Serotonin is a chemical that is produced by your nerve cells. They can serve as mood stabilizers that help in naturally regulating your mood. Aside from helping to make you feel better, serotonin also aids in various functions of your body, such as wound healing, bone growth, bowel movements, and sleep function. A deficiency in serotonin can often be linked to a number of mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, autism, ADHD, bipolar disorder, sleep disorders, and schizophrenia. If you frequently experience symptoms relating to any of these health conditions, you might have low levels of serotonin in your body. Taking serotonin supplements might make for an effective treatment that you can use to help alleviate your symptoms. (Related: How to increase your serotonin levels with strategic eating.)
There are multiple ways that you can use to boost your flagging serotonin levels, such as exposure to sunlight, regular exercise, meditation, and eating a healthy diet. Other than these methods, you can also choose to take a variety of serotonin supplements to increase your serotonin levels naturally:
Herbal serotonin supplements
These supplements are derived from a wide variety of beneficial plants. Some examples of herbal serotonin supplements include turmeric, Arctic root, and Garcinia cambogia extract. The active ingredient in turmeric is a compound known as curcumin, which possesses anti-inflammatory and brain-boosting properties. Aside from boosting your serotonin levels, it can also increase your dopamine levels. Meanwhile, Arctic root is a potent adaptogenic herb that can help you cope with the effects of chronic stress. It also provides a twofold benefit in increasing your serotonin levels while simultaneously reducing your levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. Garcinia cambogia is a sour tropical fruit that can act as an appetite suppressant by increasing your body's levels of serotonin.
Food-based natural serotonin supplements
Eating the right foods can already boost your serotonin levels. Examples of food-based serotonin-boosting compounds include probiotics, omega-3 essential fatty acids, and L-theanine. Your gut health can have an effect on your mood, so it is important to have a normal balance of good and bad bacteria in your intestines. Too much bad bacteria can lower your serotonin levels. You can restore balance in your gut by eating plenty of probiotics. These are the good bacteria, which can be found in fermented foods such as kefir, yogurt, and unpasteurized sauerkraut. Omega-3 essential fatty acids are healthy fats that are beneficial for overall brain health and function. You can increase your intake of omega-3 essential fatty acids by regularly consuming fatty fish, such as salmon and mackerel. You can also drink black or green tea to get some L-theanine in your body to increase your alpha brainwave activity and fortify your resilience to stress.
Amino acid serotonin supplements
Examples of amino acid serotonin supplements include tryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptophan, and s-adenosylmethionine. These supplements should not be used all at once or else it could risk the production of too much serotonin. Too much of a good thing such as these supplements can result in serotonin syndrome, so great care should be taken when using these supplements. Tryptophan is a precursor of serotonin, making it a natural choice for a serotonin supplement. 5-hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP for short, is an amino acid closely related to tryptophan. S-adenosyl methionine is also known as SAM-e. It can be used to increase levels of serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholine, and other important brain chemicals.
Vitamins and minerals that increase serotonin
Your body needs a number of vitamins and minerals to synthesize serotonin. Some of these essential vitamins and minerals include magnesium, zinc, and vitamins B6, B9, C, and D. They can either serve as natural anti-depressants or nutrients that assist in the production of serotonin. Vitamin C also aids in the production of other neurotransmitters including dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.
Learn more ways to keep your brain healthy by visiting BrainHealthBoost.com.
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