Dopamine, more than just a happiness hormone!

1. Most of us are probably familiar with the term â € happiness hormoneâ € ™, that strange substance in your brain that makes you feel good, that you feel happy. Dopamine is also often mentioned in connection with your libido. All true, but there is much more.

2. Most of us are probably familiar with the term “happiness hormone”, that strange substance in our brain that makes you feel good, that you feel happy. Dopamine is also often mentioned in connection with your libido. All true, but there is much more.

1. First, let's list some facts about dopamine, and then we'll look at how you can independently stimulate your dopamine production using your diet. In a natural way.

2. First, let's list some facts about dopamine, and then we'll look at how you can independently stimulate your dopamine production with the help of your diet. In a natural way.

Five facts about Dopamine

1. To be able to clearly indicate how important dopamine is for your body, I would like to share five facts with you. Facts you may already know, but also facts you wouldn't immediately expect:

1 Dopamine and fatigue

1. Do you ever have the feeling that you are so very tired that you make more and more mistakes, both at home and at work? This fatigue ensures that your dopamine level will drop sharply. Due to the lack of dopamine, you don't care at all about making mistakes, and because you don't care, you don't look for a solution to your fatigue.

2. Do you ever have the feeling that you are so very tired that you make more and more mistakes, both at work and at work? This fatigue ensures that your dopamine level will drop sharply. Because of the lack of dopamine, you don't care about making mistakes at all, and because you don't care, you don't look for a solution to your fatigue.

1. Result: Even more fatigue and therefore less dopamine. A vicious circle that you cannot get out of without action on your part.

2. Result: Even more fatigue and therefore less dopamine. A vicious circle that you cannot escape without action on your part.

1. This has everything to do with the fact that dopamine stimulates the part of the brain where the reward center is located. Without dopamine, you are less likely to take action to solve problems, simply because there is no â € rewardâ € ™ in return. In addition, dopamine also stimulates making choices in your brain. Without dopamine you are simply not able to make a choice, in this case to get out of that vicious circle.

1. The fact that you are tired is a very big alarm bell on your body, a clear signal that you need to rest!

2 Dopamine and Anorexia Nervosa

1. Someone who has this psychiatric condition is only concerned with one thing: To lose weight in every possible way. The consequence of this is known: An extremely low weight due to a greatly reduced intake of food. But less known is another consequence: Hyperactivity. And it is precisely this hyperactivity that consumes a lot of energy, making the final treatment even more difficult.

1. Of course, this is regularly researched, and the latest studies have clearly shown that this hyperactivity has a very strong link with the production of dopamine. As a result of a very complex process, the subjects who ate very little had a greatly elevated dopamine level in the brain.

1. This is the direct cause of the hyperactivity. In the conclusion of the study, the scientists stated that these results may be important for treatment.

1. With the right medication, the dopamine level in the brain should be lowered, making eventual treatment of Anorexia Nervosa easier.

3 Dopamine and Parkinson's disease

1. With Parkinson's disease it is all a bit more clear: This condition is caused by a severe shortage of dopamine in certain parts of the brain, especially in the Substantia Nigra (a deep part of the brain also called the â € €black coreâ € ™).

2. In Parkinson's disease it is all a bit clearer: This condition is caused by a severe shortage of dopamine in certain parts of the brain, especially in the Substantia Nigra (a deep part of the brain also referred to as the 'black core').

1. All your automatic movements are controlled in this part of the brain. If there is Parkinson's disease, the brain cells in that part die and there is a shortage of Dopamine. For example, patients are no longer able to hold a glass of water without spilling: The tremors in the hands and other parts of the body can no longer be controlled.

4 Dopamine and your brain

1. Dopamine is the substance that is also largely responsible for making decisions, making good choices and avoiding the bad ones. People with normal dopamine levels are not only able to make better decisions based on rational facts, but often also have that â € happinessâ € ™ that often makes a choice.

1. People who have a (much) too low dopamine level have much more trouble with this and are sometimes no longer able to make a responsible decision at all.

5 Dopamine and your libido

1. Besides the â € happiness hormoneâ € ™, dopamine is also sometimes referred to as the â € sex hormoneâ € ™. And that is not for nothing. While there are many more factors that determine sex drive, dopamine is one of the best known. The dopamine has an indirect, but very important effect:

1. The 'sense of sex' is determined, for both men and women, by the amount of testosterone in your body. The production of the Testosterone is determined by the concentration of another substance: Prolactin. This Prolactin is in turn, in the Hypothalamus again, under the control of dopamine.

1. Ultimately, a low dopamine level can have major consequences for your libido. Incidentally, it is true that men are more sensitive to this than women.

Increase your dopamine level yourself

1. Given the previous list, it is important to keep your dopamine level at a good level. There are of course all kinds of drugs on the market that can increase your dopamine. This can range from prescription drugs from your doctor to pills bought on the internet.

1. This last group in particular should be very questionable. In many cases, your credit card level is going down, but your dopamine level is not moving. What it does then is unknown. Don't play with your health and make responsible choices!

1. Dopamine is a substance that is produced by your body, so you cannot eat it or in the form of a â € dopamine pillâ € ™ or a â € dopamine shotâ € ™ ™ take. But for your body to be able to make the dopamine, you need a number of other substances. You can find these substances in foods, but then you have to eat the right ones.

1. Here is a list of the most important ones:

Strawberries

1. Strawberries, like all other berries in the same family, are very rich in antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. Vitamin C in particular is abundant. All very healthy, but the strawberries themselves have even more advantages: They also contain ellagitannins, anthocyanins and phenol. All very strong antioxidants that play an important role in protecting dopamine cells. It is wise to eat the organically grown strawberries. This contains a bit more healthy nutrients than the â € ˜normallyâ € ™ grown strawberries.

Apples

1. Eating an apple regularly is very healthy, and especially for this purpose. This is because apples contain polyphenols and quercetin. These are very strong antioxidants that help keep your dopamine levels at a good level. Did you know that the skin of the apple contains a total of 5 times more polyphenols than the whole apple itself? So wash well next time, and eat with the skin and all!

Fish

1. As we all know, fish is a very important supplier of Omega-3 fatty acids. Not only good for your entire body, but also to support your brain functions. These healthy fatty acids are vital for the production of neurotransmitters in your brain, such as Dopamine.

1. Fish has many more benefits, but that is beyond the focus of this article. If you regularly eat herring, anchovies or eel, for example, you are doing good for your dopamine and your overall health.

Bananas

1. Thyroxine is an important amino acid for the production of dopamine. This substance is very strongly present in bananas, among others. In addition, bananas also provide potassium and many dietary fibers that are important for a good bowel movement and an efficient digestion.

Chocolate

1. Chocolate is a well-known food that makes you feel happier. It is also considered by some to be an aphrodisiac, a libido enhancing food. This is indeed true. Chocolate is a very good source of Phenylalaline, a substance that is converted into Dopamine in your body.

1. So eat your daily portion of chocolate, but don't overdo it. Keep a maximum of 20 grams per day for an adult person. Incidentally, it must be said that the real, dark and dark chocolate, so with a minimum of 70% cocoa, the highest percentage of Phenylalaline.

Almonds

1. Almonds have the same effects as the aforementioned chocolate. Almonds also contain a high concentration of Phenylalaline. Give preference to unprocessed almonds, which contain the highest concentration. In addition, unprocessed almonds also contain much less sodium. Almonds are an important and healthy snack.

1. Besides the foregoing foods, all of which stimulate dopamine production, there are other actions you can take:

Conclusion

1. Dopamine is a substance that is often underestimated. This is very unfortunate, because a healthy level of dopamine has many benefits for your body, and ultimately also for your enjoyment of life.