Workshop - Chemistry of happiness - Serotonin

Hello to everyone,

welcome to this new episode of my workshop about the chemistry of happiness.

In this article I'm going to write about the Serotonin, but if this one is the first time you read about my workshop and you are interested in knowing more, here are my previous posts about this topic:

Main chemicals of happiness

Dopamine
Ossitocine
Serotonin
Endorfine

Serotonin

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Serotonin regulates the mood and a number of biological functions such as sleep, appetite and sexuality, but also participates in empathy, creativity, learning and memory. T

The serotonin (5-HT) is a neurotransmitter produced by the serotonergic neurons in the central nervous system and in the enterochromaffin cells in the gastrointestinal tract, and is commonly called "the hormone of happiness ".

In fact, isolated in the 1930s, this precious molecule was at the center of research on the biochemical basis of depression that led to the development of the antidepressant drugs in use today.

Serotonin, can it be increased with diet?

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Depression, panic attacks, insomnia, headaches, hypertension, anxiety can be associated with a lack of serotonin.

For almost fifty years, scientific research has been wondering how to manipulate the serotoninergic system to be able to modulate mood and treat depressive disorders. Although drugs have revolutionized the therapy of a terrible and widespread disease still subject to taboos and prejudices such as depression, they carry some important limitations, first of all the side effects.

So how can we do to increase the serotonin in our body to improve our well-being naturally? It must be premised that the synthesis of serotonin occurs starting from the amino acid tryptophan : the foods rich in this substance, therefore, are according to some natural serotonin supplements.

We can find tryptophan in eggs, milk and its derivatives, but also in meat and salmon.
As for plant sources, tryptophan is present in sesame, sunflower and soy seeds. Again in spirulina algae, potatoes, rice and whole grains, nuts, leafy vegetables, bananas, cocoa and dark chocolate, a real good mood generator.

The serotonin present in the body could therefore be increased through food, in this regard, however, it must be specified that the intake of pure tryptophan certainly increases the production of serotonin, but according to some this is not true with regard to the foods that contain it, as the presence of other amino acids would prevent its absorption.

In herbal medicine there are also various serotonin supplements which, however, can have side effects. It should not be forgotten that an excess release of serotonin can lead in specific conditions to serotonin syndrome: a condition that leads to headaches, mood disorders, anxiety, confusion, but also chills and sweating, tachycardia, nausea, tremor.

Serotonin, how to increase it with sport and the sun?

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Sport is an inexhaustible and natural source of serotonin.

Exercising means taking care of yourself and your health. Our body will naturally release serotonin and make us feel more satisfied and happy even after exercise.

Many scientists agree that the increase in the spread of depression in contemporary societies is linked to the increase in sedentary lifestyle and the decrease in sun exposure typical of the societies of the past. In fact, exposure to sunlight in the production of the happiness hormone should not be underestimated.

It appears to be our biological clock, the location of which has been identified in the brain, just above the optic chiasm which is the intersection of the two optic nerves. It is a very small area that is extremely sensitive to light. When the light passes through the retina in the morning, it triggers the production of serotonin during the day and melatonin at night .

Among other things, the so-called light therapy has also brought great results in patients suffering from depression.