The “Happy Chemical”
Serotonin is unofficially called the happy chemical by many people. It is responsible for many things in the human body, but it mainly contributes to feelings of happiness and wellbeing.
If you were to try looking for serotonin in the human body, your best bet would be to look in brain, bowels and blood platelets because it is mainly found there.
Serotonin transmits messages between nerve cells. It is also a precursor for melatonin helping the body regulate its internal clock. It is also thought to play a big role in appetite, emotions, motor, cognitive and autonomic functions.
There are many ways of boosting your serotonin levels naturally, let us look at some of them:
- Exercise boosts serotonin levels in the brain. More exercise equals more serotonin available in the body. Many studies have shown that exercise is equally effective at increasing available serotonin as serotonin-enhancing medicines are. In some situations, exercise is actually more effective than the medicines.
- Almost all of the serotonin in your body, which can be as much as 95% of it, is produced in your gut. Good probiotics, good hydration and eating the right foods can really help you when it comes to your mental well-being.
- Natural supplements like saffron, 5-HTP, Vitamins B6 and B12, and Folate can be taken to boost your serotonin levels. Don’t be afraid of taking these because they are natural and healthy for you.
- Eating the right food can also increase your body’s serotonin levels. You can do this in two ways. You can eat food high in simple carbohydrates like pasta, potato, bread, pastries and pretzels. These kinds of food increase insulin levels and let more tryptophan enter the brain. Tryptophan is converted to serotonin in the brain. Complex carbohydrates like sweet potatoes, apples, blueberries and carrots can be eaten as a healthier alternative to boosting serotonin levels.
Try a massage
If all of these don’t seem to work for you, try a massage by a licensed massage therapist. Massages are great ways of feeling relaxed. Have you ever wondered why you feel relaxed after a massage? It is because massages affect your nervous system by lowering the stress hormone responsible for the fight or flight response. They also play a direct role in boosting serotonin, dopamine, endorphin and oxytocin levels. If you’re having a bad week, try a massage.
Massages by trained professionals are wonderful experiences which are completely worth it because of how good they make you feel later.
Contact Our Mobile Massage Clinic | The Villages, Florida
In Home or In Office Massages by Jacqueline in the Central Florida area. Certified for many different massages and treatments. Specializing in Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) post surgery recovery massage.
To schedule an appointment with Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Advanced Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapist, Jacqueline Bosco CMLDT, Oncology, please call (813) 298-5603. We believe nothing is more important than human touch.
Providing massage services to patients in The Villages FL, Sumter County, Leesburg, Eustis, Mount Dora, Tavares, Lady Lake, Fruitland Park, Wildwood, Bushnell and surrounding areas in Florida.