Serotonin: Facts, What Does Serotonin Do? - Medical News Today Serotonin: Facts, What Does Serotonin Do? 4 35 Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a chemical found in the human body. It carries signals along and between nerves - a neurotransmitter. It is mainly found in the brain, bowels and blood platelets. Serotonin is thought to be especially active in constricting smooth muscles, transmitting impulses between nerve cells, regulating cyclic body processes and contributing to wellbeing and happiness.1 Serotonin is regarded by some researchers as a chemical that is responsible for maintaining mood balance, and that a deficit of serotonin leads to depression . The word serotonin comes from its discovery when it was isolated in 1948 by Maurice M. Rapport and initially classified as a serum agent that affected vascular tone.1 This Medical News Today article provides essential information on serotonin. The article is also available in Spanish . Contents of this article: You will also see introductions at the end of some sections to any recent developments that have been covered by MNT's news stories. Also look out for links to information about related conditions. Fast facts on serotonin Here are some key points about serotonin.

More detail and supporting information is in the main article. Serotonin is an important chemical neurotransmitter in the human body. It is commonly regarded as a chemical that is responsible for maintaining mood balance. Serotonin is created by a biochemical conversion process. Serotonin is manufactured in the brain and the intestines. The majority of the body's serotonin, between 80-90%, can be found in the gastrointestinal tract. Serotonin that is used inside the brain must be produced within it. It is thought that serotonin can affect mood and social behavior, appetite and digestion, sleep, memory and sexual desire and function. An association has been made between depression and serotonin. Scientists remain unsure whether decreased levels of serotonin contribute to depression or depression causes a decrease in serotonin levels. Drugs that alter serotonin levels have important clinical uses such as in the treatment of depression, nausea and migraine . Medical research continues to evaluate the role of serotonin in obesity and Parkinson's disease . Other ways to increase body serotonin levels include mood induction, light, exercise and diet. What is serotonin?2 Serotonin is created by a biochemical conversion process which combines tryptophan, a component of proteins, with tryptophan hydroxylase, a chemical reactor.

Together, they form 5-hydroxyltryptamine (5-HT), also referred to as serotonin. Serotonin is most commonly believed to be a neurotransmitter, although some consider the chemical to be a hormone. Where does serotonin come from?2,3 Serotonin is manufactured in the brain and the intestines. The majority of the body's serotonin, between 80-90%, can be found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It can also be found in the blood platelets and the central nervous system (CNS). As serotonin can be found widely across the body, it is believed that the chemical plays a role in influencing a variety of body and psychological functions. Serotonin cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, therefore, serotonin that is used inside the brain must be produced within it. What does serotonin do?2,3 Understanding Our Bodies: Serotonin, The Connection Between Food and Mood | Nutrition Wonderland Understanding Our Bodies: Serotonin, The Connection Between Food and Mood Featured , Understanding Our Bodies Continuing the series on The Physiology of Nutrition, I present to you the connection between food and mood – serotonin.

While it’s easy to see how what we eat has a direct impact on our waistlines, it seems a little foggier how our nutritional choices affect our brains. Even still, we all know intuitively how important food is to our emotions and our moods. After all, who hasn’t gotten angry or upset and wanted nothing other than a super-sizes sundae drizzled with chocolate sauce to calm down? We use food to affect our moods all the time without even thinking about it. But more importantly, our daily nutritional intake can have huge impacts on how we feel, and most of it is due to a little chemical called serotonin . What is Serotonin? Serotonin is a neurotransmitter which is highly common throughout nature. How it works is incredibly simple. Neurons (nerve cell) communicate by specialized areas of their cells called synapses where they are very close together. The first nerve cell dumps neurotransmitters into the space between, and the second nerve cell on the other side has receptors which recognize the transmitter and respond accordingly.

Below is a basic picture of the scene where this exchange occurs: How neurotransmitters help synapses fire (this is how your brain works!) At the same time, as soon as the transmitter is dumped in between the cells, special proteins which are responsible for taking the transmitter back into the neurons start pumping, so the time that the transmitter is in between the cells is short. As the receptors recognize the neurotransmitter, they send signals inside the second cell which pass the signal onward and do whatever other physiological response that particular transmitter dictates. Soon enough, the first cell has all its signal back inside it, and the two neurons are back to their resting state, ready to signal again when the time is right. A close-up of whats going on (serotonin is one of the white dots) What is serotonin’s job as a neurotransmitter? It regulates signal intensity. Think of it like a volume control on a stereo: serotonin changes how efficiently neurons communicate with each other, making other signals louder or softer. Most often, it accompanies other transmitters, changing a neuron’s response to that particular signal. Because of this, its used by all kinds of nerve cells all over the body, and serotonin levels can dramatically alter our behavior.

Levels too high can lead to sedation, whereas low levels are associated with debilitating psychiatric conditions and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Serotonin, The Necklace - by Molecule Muse OK, if you pay enough attention to those annoying medical ads you probably have heard of serotonin. It’s one of the major mood neurotransmitters in our brains. When serotonin levels are low, we’re more depressed, and when they’re high, we’re happier. Many depression drugs target the serotonin system by attempting to artificially boost serotonin levels or sensitivity. MAOIs prevent the breakdown of serotonin in the body in general, thus artificially raising levels. Zoloft and other SSRIs (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors) target the serotonin system by blocking the those pumps which bring the serotonin back in after a signal, causing signals to seem stronger and last longer. For that matter, recreational drugs often target serotonin as well. Mescaline, LSD and other psychedelics mimic serotonin and activate serotonin receptors in the brain. Ecstasy’s main component, MDMA, causes your brain’s neurons to release stored serotonin, causing the happy, euphoric state the drug is named for.

Serotonin in the Gut But what you probably don’t know is that about 80 to 90 percent of the human body’s total serotonin is found in specialized cells in our guts, not in our brains. In fact, serotonin was tied to food long before it became an important mood hormone. In many species, its directly tied to appetite – deplete serotonin, and they act like they are starving. They hunt for food, put off mating and egg laying, and generally do whatever they can to find another bite to eat. In many species, including us, serotonin is key in the functioning of gut muscles, causing contraction of our intestines. As it turns out, our digestive system has its own neural network and largely controls itself without any input from our brains whatsoever. In fact, if you were to cut the main nerve that connects the two, the gut would continue to function independently. In part, that is where serotonin comes in. It is key in the control our digestive muscles during digestion. Serotonin acts on gut nerves which signals pain, nausea and other gut problems. Stomach, up close For example, if you eat something that upsets some of your stomach cells, they release copious amounts of serotonin.

This flood of neurotransmitter causes the gut to empty, leading to diarrhea. But if the serotonin overflows the gut’s management system, it leaks into the blood, where it stimulates 5HT3 receptors in the brain which induces vomiting. So depending on how bad the insult to your stomach, serotonin levels control how your body reacts. Because of this, some of those anti-depressants, particularly the SSRIs, frequently trigger nausea and vomiting as a side effect. Our gut uses so much more serotonin than our brains its amazing. In fact, so much serotonin enters our stomachs every day that if it were injected into the body in general it would be lethal. Luckily for us, there are certain gut cells which contain a lot of serotonin transporters which keep the serotonin in our stomachs and out of the rest of our bodies. (Watch the following video if you REALLY want to know the science behind serotonin in the gut): There’s even rising evidence that serotonin is important in our hunger signaling, particularly in feelings of fullness. Injecting low serotonin doses into the body has caused rats to eat less even though they’re hungry , an effect enhanced by those same MAOIs that increase serotonin levels.

Overall, more and more research suggests that serotonin is somehow modulating food intake – but we’re not sure exactly how… yet. Serotonin and Nutrition Since it has so many diverse and important roles in the body, serotonin levels are key to health mentally and physically. Because its so common in all kinds of animals, serotonin can be found in a variety of foods. The highest concentrations are found in: walnuts plums tomatoes These foods can boost serotonin levels in the gut, ensuring rapid communication between gut cells. But because serotonin in its complete form cannot pass through the blood-brain barrier, we have to do more than include serotonin-rich foods in our diets: we have to include its building blocks. In fact, our bodies naturally understand this, and cause us to crave foods rich in tryptophan, an amino acid key to serotonin production in our brains when serotonin levels are low. What foods are high in tryptophan, you might ask? Carbohydrates. All of a sudden those calorie-rich, carbohydrate-packed comfort foods make a whole lot of sense. It’s logical, then, that sad people tend to eat more junk food even when a more nutritious option is available .

When we’re depressed or upset, we want higher levels of serotonin to feel better, and packing in as much tryptophan as possible is our body’s way of trying to cope. Studies have shown that ingesting carbohydrates boosts serotonin synthesis and levels . Particularly tryptophan-rich foods include: turkey fish a variety of cheeses including Swiss and Cheddar The irony is that not only does mood affect how we eat, but how we eat affects our mood. It’s a two way street. Research has shown that dieters tend to become depressed about two weeks into a diet, about the time their serotonin levels have dropped due to decreased carbohydrate intake. Cutting calories has been shown to reduce tryptophan levels in rats , leading to less serotonin , and even decreases the number of receptors in their brains , so they’re less responsive to the serotonin they have. Watch out ladies... Of course, just because that’s how the world seems to work, women have to be even more careful than men when it comes to dieting and serotonin. In women, calorie reduction has a dramatic impact on serotonin and tryptophan levels – an effect not nearly as strong in men.

This strange double standard is suggested to be a part of why women are so much more prone to eating disorders . The obvious recourse when it comes to dieting, logically, is that by cutting calories we make ourselves more depressed, which in turn makes our bodies want more carbohydrates and calories to boost our moods. It’s yet another reason our weight tends to yo-yo when we try to diet, especially when carbs are cut, and helping keep serotonin levels in check might just be the solution . For example, cheat. Giving yourself a carb-rich treat every so often can help you maintain higher serotonin levels and keep you in a better mood where you can curb your cravings to eat calorie-craving comfort foods during the rest of the week. But its not just tryptophan that’s important. It turns out that vitamin levels in our diets can have a dramatic impact on serotonin systems. One of the most important vitamins key to serotonin function is thiamine, one of the components of Vitamin B Complex. Simply altering the levels of thiamine in our diets and ensuring enough intake can have amazing effects. One study, for example, found that supplemental vitamins for a year significantly boosted women’s moods and overall well-being, particularly due to levels of thiamine.

Another Vitamin-B compound, folic acid, is also strongly linked with serotonin levels. Boosting folate levels in older people, who are generally deficient compared to younger adults, has been found to improve their mood and cognitive function . Even in healthy adults higher levels of serum folate have been linked to fewer mood swings and negative moods. And even more impressively, high folate levels can improve other depression treatments, particularly with how well anti-depressants work . Exactly how folate relates to serotonin is unclear, though it appears to act through an intermediate compound called S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). SAM increases serotonin levels, but it requires folic acid. Folic acid deficiency leads to low levels of SAM, and subsequently reduced serotonin. Serotonin and Behavior One way in which we can help our bodies have healthy serotonin levels is by good behavior. Things we do, behaviorally, have a major impact on serotonin levels. For example, stressing, feeding, and exercise have been shown to have marked affects on serotonin levels in rats. It turns out that sleep and exercise are particularly strongly tied to serotonin.

After all, one of serotonin’s major actions in our bodies is as a sedative, so its not shocking that it has close ties with how we regulate our energy. Exercise to increase serotonin (credit, Frederic de Villamil, flickr) It’s well established that exercise can boost our moods and make us feel better . One way in which this occurs is by increasing serotonin. Exercise is a cheap and dirty way to boost blood and brain serotonin levels immediately , making it a good alternative to other ways of dealing with stress and depression. But exercise does even more: it helps regenerate neurons. Unlike we’re told when we’re young, our brain cells can and do regenerate, albeit slowly. Increased levels of exercise have been shown to increase neuron production , giving out brains better ability to utilize the serotonin boosts and improve our moods. Exercise also allows our brains cells to function better by making them more flexible , leading to better responses to all neurotransmitters, including serotonin. Sleep, however, is even more important when it comes to serotonin. People have been studying the connection between serotonin and sleeping behaviors for over 50 years. We know that changes in serotonin levels have marked impact on sleeping, with decreases in serotonin leading to apnea or other sleep problems .

But only recently have we realized the opposite is true, too. Lack of sleeping negatively affects our brains neuronal signaling , including how it responds to serotonin. Sleep deprivation has been shown to desensitize serotonin pathways , meaning that consistent lack of sleep has a negative impact on our brain’s response to serotonin in general. This means that consistent healthy sleeping patterns are key to maintaining healthy serotonin signaling in our brains and likely our bodies in general. Go Outside and Be Happy! Light triggers serotonin... Another, simple way to increase serotonin production is to get outside. Scientists discovered the connection between light and serotonin almost accidentally. They looked at levels of serotonin in recently-dead people, and found higher concentrations of serotonin in those who died in the summer instead of the winter . That got doctors thinking. It was already known that many people have seasonal changes in mood, with more depression occurring during the cold, dark winter than the warm, sunny summer. It had even been found that increasing light levels helped treat non-seasonal depression . Could light be having an impact on serotonin levels? Research suggests yes.

They’ve since found that serotonin levels in healthy men are directly correlated to the amount of sunlight in the day , with marked increases as the seasons changed and the sun’s intensity rose, and other research has found strong connections between light and serotonin function . Taken together, these suggest that a walk in the sun or getting away on vacation to somewhere tropical and sunny during the darker months might be able to naturally boost serotonin levels. There are other behavioral ways to change serotonin levels, too. Rising evidence suggests that our own emotions and moods affect serotonin levels . In other words, trying to boost our moods or rosy our outlooks can help raise serotonin levels. Things you can try: Meditation Talking to Friends Counseling All these mood-boosting behaviors might just help raise overall serotonin levels, allowing us to keep out of those bad moods later on. In The End… Of course, like anything else, it’s balance that counts. Over-eating of carbohydrates and sugars can lead to decreased sensitivity to serotonin, leading to negative mood and physical side effects like obesity. Eating lots of protein can help balance serotonin levels. As it turns out, eating protein before carbs curbs the usual spike in serotonin . And, the truth is, we want to cut down our serotonin sometimes.

It is a mild sedative, and eating serotonin-boosting foods in the middle of the day can make us drowsy and less focused. A protein-rich snack instead will help increase energy and keep you going when you need it most. Even worse, eating too serotonin-boosting foods, while it might feel good for a short time, can lead to a worse crash later on. That’s why a candy bar or a soda are so much worse for us – the sugary energy-upping effect is only temporary, and we’re left with sleep-inducing increases in serotonin instead, leading to a much harder crash. Proper nutritional balance is required for sustained energy throughout the day and a balanced mood. And if you do want a snack with a pick-me-up in terms of mood, try something with less sugar or caffeine but plenty of tryptophan, like nuts – plus nuts are packed with other brain-boosting goodies, too . In general, though, people don’t get enough of the healthy serotonin boosters in our diets – leading to a lot of grumpiness and overall blah-feelings. We are outside less than we should be, sleeping odd or too few hours, exercising less, and generally eating poorer.

All of these are causing our bodies serotonin levels to get out of whack. Understanding the impacts of our actions and what we eat on this important system can help us improve our moods and gut health dramatically without resorting to anti-depressants or other drugs and their side effects, allowing a natural way for us to feel great more often. You may want to check out the first part of the series if you enjoyed this amazing article: Leptin, The Fullness Hormone References: Pollock JD, & Rowland N (1981). Peripherally administered serotonin decreases food intake in rats. Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior, 15 (2), 179-83 PMID: 7312891 Garattini S, Bizzi A, Caccia S, Mennini T, & Samanin R (1988). Progress in assessing the role of serotonin in the control of food intake. Clinical neuropharmacology, 11 Suppl 1 PMID: 3052823 Fernstrom, J., & Wurtman, R. (1971).

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Too little sleep gradually desensitizes the serotonin 1A receptor system. Sleep, 28 (12), 1505-10 PMID: 16408408 Carlsson A, Svennerholm L, & Winblad B (1980). Seasonal and circadian monoamine variations in human brains examined post mortem. Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica. Supplementum, 280, 75-85 PMID: 6157305 Golden RN, Gaynes BN, Ekstrom RD, Hamer RM, Jacobsen FM, Suppes T, Wisner KL, & Nemeroff CB (2005). The efficacy of light therapy in the treatment of mood disorders: a review and meta-analysis of the evidence. The American journal of psychiatry, 162 (4), 656-62 PMID: 15800134 Lambert GW, Reid C, Kaye DM, Jennings GL, & Esler MD (2002). Effect of sunlight and season on serotonin turnover in the brain.

Lancet, 360 (9348), 1840-2 PMID: 12480364 AANHETROT, M., BENKELFAT, C., BOIVIN, D., & YOUNG, S. (2008). Bright light exposure during acute tryptophan depletion prevents a lowering of mood in mildly seasonal women European Neuropsychopharmacology, 18 (1), 14-23 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2007.05.003 Perreau-Linck E, Beauregard M, Gravel P, Paquette V, Soucy JP, Diksic M, & Benkelfat C (2007). In vivo measurements of brain trapping of C-labelled alpha-methyl-L-tryptophan during acute changes in mood states. Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN, 32 (6), 430-4 PMID: 18043767 Sarah A. Smith WOW! This was the BEST concise explanation of the A-Z of serotonin that I’ve read! Thanks!

Sarah A. Smith WOW! This was the BEST concise explanation of the A-Z of serotonin that I’ve read! Thanks! Mimi Serrao Another excellent addition. Very interesting info. Mimi Mimi Serrao Another excellent addition. Very interesting info. Mimi Andreas This is by far the best article on serotonin I’ve ever read. Now I got it! Thank you very much. Andreas This is by far the best article on serotonin I’ve ever read. Now I got it! Thank you very much. Dopaine Thanks a lot! I have been wondering about this thing so long and it seems to be that I am not too crazy after all. Dopaine Thanks a lot! I have been wondering about this thing so long and it seems to be that I am not too crazy after all. Lara Adler This is by far one the most thorough articles I’ve ever read on serotonin, and the food/mood connection. Fantastic job! I struggled sometimes explaining the connection to clients, but this has just made my job so much easier! Lara Adler This is by far one the most thorough articles I’ve ever read on serotonin, and the food/mood connection. Fantastic job!

I struggled sometimes explaining the connection to clients, but this has just made my job so much easier! Terri I was on 5HTP and L-tyrosine to raise serotonin and norepinephrine levels. It worked great. But now I’ve been under a lot of stress again and I’m not sure if my levels are lower than they were. I’m also wondering how these are tested for and if they are accurate. I was given a urine test which showed low levels which increased after the 5HTP regimen. Was this accurate? I don’t know, but I feel much better now than I did a year ago. What is 5HTP’s role in serotonin? Is it a building block? Great article by the way. It made sense and was easy to understand. Terri I was on 5HTP and L-tyrosine to raise serotonin and norepinephrine levels. It worked great. But now I’ve been under a lot of stress again and I’m not sure if my levels are lower than they were. I’m also wondering how these are tested for and if they are accurate. I was given a urine test which showed low levels which increased after the 5HTP regimen.

Was this accurate? I don’t know, but I feel much better now than I did a year ago. What is 5HTP’s role in serotonin? Is it a building block? Great article by the way. It made sense and was easy to understand. carol thank you so much, i have passed this along everyone should be armed with this information, it would be a better world. this has helped me to understand my own behavior. carol thank you so much, i have passed this along everyone should be armed with this information, it would be a better world. this has helped me to understand my own behavior. carol Carol H This was an amazing article, because it actually explained why I need to eat right, take my vitamins, and exercise. I thought that those admonitions were just something mothers and doctors said to make you feel guilty… I’m currently on anti-depressants and I’m needing more, but with “more” my restless legs syndrome increases. So I was looking for ways to increase my serotonin level naturally, and I found this article. Thank-you so much for writing this article. It totally makes sense to me, and it also explains why I crave ice cream before bedtime.

Carol H This was an amazing article, because it actually explained why I need to eat right, take my vitamins, and exercise. I thought that those admonitions were just something mothers and doctors said to make you feel guilty… I’m currently on anti-depressants and I’m needing more, but with “more” my restless legs syndrome increases. So I was looking for ways to increase my serotonin level naturally, and I found this article. Thank-you so much for writing this article. It totally makes sense to me, and it also explains why I crave ice cream before bedtime. Nancy SS This is a very well organized and well written article. Thanks for the imformation and suggestions. Nancy SS This is a very well organized and well written article. Thanks for the imformation and suggestions. Jennifer Thanks for the info!:) There’s something I’m not clear on: The list of foods high in tryptophan is almost entirely comprised of foods that are Not carbohydrates. Why don’t we crave them instead of carbohydrate rich foods? Is it something like that carbohydrates have lower levels of building blocks for serotonin but act Faster?

Another question- since complete serotonin can’t pass the blood-brain barrier, does eating serotonin-rich foods help mood at all?- does serotonin outside the brain, and gut,affect mood any? (I assume serotonin in the gut has no effect on mood, but I thought serotonin outside your brain still helped mood because your whole body is involved in mood- I mean, doesn’t serotonin originating in the brain then travel through the entire bloodstream, signaling changes that then affect mood by affecting what happens throughout the body?) Thanks for reading! Jennifer Thanks for the info!:) There’s something I’m not clear on: The list of foods high in tryptophan is almost entirely comprised of foods that are Not carbohydrates. Why don’t we crave them instead of carbohydrate rich foods? Is it something like that carbohydrates have lower levels of building blocks for serotonin but act Faster? Another question- since complete serotonin can’t pass the blood-brain barrier, does eating serotonin-rich foods help mood at all?- does serotonin outside the brain, and gut,affect mood any?

(I assume serotonin in the gut has no effect on mood, but I thought serotonin outside your brain still helped mood because your whole body is involved in mood- I mean, doesn’t serotonin originating in the brain then travel through the entire bloodstream, signaling changes that then affect mood by affecting what happens throughout the body?) Thanks for reading! Jennifer Hey again:)- forgot something- since one of the symptoms of serotonin withdrawal is Fatigue (but too much serotonin is sedating), is the thinking that the fatigue is due to stressing while having too low levels of serotonin, thus making coping harder? I’m thinking here of low serotonin being suspected of having a role in clinical depression, and a symptom of depression being fatigue… It’s interesting, some people with clinical depression Oversleep(myself)while others with it have Insomnia,or poor sleep. I know that at least some of my sleepiness comes from stress- first I get tired, then if the stress continues, I get sleepy, and long ago when my depression was severe, the sleep was also an escape.

Since norepinephrine is also suspected of playing a role in depression, and norepinephrine is not sedating, it makes me wonder if some people with depression are deficient in the one but not the other, and others are deficient in both. This is not to mention dopamine, also suspected as playing a role in clinical depression, so that’s perhaps 3 variables- depending on whether levels of all 3 of these are interdependent or not… The complexity of it all makes articles like yours that discuss safe things to try- like exercise, good sleep, light, working on your outlook, that much more important. Certain foods,and the lack of certain foods, can be so powerful, a balanced diet is the safest approach to pretty much any ailment, physical or mental. That being said, I know I’m currently low on serotonin as I’m being weaned off an SSRI (and onto Wellbutrin) after about 10 yrs on SSRI’s, and even taking only 5mg of Lexapro every 6th day is still leading to dizziness on that 6th day. The increments I can go have been slowing in their rate of length increase.

It may be that I will never produce a healthy amount on my own, and will need to supplement the Wellbutrin with a very low dose of Lexapro, but in the meantime I’m trying it while looking for safe ways to increase my serotonin, so I’m going to increase the tryptophan foods and push the behavioral remedies more too. Exercise is hard while I’m So tired, but I know it’s important for everything:), and it does boost my mood immediately:). Thanks again for your article and for reading all this! Jennifer Hey again:)- forgot something- since one of the symptoms of serotonin withdrawal is Fatigue (but too much serotonin is sedating), is the thinking that the fatigue is due to stressing while having too low levels of serotonin, thus making coping harder? I’m thinking here of low serotonin being suspected of having a role in clinical depression, and a symptom of depression being fatigue… It’s interesting, some people with clinical depression Oversleep(myself)while others with it have Insomnia,or poor sleep.

I know that at least some of my sleepiness comes from stress- first I get tired, then if the stress continues, I get sleepy, and long ago when my depression was severe, the sleep was also an escape. Since norepinephrine is also suspected of playing a role in depression, and norepinephrine is not sedating, it makes me wonder if some people with depression are deficient in the one but not the other, and others are deficient in both. This is not to mention dopamine, also suspected as playing a role in clinical depression, so that’s perhaps 3 variables- depending on whether levels of all 3 of these are interdependent or not… The complexity of it all makes articles like yours that discuss safe things to try- like exercise, good sleep, light, working on your outlook, that much more important. Certain foods,and the lack of certain foods, can be so powerful, a balanced diet is the safest approach to pretty much any ailment, physical or mental.

That being said, I know I’m currently low on serotonin as I’m being weaned off an SSRI (and onto Wellbutrin) after about 10 yrs on SSRI’s, and even taking only 5mg of Lexapro every 6th day is still leading to dizziness on that 6th day. The increments I can go have been slowing in their rate of length increase. It may be that I will never produce a healthy amount on my own, and will need to supplement the Wellbutrin with a very low dose of Lexapro, but in the meantime I’m trying it while looking for safe ways to increase my serotonin, so I’m going to increase the tryptophan foods and push the behavioral remedies more too. Exercise is hard while I’m So tired, but I know it’s important for everything:), and it does boost my mood immediately:). Thanks again for your article and for reading all this! Candice Very interesting read, a lot of my friends dieting on carb crashing diets, good for them to read this article. Candice Very interesting read, a lot of my friends dieting on carb crashing diets, good for them to read this article. 5-HTP Nice post!

Very well organized of information and it educated me a lot about serotonin. thanks for sharing. now i know about it’s benefits and how it could affect or health if you use it too much also. Lee This is fascinating yet so clear. Thank you. My counsellor suspects i have depression and am about to go for assessment. Initially i resisted but i recognise denial when i see it. This article will be very useful to me whether i am diagnosed with depression or not. Thank you. Hello! Wonderful Article. I’m studying for an exam and this article has really helped! Highlightfront This is an excellent paper on serotonin. It is important to know that the most powerful way to change emotion is through the power of thought. Think of a squeezed lemon, does your mouth water? think frightening thoughts and then change to something arousing and happy. We can quickly change emotions. lauren umm… that list of ‘carbohydrates’ you included as containing tryptophan are actually more like proteins Anne This is amazing, well written, good post. thank you for the good information i learned something new Thomas Cook this is great, very well put together.

however i have a question, what if someone naturally produces to much serotonin, how can that be balanced out. Sarah The Four Major Neurotransmitters and the Neurotransmitter Imbalances Neurotransmitters Products Measuring Neurotransmitter Levels Neurotransmitter levels can now be determined by a simple and convenient urine test collected at home. Knowing your neurotransmitter levels can help you correct an imbalance today or prevent problems from occurring in the future. 5 Reasons You Should Consider Neurotransmitter testing: Neurotransmitters control communication throughout your body and brain. Neurotransmitters are complex chemical messengers that coordinate communcation between neruons, which in turn affect every cell, tissue, and system in your body. Symptoms (and even diagnoses) don’t tell the whole story. Although you can articulate a long list of symptoms, you can't identify the underlying imbalances causing those symptoms. Neurotransmitter testing gives me more information than your symptoms alone can. You are unique, your symptoms are not. Many symptoms, such as fatigue, weight gain, anxiousness, and sleep disturbances can have strikingly different underlying causes. While your poor sleep may be due to low serotonin, someone else’s may be related to high glutamate.

Neurotransmitter testing can identify your specific biochemical imbalances. Complex health conditions require an integrated approach. Today’s Diseases of Civilization demand a unified approach that conceptualizes nervous, endocrine and immune functions as an integrated system. Neurotransmitter testing helps me as a clinician uncover adrenal and immune issues that affect proper neural balance. Testing biomarkers helps us provide customized patient care. Most importantly, once we have the personalized, integrated information from your unique lab results, we can better address underlying imbalances. The promise of such an approach is increased care effectiveness and decreased care expenses. What are Neurotransmitters? It would be hard to overstate the complexity of the vast network of specialized cells that make up your nervous system. The average human brain houses over 100 billion nerve cells (neurons) with each connected to 10,000 or so other cells which, if you do the math, equals approximately 1000 trillion connections in your brain. This means you have, even on a slow day, roughly 10,000 times more connections in your brain than there are stars in the Milky Way.

Everything we do – all of our movements, thoughts, and feelings - is the result of these nerve cells talking with one another via electrical and chemical signals. Neurons are not in direct contact with each other; in order to communicate with each other, they rely on highly specialized chemicals called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that coordinate the transmission of signals from one nerve cell (neuron) to the next. These all important brain chemicals interact with target sites called receptors located throughout the brain (and body) to regulate a wide variety of processes including emotions, fear, pleasure, joy, anger, mood, memory, cognition, attention, concentration, alertness, energy, appetite, cravings, sleep, and the perception of pain. Additionally, neurotransmitters chemically link the brain and spinal cord with the rest of your body: muscles, organs, and glands. Thus, our brain is not only an array of wires (nerve cells/neurons) but also a highly evolved chemical soup (neurotransmitters). Neurotransmitters affect every cell, tissue, and system in your body.

And because neurotransmitters are functionally integrated with the immune system and the endocrine system (including the adrenal glands), neurotransmitter imbalances can cause widespread health problems such as: Brain fog – loss of mental focus, ADD, ADHD, impaired memory, poor decision making; Fatigue; Insomnia – difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or both; Pain – migraines, fibromyalgia Obesity – metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and diabetes; Mood disorders – depression, mood swings, irritability Anxiety – panic, obsessions, PTSD Behavioral disturbances – addictions, binge eating, compulsions impulsivity, gambling, autism; and Hormonal imbalances – PMS, estrogen dominance, low testosterone, hypo-thyroidism. The good news is that for each neurotransmitter we discover is out of balance, there are usually natural remedies such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs, or homeopathy that can help restore proper balance. If you are showing signs of neurotransmitter imbalance, the best thing to do is to get your neurotransmitter levels tested . Learn More about Neurotransmitter testing by watching the video below: Neurotransmitter Balance Proteins, minerals, vitamins,carbohydrates, and fats are the essential nutrients that make up your body.

Proteins are the essential components of muscle tissue, organs, blood, enzymes, antibodies, and neurotransmitters in the brain. Your brain needs the proper nutrients everyday in order to manufacture proper levels of the neurotransmitters that regulate your mood. Disrupted communication between the brain and the body can have serious effects to ones health both physically and mentally. Depression, anxiety and other mood disorders are thought to be directly related to imbalances with neurotransmitters. The four major neurotransmitters that regulate mood are Serotonin , Dopamine , GABA and Norepinephrine. When operating properly, your nervous system has natural checks and balances in the form of inhibitory (calming) and excitatory (stimulating) neurotransmitters. The Inhibitory (Calming) Neurotransmitters The Inhibitory System comprises mainly GABA and serotonin and serves to, among other things, "cool" your central nervous system engine. PEA (read more about PEA) PEA is an excitatory neurotransmitter made from phenylalanine. It is important in focus and concentration. High levels are observed in individuals experiencing "mind racing", sleep problems, anxiety, and schizophrenia. Low PEA is associated with difficulty paying attention or thinking clearly, and in depression.

Putting It All Together Testing of neurotransmitters allows us to identify "upstream" causes of some of the most "downstream" symptoms encountered in contempory society. Without such testing, no matter how educated, we are merely guessing. Personalized treatment requires personalized evaluation of neurotransmitters, and, for that matter, hormones, adrenal output, and inflammation. If you are showing signs of neurotransmitter imbalance, the best thing to do is to get your neurotransmitter levels tested .

Question: What compound in the human body acts as a neurotransmitter and helps to regulate temperature?
Answer: Serotonin