Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that affects mood, and low levels can lead to anxiety and depression. Prescription medications can help, but natural options include foods high in tryptophan, exercise, and sun exposure. Stimulants like caffeine can actually reduce serotonin levels.
Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter that works in the brain to send signals between individual nerve cells. Decreased levels of serotonin in the brain have been linked to problems such as insomnia, anxiety and depression. Due to these side effects of not enough serotonin, many healthcare practitioners have done extensive research on how to raise serotonin levels. By increasing serotonin, those suffering from anxiety or similar issues often find a significant improvement in their condition and experience a greater sense of well-being and a more positive attitude.
There are several ways to raise serotonin levels, some of which require prescription medications. Those suffering from anxiety or depression severe enough to significantly impact daily life should always see a doctor. Severe ailments should be treated with prescribed medications under the care of a physician, in most cases. Many of these medications, such as anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants, are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, whose primary function is to increase a person’s serotonin levels.
For less severe or intermittent anxiety attacks or occasional mood swings, there are other ways to boost serotonin levels naturally. Unfortunately, many people resort to a “quick fix” when feeling anxious or depressed, resorting to sugar, caffeine, or high-carb sweets like chocolate. These options can provide a short-term mood lift, but this lift is often followed quickly by a crash in mood and energy. Over the long term, stimulants such as caffeine actually reduce the levels of available serotonin in the system, with an effect opposite to that originally intended.
The best options for foods that boost serotonin levels are nuts and seeds, whole grains, milk, and high-protein foods like turkey. Options like these provide more body-friendly carbohydrates and are an excellent source of tryptophan, an amino acid that the body converts into serotonin, thus keeping levels of this mood-boosting neurotransmitter at normal levels. This healthy approach is a much better way to boost your serotonin levels and will keep your mood consistent for longer than using simple carbohydrates or stimulants.
Other ways to increase serotonin levels naturally include exercise and sun exposure. Exercise is considered to be one of the best ways to relieve mild depression and anxiety, and sometimes even works as prescription medication for short-term mild cases. Depression and anxiety can also be helped by spending more time outdoors, one reason why depression is often more prevalent during the winter than during the summer.
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