Raise your serotonin levels naturally to feel happier.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter which the body releases, making us feel happy, and there are a number of methods you can use to increase your levels of serotonin naturally. If your serotonin levels are low you may experience feelings of hopelessness, despair, depression and even suffer from insomnia and panic attacks. According to The Environmental Illness Resource, between 60 and 80 percent of adults in the United States suffer from depleted serotonin levels. Factors that influence and manipulate your brain chemistry include diet, exercise and lifestyle.
Instructions
1. Eat proteins such as turkey, chicken, fish and cheese on a regular basis. According to the website EI-Resource, these foods are rich in an amino acid called tryptophan, which triggers the release of serotonin in the brain. Eat carbohydrates such as wholegrain rice, sweet potatoes and oats, which also aid the release of serotonin.
2. Choose a form of exercise that you find enjoyable such as swimming, cycling or yoga. Workout at a pace that you find comfortable so you can focus on enjoying the activity. According to Integrative Psychiatry, exercising at least three times per week for 30 minutes or more per session will increase levels of serotonin in your brain.
3. Take action to lower your stress levels. According to Integrative Psychiatry, stress can be a cause of low serotonin levels. Maintain a stress-free lifestyle by making sure you get between six to eight hours of sleep a night and make time for relaxing and enjoyable activities and pastimes such as music, comedy, art and crafts.
Tags: serotonin levels, According Integrative, According Integrative Psychiatry, Integrative Psychiatry, levels serotonin