We looked at how to increase dopamine with supplements before, now let us look at how to increase serotonin with natural supplements in this article.
Serotonin is the ‘happy hormone.’ It is a powerful brain chemical or neurotransmitter that is found in the brain, platelets, and lining of the gut/digestive tract. There are many roles of serotonin in the body including promoting sleep, improving mood, making us feel relaxed and creating feelings of fullness or satisfaction after we eat.
We need proper levels of serotonin in our bodies because serotonin imbalances may lead to sadness, depression, pessimism, sleep disturbances, aggression, panic, and other negative emotions and effects.
Balanced serotonin levels can be maintained by taking certain dietary supplements. Let us look at some of the best natural supplements for serotonin below:
How to Increase Serotonin with Natural Supplements
1. L-Tryptophan
One of the best supplements for serotonin is L-tryptophan (buy here) which is an essential amino acid required by the body to synthesize serotonin. Taking serotonin supplements boosts serotonin levels even for healthy non-depressed individuals.
It is a natural supplement great for helping those with insomnia and depression by providing a calming effect and helping process emotions in a more positive way.
2. SAMe
Another supplement good for increasing serotonin levels in the body is S-adenosylmethione or SAMe (buy here). It is produced from the amino acid methionine and important for many processes in the body including the synthesis of serotonin. It helps improve brain function and protects the body from neurological disorders.
It has been used to treat depression in Europe for over 30 years and a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that supplementation with SAMe was a safe effective treatment for depression.
3. 5-HTP
5-HTP or 5-hydroxy tryptophan (buy here) is a supplement which is well absorbed by the body and is converted into serotonin when it is taken as a supplement and crosses the blood-brain barrier.
Research shows that 5-HTP supplements are effective in treating depression, sleep problems, binge eating as well as anxiety and panic disorders.
4. St. John’s Wort
St. John’s wort (buy here) is a herbal supplement that enhances the activity of serotonin. It contains powerful extracts that inhibit the reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine.
To reuptake is a process where neurotransmitters are naturally reabsorbed back into nerve cells in the brain after they are released to transmit signals between nerve cells. A reuptake inhibitor is important because it prevents this from happening immediately and stays put temporarily in the gap between the nerve cells called a synapse.
Research has shown that St. John’s wort works the same as standard antidepressant drugs such as Paxil. Paxil is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant that is used to treat conditions such as depression, OCD, PTSD and panic attacks, among others.
5. Omega-3s
Omega 3 fatty acids (buy here) are another important serotonin-boosting supplement. It is primarily derived from fish oils, though it can also be got from flaxseed oil.
This natural supplement helps in enhancing cognitive function and in the transmission of nerve pulses which is very useful as serotonin is a neurotransmitter that sends information between nerve cells by crossing a synapse.
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