Monday, August 6, 2012

Happiness Result from Serotonin and Tryptophan

By Calvin Nikenya


Serotonin which assists us in maintaining our happiness is a chemical of the brain which is a hormone or neurotransmitter which carries messages to nerve cells. Tryptophan is an amino acid in the brain which produces this hormone. Tryptophan also helps in controlling the mood by assisting with control over nervousness and depression. It even helps boost sleep. On production of serotonin by the brain, the mood of stress or sadness decreases as the chemical increases in the blood.

It has been revealed the conversion of protein into serotonin is boosted by certain foods that have specific proteins. Examples of these foods are turkey and bananas. Having a non balanced diet does not help in serotonin production required for happiness. A poor diet promotes depression. It has also been revealed that serotonin helps create appetite and hunger in our bodies. More importantly, when one eats carbohydrates, he releases serotonin from his brains. This is a fact since this sort of diet produces both tryptophan and serotonin.

Furthermore it is evident that depressed folk have a tendency to eat sweets to have a better feeling. This can be biochemically explained as the eating of sweet things produces serotonin in the brain making the person feel a bit better. Particularly, eating of complex carbohydrates helps tryptophan production which gives a calming effect. Folk who eat a huge Thanksgiving meal sleep thereafter since turkey has a lot of tryptophan. Individuals that eat a balance of complex carbohydrates and proteins in their diets tend to have a better feeling than those who do not.

Doing specific things in which we find pleasure regularly, also helps maintain the levels of serotonin in our system. Simple things like favourite music, good food and good environment help keep serotonin levels high. Spending some time with our loved ones as well boosts the levels of our serotonin hence that is the essence of love in promoting our happiness. The small things which we do on a regular basis make a difference with the levels of serotonin. More simple still is that when we get out of bed every morning, a warm shower has actually been found to elevate serotonin levels.

Such things along with a well balanced diet put our minds in a positive frame to face the day, making us feel happy than when we miss doing the little extras for keeping us happy. If the levels of our serotonin are low, we feel depressed and sad. Clinical depression or medical reasons due to chemical or hormonal imbalances in the body are the ones excepted from doing simple things for raising our serotonin levels since these cases require medicinal treatment. Serotonin deficiency is raised by medicine and at times by therapy.

Our serotonin should be naturally boosted by proper eating and incorporation of things to raise our happiness when we don't have low serotonin levels because of medical reasons. In case one can't control serotonin level with diet and incorporation of positive moments in his day, medicines exist that help with balancing the serotonin levels depression.




About the Author:



No comments: