March 6, 2018
Understanding The Importance Of Dopamine And How To Increase It Naturally
Dopamine is pretty amazing when you consider its function in the body and ability to influence many aspects of life. While I was somewhat familiar with dopamine, it wasn’t until reading about it recently that I became really fascinated with this neurotransmitter. So sit back and enjoy discovering all about the ‘feelgood’ chemical.
What Is Dopamine?
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter located in the middle region of the brain. It is one of the chemical signals that passes information from one neuron to the next within the tiny spaces between them. Dopamine is synthesized by your body from the dietary intake of an amino acid called tyrosine, which is found in protein rich foods such as meat and almonds.
What Is Its Function In The Body?
Dopamine regulates functions within the body and brain. It regulates body movement and a lack of dopamine in the brain has been linked to Parkinson’s disease. Is is also responsible for several other bodily functions. Here are a few:
- Circadian Rhythm– It signals the body to wake up in the morning by suppressing levels of melatonin.
- Memory– It controls what is retained in the memory based on an imagined response to certain information.
- Motor Functions-It regulates and controls motor functions via the basal ganglia. The basal ganglia rely upon neurotransmitters to perform at optimal efficiency. When a lack of dopamine occurs in the brain, delayed and uncoordinated body functions will take place. On the reverse side, excess dopamine can cause the body to make unessential movements.
- Prolactin Secretion– Dopamine is ejected into blood vessels in the hypothalamus, which supply the pituitary gland. This acts on the cells that produce prolactin.
- Behavior and Cognition-A lack of dopamine in the brain can effect the way we behave and process things.
What Causes Dopamine Deficiency?
Illnesses such as hypothyroidism and influenza can shortly decrease dopamine levels. In addition to exposure to minerals such as lead, arsenic, and cadmium. Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder, is a result of extremely depleted levels of dopamine and cause the brain to stop producing it.
Lifestyle conditions can also create dopamine deficiency in healthy individuals. However, many of these conditions or reversible. Stress, obesity, alcohol withdraw syndrome, drug use, and poor nutrition can all have an effect on dopamine levels.
Some common symptoms of dopamine deficiency include depression, sleeping excessively, boredom, sugar cravings, alcohol, and difficulty focusing.
How To Naturally Boost Your Dopamine Levels
Dopamine is not available as a supplement due to its’ ability to be synthesized within the body. However, there are supplements that support the dopamine system. One is L-Tyrosine, an amino acid that is a precursor for dopamine. Ginko Biloba, Rhodiola, Mucuna, L-theanine, and curcumin are also known to promote dopamine production.
There are also foods that can aid in dopamine production. The amino acid L-tyrosine is a precursor of dopamine. Therefore, foods rich in L-tyrosine provide basic building blocks for dopamine production. Those foods are:
- Meat
- Fish
- Poultry
- Dairy
- Legumes
- Almonds
- Peanuts
- Sesame and pumpkin seeds
- Apples, avocados, bananas, watermelon
- Beets, green leafy vegetables, sea vegetables
- Oatmeal
- Turmeric
- Wheat germ
- Chocolate
- Coffee and green tea
In addition to supplements and nutrition, there are also activities that can increase dopamine production. Such as physical exercise, therapeutic massages, taking on new challenges, accomplishing goals, and hobbies that focus on the mind. Generally,l any activity that makes you feel happy and relaxed increases dopamine.
Whew! That sure was a lot of information and I’m quite certain there is much more. In addition, to ongoing research on this neurotransmitter.
