Serotonin: 11 Natural Ways to Increase Happiness Hormone

1. Do you want to be happy? No, I don't need an answer. I'm sure everyone will answer that with a resounding â € Yesâ € ™. Of course life is not always one big stream of happiness moments, and of course there are always factors that you cannot influence. Factors that cut your happiness.

1. But what you can influence is the amount of happiness hormones that are produced in your brain. The more happiness hormones, the better you feel.

1. In this article I will tell you about the 4 most important happiness hormones. The Serotonin, which this article is all about, is covered in detail. At the end, I'll just give you 11 ways to get more Serotine, naturally. And more serotonin means a good feeling, a happy feeling. Read on quick!

4 important happiness hormones

1. We are all familiar with the term â € happiness hormonesâ € ™. This usually first comes to mind with dopamine. But there are many more hormones that play a big role in our happiness.

1. This is perhaps the most famous â € feel goodâ € ™ hormone. Dopamine not only ensures that you are and remains motivated, but also plays a very important role in enjoyment, in the feeling of happiness. For example, if you win the lottery, it naturally gives you a very nice feeling. But can you really enjoy that feeling? Do you express your feelings, for example, by spontaneously dancing and cheering like crazy? Okay, this is an extreme example, but normally a lot of dopamine should be released into your brain at such a time, so you can enjoy yourself. If this dopamine is not released, your reaction will be very shallow.

1. People can become addicted to dopamine. Cannabis users experience this a lot. Smoking a joint releases dopamine in the brain. This feeling of happiness is addictive, making you want to smoke a joint again.

1. But there are also negative aspects to this dopamine addiction. You've probably met someone who can only talk about themselves, how great he or she is and what they've done and bought. Talking about yourself in a very positive way releases dopamine in the brain. These people are also addicted to dopamine, which makes them want to talk about themselves again and again. As annoying as that may be, it is not their fault. It's a form of addiction…

1. This is the happiness hormone that creates a stronger bond between yourself and the people around you. This starts at a very young age: Mother's milk contains a very large amount of this happiness hormone, which gives the baby a very strong bond with the mother. Another reason to breastfeed, but that's a whole different story.

1. This hormone therefore also plays a major role in a love relationship. You do not get the happiness hormone transferred by your partner, but you produce it yourself, for example during an orgasm, which you experience together with this partner.

1. Oxytocin is also released, in large quantities, when you are with people who have a good sense of humor. You feel more connected with people who make you laugh.

1. This hormone helps you to overcome stress and pain from physical activities. It is a pain-relieving hormone that is not only released when you experience pain, but also when you are very satisfied with yourself. You are proud! A good example of this is the marathon runner who is on his way to complete the 42 kilometers: After 35 kilometers, the legs start to hurt very much, but due to the large amounts of endorphins, he is still able to continue. This endorphins are then released in large quantities as a result of the pain and physical exertion. And of course as a result of the satisfied feeling.

1. Endorphins are also produced during a romantic moment, the feeling of love, during an orgasm, during arousal, and from eating very spicy foods.

1. Serotonin is the happiness hormone that this article is all about. So I'm not going to reveal anything here. Read on quick!

Featured: The happiness hormone Serotonin

1. Serotonin is perhaps one of the most important happiness hormones in your body. Like the other happiness hormones, Serotonin has an important role in the feeling of happiness. A fun fact is that many people always think that Serotonin is only produced in the brain, and is only used there. But did you know that 95% of the total amount of serotonin is produced in the gut? Of course, this does not alter the fact that the remaining 5% of the serotonin simply has to be produced in the brain, because the serotonin from the intestines will never be able to reach the brain.

1. In the brain, serotonin is involved in, among other things, mood, social behavior, libido, sleep, memory and the ability to learn.

1. The serotonin produced in the gut is relatively new to medical science and requires further investigation. But it is currently believed to be related to appetite, but the reason for the high activity of serotonin in the gut is still a big question to date.

1. To indicate the great contrast between a high level of Serotonin and a low level of Serotonin:

1. Your body has a high level of Serotine:

1. You are calm, satisfied, open-minded, clear-minded and socially dominant. Living with a lot of serotonin can be beautiful!

1. Your body has a low level of Serotine:

1. You are anxious, depressed, pessimistic and aggressive. In general life looks very bleak.

The 13 main symptoms of Serotonin deficiency

1. The happiness hormone Serotonin is involved in many different bodily processes, so there are just as many possible symptoms. But basically it can all be reduced to mood, emotions and depression. In addition, there are links between serotonin and sleep quality, and there is a link between serotonin and libido.

1. People with a lot of anxiety generally have a low level of Serotonin in their body. But that's not to say that the serotonin is the only cause of the anxiety. On the other hand, it is true that medication with serotonin makes the feelings of anxiety disappear again.

1. If you have low serotonin in your system, chances are you will regularly find yourself eating carbohydrates and / or all kinds of sweets. Carbohydrates are known to increase levels of Serotonin in the brain due to the greater availability of Tryptophan. The latter is the raw material of serotonin. So you feel good after eating carbohydrates, because of the extra serotonin in your brain. This is addictive. Incidentally, this does not necessarily come from the serotonin: Carbohydrates often contain gluten, which also has an addictive effect.

1. It is no secret that serotonin has to do with your mood. People with depression often receive serotonin treatment. That does not mean that serotonin is the only cause of the depressive feelings, but the treatment does work.

1. It is now believed that Serotonin plays a role in the development of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Increasing serotonin often helps to improve this condition and therefore digestion.

1. Low serotonin levels can make you more sensitive than usual. You suddenly take an innocent comment from someone else very seriously and consider it a personal attack. Everything is getting worse than it actually is.

1. Serotonin can have a major effect on fatigue. A constant feeling of lethargy, lack of energy and tiredness can be the result of too little serotonin. Fatigue can also be a symptom after stopping serotonin medication. This dissolves again when the natural serotonin has been replenished.

1. Low Serotonin levels have also been associated with insomnia. We can explain this because serotonin plays an important role in the production of Melatonin. This is a hormone that is very important for the day and night rhythm.

1. Due to the lack of serotonin you are unable to calm your body in preparation for a good night's sleep.

1. A lack of Serotonin has also been linked to a high libido. This will undoubtedly have to do with the fact that the body wants to produce Serotonin, and therefore needs the excitement, the horniness and the orgasm. On the other hand, too high a level of Serotonin is associated with a lower libido, ie less sex drive, but higher emotional connection with the partner.

1. Premature ejaculation is often seen as a mental illness. Of course the psyche will be involved, but we can also trace it back to the amount of serotonin in the body. If there is a shortage of serotonin, the signal transmission from certain receptors is disrupted. So premature ejaculation may be related to serotonin, but it isn't all that. Other factors can also play a role, such as feeling insecure about yourself, insecure about sex, and psychological problems.

1. It is a common symptom that people experience all kinds of mood swings when the serotonin level is too low. Aggressive behavior or emotional behavior in social situations are a few examples of the mood swings that serotonin can cause. So if you find yourself easily angry, aggressive, anxious, depressed or very happy, serotonin could be one of the causes.

1. There is a clear link between the serotonin in the body and pain tolerance. A low level of serotonin would ensure a higher sensitivity to pain, even with very minor aches and pains. A higher level of serotonin causes a lower pain sensitivity, so a higher pain threshold.

1. Some people can become very sensitive to sounds. Softer and medium sounds are suddenly experienced as very disturbing by people who have a low serotonin level. Hearing these sounds suddenly makes you feel very uncomfortable because of the body's stress response.

1. We have already established that people with a low Serotonin level have a great need for carbohydrates and sweets. Serotonin production as a result of this excessive food intake is addictive. This can make you gain weight. This is not always necessary, because this is related to many other factors, including metabolism. But it is certain that the lack of serotonin, in combination with the overeating, causes a significantly lower energy level and a great risk of depression.

11 Natural Ways to Get More Serotonin

1. You can of course go to the doctor to ask for medication for this. But why take medication if it can also be done naturally? Below I give you 11 ways to give your Serotonin a big boost in a natural way:

1. By means of the serotonin we are able to sit quietly and calmly and let go of all thoughts. So by meditating you increase the serotonin level. But that's not all: Meditation also increases the sleep-promoting hormone Melatonin, which is ultimately made from Serotonin.

1. If you go one step further in meditating, thus in a deep state of bliss, it will be possible due to the increase in both serotonin and dopamine.

1. Exercise and sports is actually the best way to balance our hormones and neurotransmitters. So your level of Serotonin is also balanced if you exercise and exercise regularly.

1. It will also have an indirect effect, because exercise will strongly increase the production of Tryptophan. Tryptophan enters the brain via the bloodstream and will be used directly to make Serotonin. This process takes place not only during exercise, but also long afterwards.

1. Sunlight on your skin will increase the production of Serotonin. Your skin has a built-in system that releases tryptophan into the bloodstream under the influence of sunlight. After arriving in the brain, this is also immediately used as the primary building block for Serotonin.

1. Exposing your skin to the sun has even more advantages: This way your body gets enough Vitamin D, an important factor in the production of Dopamine, that other happiness hormone.

1. Of course you have to be careful with exposure to the sun. Always apply well, and avoid the sun during the hottest times of the day. Although the sun always carries risks, completely avoiding the sun will have very serious consequences: Among other things, problems with bone growth due to poor absorption of Calcium and feelings of depression due to a lower production of Dopamine.

1. A study within a group of monkeys points to an increased serotonin level in combination with social dominance. The dominant monkey had a higher serotonin level than the rest of the group. If the monkey dominance falls in hierarchy, so does the serotonin in the body.

1. There has also been a study with humans. It turned out that the people who got a high dose of Tryptophan, the building block of Serotonin, became more socially dominant. But it turned out that it also worked the other way around: Social dominance also increases serotonin.

1. So it turns out that it comes from both sides: Serotonin makes you dominant, and dominance in turn makes you more serotonin.

1. You can also control the production of Serotonin with your thoughts. This is called â € Primingâ € ™ in English, and the principle comes from neurological science.

1. Priming aims to generate pleasant thoughts by thinking of a particular word. For example, when you think of the word “fun,” your thoughts will involuntarily seek out all sorts of associations and offer you pleasant memories. This will make you happy and cheerful, and will increase Serotonin levels.

1. You can also use priming to make yourself more dominant. With words like â € confidentâ € ™, â € dominantâ € ™, and â € strongâ € ™, your brain instantly conjures up all kinds of associations that immediately put you in a different mood. The level of serotonin rises, after which the process can keep itself going, as it were.

1. Both vitamins are a good choice if you want to increase your serotonin level. Vitamin B6 in particular can help to increase serotonin production. Melatonin also benefits from this, so you will probably sleep better.

1. Vitamin B6 can be found in legumes, potatoes, grain products, fish, eggs, and meat.

1. Do you want to be absolutely sure that you get all B vitamins in the right balance? Then choose a dietary supplement. It may be a bit more expensive, but choose a good quality. The cheap jars of supplements are often very poorly absorbed by the body, and are therefore a waste of money. The good quality is a bit more expensive, but it is also effective. And you want that, right?

1. We have already seen that your body produces Tryptophan in the body. This tryptophan, which is the raw material for the production of Serotonin, is transported through the bloodstream to the brain for the eventual transformation into Serotonin.

1. But when there is too much insulin in your blood, much less tryptophan will be transported. And how does that insulin get into the blood? Exactly, due to a too high blood sugar level. And we get high blood sugar from eating sugars and fast carbohydrates.

1. In order to get the maximum benefit from the tryptophan, it is important to avoid as much sugar as possible and to eat only slow carbohydrates. This keeps your blood sugar in balance, so that no insulin is produced. This leaves room in the blood to transport the tryptophan to the brain.

1. The most important Omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA have a major influence on the production of Serotonin. EPA increases the production of Serotonin, while DHA affects serotonin receptors by increasing the fluidity of your cell membranes.

1. If you take Omega 3 fatty acids for a longer period of time, for example in the form of capsules, your Serotonin level will eventually increase.

1. Our intestines are filled with countless bacteria, we call this the intestinal flora. These are both good and bad bacteria that live together in a kind of harmony. As long as the relationships remain good, this healthy intestinal flora will enable your body to function optimally. But a disturbance in this gut flora can, in extreme cases, have disastrous consequences.

1. Your brain and mood are also affected by the state of your intestinal flora. For example, it has been found that the probiotic Bifido bacteria can significantly increase the level of Tryptophan in the blood. And, as we now know, that tryptophan has to go through the bloodstream to the brain to be processed there into Serotonin.

1. Turmeric, also called turmeric, is a spice extracted from the Curcuma Longa. Don't have turmeric at home? Don't worry, because curry powder, curry, is a compound spice and contains a good amount of Turmeric.

1. Curcumin, the active ingredient in Turmeric, is an antidepressant because of its positive effects on the production of both Dopamine and Serotonin. Curcumin also works positively from the other side: This substance inhibits the activity of an enzyme called Monoamine Oxidase. This enzyme is involved in the breakdown of Serotonin, Dopamine and Noradrenaline.

1. When Turmeric is taken orally, the bioavailability is quite low. This means that it is not optimally absorbed by the body. The absorption is better when combined with black pepper.

1. So, when cooking, always use turmeric in combination with black pepper.

1. By drinking alcohol, the serotonin in your body will drop sharply after about 45 minutes. The production of Melatonin is also disrupted, so that you will sleep poorly the night after taking the alcohol. Of course you will sleep, but the quality of the night's sleep is hard to find.

1. There is also a link between alcohol and aggressive behavior. This is linked to the aforementioned decrease in Serotonin, which means that you no longer have a natural brake.

1. Ultimately, this is caused by the disruptive effects of alcohol on Serotonin Metabolism.

The Great Myths About Serotonin Tryptophan

1. There are many stories that certain foods contain a lot of Tryptophan. Tryptophan is the building block for Serotonin production. So by eating those foods you could very quickly and easily boost your Serotonin levels.

1. But unfortunately those are myths. I'll explain why:

1. Tryptophan from foods will always have to compete with other amino acids to be absorbed into the brain via the blood. Unfortunately, the Tryptophan always has to lose this battle.

1. For example, turkey is said to be high in Tryptophan. That is true, but it will never reach the brain. The same goes for eating a banana.

Finallyâ €!

1. The foregoing natural ways to boost your happiness can all be effective. There is no doubt about that. But realize that true happiness does not depend on a dietary supplement or a little more Turmeric in your food. Real happiness depends on yourself, your self-esteem, how you are in contact with yourself, how you deal with your own body energy. In the end, that's what it's all about. But that does not mean that the aforementioned tips can certainly help you in the process towards your happiness!

Sources

1. Www.medicalnewstoday.com/kc/serotonin-facts-232248

1. En.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin

1. Www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166432814004768

1. Www.newhealthadvisor.com/Serotonin-and-Dopamine.html

1. Www.life-enhancement.com/magazine/article/178-5-htp-enhance-your-mood-your-sleep-and-a-lot-more

1. Eocinstitute.org/meditation/dhea_gaba_cortisol_hgh_melatonin_serotonin_endorphins/