January 19, 2021
The long winter is over. Bad mood, sleepiness, fatigue and lack of vitality are still there. No one wants to start spring being blue. The absence of sunlight, the long hours spent indoors and the lack of outdoor activities deplete the body’s serotonin levels. So you certainly need to fuel your body and get ready for a fresh start.
Serotonin is a chemical that transmits messages between brain cells. This neurotransmitter is responsible for your well-being and happiness. Serotonin regulates a number of body functions including mood, behaviour, appetite, sleep and emotions. When its levels drop, this may lead to loss of vitality, negative thinking, irritability, anxiety, sleep disorders, and to much greater extend – depression.
Hopefully, there are natural and healthy ways that you can use to boost your serotonin levels which will make you enjoy life again.
5 Natural Ways to Boost Your Serotonin Levels
Being in Nature
Spending time outdoors will improve your physical and mental state. The natural sunlight, as well as the bright colours around you, will uplift your mood and spirit. Combining it with any kind of physical activity is even better.
Exercise
Fitness is crucial when it comes to physical and mental health. Regular exercise boosts circulation, enhances energy levels, prevents depression and has an overall positive effect on immunity. No matter if you opt for yoga, swimming, jogging, riding, hiking or just walking the results will surely be positive. You can integrate any kind of fitness activity into your daily routine for at least 30 minutes for a healthier and happier lifestyle.
Socializing
Another excellent remedy to treat low mood is through your social network. By rule of thumb, positive emotions contribute to our happiness and well-being. Meeting people, having enlightened conversations with them over a cup of coffee or a drink elevates our mood. People are social animals that need to share emotions and search for recognition and approval so your friends, relatives and colleagues might certainly be of help.
Foods
You cannon directly obtain serotonin by eating foods. Tryptophan, its precursor, is available in some of them especially meats, such as turkey, beef, and pork, animal products, such as eggs and milk, fish, especially salmon and some nuts with almonds being the most abundant with this chemical.
Supplements
Amino acids are considered the building blocks of protein. If they lack in the diet, your brain becomes depleted of these chemicals. As tryptophan is needed to make serotonin, our bodies will need more of it in order enhance the levels of this important neurotransmitter. One way is to increase the intake of foods that contain this vital amino acid. The other way is to supplement with L-tryptophan or 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) along with vitamin B6, vitamin C, folic acid and magnesium which are needed to metabolize this chemical.
Starting the new season with higher levels of serotonin is surely possible by implementing these simple healthy habits. You can combine some of them or better try all of them for the best results.
