Boost Your Mood

 

Q. Why is serotonin so important?

A. Serotonin has a powerful impact on balancing your mood, and everything that impacts your mood - like emotions, cravings (especially for carbohydrates), sleep habits, appetite and memory. It is affectionately nicknamed our “happy hormone” because of the positive effects it has on our feelings of well-being and happiness. This means that if you’re suffering from depleted serotonin levels, you may experience a drop in your mood, more stress, poor sleeping patterns, emotional eating and weight gain.

Q. What are some natural ways to increase serotonin levels?

A. Exercise is an excellent way to raise your serotonin levels naturally and safely. It also boosts other feel-good neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and endorphins.

Unfortunately serotonin isn’t naturally found in foods, but it can be made from the amino acid tryptophan. Most people feel better and work better when their diet is high in protein. This is because foods high in protein are good sources of tryptophan - particularly eggs, fish, meat and dairy.

Your gut health is also important, as the majority of your serotonin is located in the digestive tract. So, eating foods that promote a healthy gut is important, like different types of fermented foods, such as kefir, kombucha drinks, yoghurt and tempeh.

Finally, you shouldn’t underestimate the power of positive thinking. Keeping a positive outlook can help increase your serotonin levels. Focus on reducing the things that might cause you stress and spend more time doing what makes you feel good.

Q. How can I boost my serotonin levels with natural health supplements?

A. 5-HTP is a very popular supplement for people who are interested in keeping their serotonin balanced. Unlike anti-depressants that recycle serotonin, 5-HTP actually increases the production of serotonin in your brain. If you’re looking to regulate your sleeping patterns and your mood, 5-HTP could be helpful.

Vitamin B6 is important for the conversion of 5-HTP to serotonin, so include foods into your diet that are rich in vitamin B6, like bananas, spinach and hazelnuts. Alternatively try taking a B vitamin supplement.

Low serotonin can also be a factor if you’re trying to lose weight, as low levels can negatively impact mood, motivation, sleep and cravings - all key contributors to weight gain. If this sounds familiar, then you might benefit from including Garcinia Cambogia or Synetrim Slim in your diet. Both supplements naturally boost serotonin levels and help curb those nasty cravings, helping to keep you motivated and more likely to stay on track with your weight management goals.

With some help from nature you can keep your serotonin levels balanced and keep your mind and body feeling healthy and happy.