in your body then your mood can change frequently. Also, it can affect your digestive health, bone health, sleep, and wound healing process.
Thus, it is very important to maintain a balanced level of serotonin in your body. This is because neither too low nor too high levels of serotonin are good for your overall well-being.
Therefore, know everything about serotonin in this article and ways to increase serotonin in your body.
Get An Understanding Of Serotonin And Its Uses In The Body
Examine how important a role the neurotransmitter serotonin plays in the body’s complex communication system. Discover how serotonin affects mood, and sleep, as well as its vital roles in preserving mental clarity and general health.
Serotonin is very important for our mental health because low levels of serotonin can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression.
Moreover, it is also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and is a special chemical in our body that helps with many things like mood, thinking, learning, and memory.
Also, our body makes serotonin in different places like in the brainstem, skin cells, and in the cells of our gut.
Additionally, it can be interesting to know that most of the serotonin (about 90%) is present in our gut cells. However, it is also stored in the blood platelets and released during certain situations to maintain our mental health.
Additionally, you should know that our body makes serotonin from an amino acid called tryptophan. Also, it is used to transmit signals in the body, and after that, our liver breaks it down.
What is more interesting is serotonin is not unique to humans and is also found in many animals and even in some plants and fungi.
Also, serotonin can cause pain in some insects and plants. Moreover, it is also produced by certain amoebae that can cause stomach issues in humans.
Additionally, when you know all the roles of serotonin in the body, you may start looking for ways to increase or decrease its levels to maintain a balance in your body.
Thus, you should know that serotonin helps in sleep, regulating body temperature, learning, remembering, feeling pain, and eating. Also, it can increase or decrease your sexual desires, which can affect your mental health and everyday lifestyle.
6 Effective Ways To Increase Serotonin In Your Body
1. Increase Your Physical Activities
If you want to increase serotonin levels in your body, then increasing your physical activities can be the way to do that.
It has been found in studies that when you exercise, serotonin levels increase in your body. Additionally, exercise can increase the levels of BDNF, which is a protein in the body.
Also, both BDNF and serotonin work together to set your mood. For this, you can start exercising every day or increase your normal physical activities like walking and cycling. However, when you make a workout routine, make up your mind to be consistent for a long time.
2. Include Certain Foods In Your Diet Routine To Increase Serotonin
As we mentioned above, serotonin is made by an amino acid called tryptophan thus, you can increase serotonin levels by eating foods that contain tryptophan.
It can be the easiest way to increase serotonin levels in your body.
However, it may not be as easy as it sounds because following a specific diet routine can be very difficult.
Still, you have to include certain food items in your diet that contain tryptophan, such as salmon, eggs, tofu, nuts, seeds, and cheese, if you want to increase serotonin in your body.
3. You Have To Manage Your Stress
Stress can make your life a disaster because it can make you feel upset all the time and also cause other problems like stomach issues and nervousness.
Also, you should know that when you are under stress, your body releases cortisol, and if the levels of cortisol are high, then it can reduce serotonin in the brain.
Therefore, it is very clear that you have to manage your stress to increase serotonin levels in your body. For this, you should learn meditation techniques and get involved in yoga. Also, if you are unable to manage your stress, then get help from professionals.
4. Spend Quality Time With Your Loved Ones
When you want to increase serotonin in a very simple way, then just spend quality time with your friends and family members.
Also, if you are an animal lover and have pets, then spend time with them. This way, you can also manage your stress and anxiety, which can lead you to a happy life.
5. Sunlight Can Increase Your Serotonin Levels
You might not have thought that serotonin levels can be increased in such easy ways, but it is true that you can increase it by getting sunlight.
Also, it has been found in studies that those who don’t get enough sunlight are at higher risk of suffering from seasonal affective disorder.
Moreover, you can also fulfill your body’s requirements for vitamin D when you get enough sunlight.
6. Get A Recommendation From Your Doctor For Supplements
You can also increase serotonin levels by taking supplements because this way, your body gets more tryptophan. However, it is important to consult with your doctor and share your health conditions.
Also, if you are already taking some medications, supplements can interact with them. Therefore, doctors can analyze your health condition and suggest the best supplement that can be suitable for your body’s requirements.
Conclusion
If you stay upset all the time, then it may be that your serotonin levels are low. Serotonin can change your mood and behavior along with many other functions.
Therefore, you should manage a balanced level of serotonin in your body. Above, we have explained serotonin in detail and its uses in the body.
Moreover, we have suggested some effective ways to increase serotonin levels in your body.
Interestingly, you can increase serotonin in easy ways, like by spending quality time with your loved ones and getting enough sunlight. Thus, follow these tips to increase your serotonin levels and live a happy life.
References
- Matsunaga M, et al. (2017). Association between salivary serotonin and the social sharing of happiness.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0180391 - What are MDMA’s effects on the brain? (2017).
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/mdma-ecstasy-abuse/what-are-mdmas-effects-on-brain
