Serotonin and dopamine are both neurotransmitters (chemical signals in the brain) that cause us to \u201cfeel good\u201d. Everything we do is essentially based on how it makes us feel. We eat tasty foods because it makes us happy, we date the person that makes us happy, etc. Serotonin and dopamine motivate us and can contribute to addiction if we are not careful. If you have heard these terms before but aren\u2019t sure how to increase them or what the difference between serotonin vs. dopamine<\/strong> is then this article is for you. <\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\tWe earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t Both are neurotransmitters as mentioned above and they are how our neurotransmitter communicates positive feel-good feelings. A lack of these two neurotransmitters can cause depression, effect the sleep-wake cycle, and increase your life satisfaction. <\/p>\n Serotonin is our \u201chappy\u201d neurotransmitter that 80%-90% is produced in our gut. Increasing your serotonin production naturally<\/a> can help reduce the risk of heart disease. This is partly because low levels of serotonin contribute to depression, anxiety<\/a> and hostility is a risk for coronary heart disease. Whereas a positive mood can reduce your risk for heart disease.<\/p>\n Having a positive mood decreases your chance of struggling with anxiety, depression, and heart disease. Higher levels of serotonin are associated with a better mood. <\/p>\n Tryptophan is a precursor for serotonin production. However, typically SSRIs are recommended if you are shown to have levels of serotonin or show signs of depression. <\/p>\n Serotonin levels in the body can be low from poor gut health, stress, and other factors. Common Symptoms and Disorders Include:<\/p>\n Prescriptions are written for name-brand drugs<\/a> such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Lexapro. All three are different SSRIs, rather than just different brand names for one generic drug. <\/p>\n SSRIs may be conventional, but that\u2019s not to say they are not without side effects<\/a>. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors block the reuptake of serotonin to make it more available and help with low serotonin levels. <\/p>\n Social support can increase your serotonin, a community of individuals (family and\/or friends).<\/p>\n Positive thinking can actually alter your brain metabolism, and utilizing therapy such as cognitive-behavioral therapy can be helpful to increase your positive thoughts. Another form of therapy is mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral<\/a> therapy, which helps you be more mindful of how your thoughts are impacting you and how to change them. <\/p>\n We know that sunshine is important for the production of vitamin D<\/a> and also helps with depression. However, recent research shows that bright lights from a red light in your home or sunlight can actually increase your serotonin. (Young, 2007)<\/p>\n This is truly incredible because if you are having a bad day, the combination of exercise<\/a> and sunshine is proven to actually increase your \u201chappy\u201d neurotransmitters!<\/p>\n Vitamin D is needed to activate tryptophan in order to produce serotonin via tryptophan hydroxylase 2. <\/a><\/p>\n The sun affects your sleep-wake cycle because serotonin is a precursor for melatonin<\/a> and when you begin to fall asleep your serotonin increases as well. <\/p>\n We KNOW that exercise is good for us but if you have symptoms of depression or anxiety<\/a>, you may not feel like exercising. You may be too tired or too exhausted and have no desire.<\/p>\n Exercise works as a natural antidepressant<\/a> by increasing serotonin levels, tryptophan & 5-HIAA. A study on aerobic exercise showed that 5-HIAA was increased, 5-HIAA <\/a>is a way to measure serotonin in the body. <\/p>\n Exercise also increases your tryptophan production, tryptophan is what makes you want to take a nap after eating thanksgiving turkey every year (in combination with the carbs & desserts). Tryptophan helps relax you and can help you sleep therefore, when you sleep well, you feel better as well. <\/p>\n A good point I wanted to make is that our lifestyle has changed dramatically since we were once hunters and gatherers. We spent the majority of our days outside, food was from the ground or an animal, and we received plenty of bright light and exercise.<\/p>\n Depression and anxiety increase every year, and we wonder why. Well, people are working from home, inside, and sitting most of the day. <\/p>\n They say that \u201csitting is the new smoking\u201d because of the detrimental effects being sedentary has on our mental and physical well-being<\/a>.<\/p>\n Since 80-90% of our serotonin is produced in the gut, our diet plays a significant role in our serotonin production. <\/p>\n We can take care of our gut health by eating prebiotic and probiotic-rich foods such as kefir, kimchi, pickles, and other fermented foods. It is also beneficial to supplement with the amino acid l-glutamine to decrease intestinal permeability which could cause poor nutrient absorption. <\/p>\n Tryptophan raises serotonin, but research shows that eating large quantities of turkey is not enough actually to increase serotonin levels in the brain. <\/p>\n Purified tryptophan crosses the blood-brain barrier and can be absorbed. Whereas tryptophan consumed in high protein foods causes tryptophan to competing with the more dominant amino acids. Since protein is made up of a combination of amino acids. <\/p>\n Milk contains a protein called ?-Lactalbumin, which contains more tryptophan than most forms of protein. Therefore a cup of warm milk before bed with some manuka honey could boost your immune system<\/a> while increasing your serotonin!<\/p>\n Tryptophan supplementation is a great way to increase your serotonin levels, allowing it to cross the blood-brain barrier without it competing against stronger amino acids in a protein molecule. <\/p>\n Increasing tryptophan levels can help with impulse control and decreased aggression. (Zamoscik et. al., 2021)<\/p>\n Low tryptophan levels increase the chances of an individual pursuing decisions with a less probable outcome as well as a lack of impulse control and they get easily distracted by short-term gratification versus long-term benefits. <\/em>(Patrick & Ames, 2015)<\/p>\n 5-HTP is a product of tryptophan<\/em><\/strong> and it can be taken with other proteins and amino acids and it does not compete. This makes it better absorbed and a great option to take as a precursor for serotonin. (Birdsall, 1998)<\/p>\n Tryptophan or 5-HTP supplementation has been shown<\/a> to reduce symptoms of social anxiety. <\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\tWe earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t Omega 3s particularly EPA and DHA help increase serotonin and dopamine levels both. <\/p>\n \u201cEPA<\/em><\/strong> increases serotonin release<\/em><\/strong> from presynaptic neurons by reducing E2<\/sub> series prostaglandins and DHA<\/em><\/strong> influences serotonin receptor action by increasing cell membrane fluidity<\/em><\/strong> in postsynaptic neurons.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2013 (Patrick & Ames, 2015)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n There are many benefits of magnesium<\/a> including the use of magnesium for anxiety, depression, sleep, and much more. Magnesium is a mineral and an electrolyte that has been shown to be effectively similar to a strong antidepressant. <\/a> <\/p>\n The way that magnesium plays a role is because when magnesium levels are low, it causes \u201cN-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) coupled calcium channels to be biased towards the opening, causing neuronal injury and neurological dysfunction, which may appear to humans as major depression.\u201d (Eby, 2010)<\/p>\n In a research study done in 2008 Magnesium was shown to be as effective as a tricyclic drug brand name Tofranil (imipramine), not to mention it did not cause any side effects. <\/p>\n Side Effects of Prozac<\/a> include:<\/strong><\/p>\n Another side effect listed under certain SSRI medications included increased suicide ideation or increased chances of suicide. <\/p>\n Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a major role in addiction. It is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in motivation, motor function, and even reproductive behaviors. Dopamine plays a role in cognitive function, hence why conditions such as Parkinson\u2019s cause a decrease in motor function due to lowered dopamine levels. Environmental factors like social defeat<\/a> can contribute to lowered dopamine.<\/p>\n Dopamine helps your brain to decide if a mental task or stressor is worth the effort. In the research <\/a>study in a game that provided higher rewards for more challenging tasks was less desirable for people who had lower levels of dopamine. So essentially, having higher levels of dopamine allows being more confident in pursuing more challenging and possibly more rewarding tasks. <\/p>\n Stress and environmental factors can cause lowered levels of dopamine, causing the following:<\/p>\n Conventional treatments for drug addictions tend to be therapy and self-help groups like narcotics anonymous or alcoholics anonymous.<\/p>\n However, lower dopamine treatments contribute to anxiety<\/a> or depression as shown in the image above, showing us that the need for both serotonin and dopamine is very important.<\/p>\n Levodopa is used in Parkinson\u2019s patients to increase their dopamine levels. <\/p>\n Levodopa Side Effects<\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n Research shows that dopamine can be increased through meditation<\/a>, giving us a sense of pleasure and calmness. (Young, 2007)<\/p>\n Meditation and deep breathing can help us slow our heart rate down and decrease our adverse reaction to an event. <\/p>\n Aerobic exercise has been shown to increase dopamine release in the body. (Sacheli et al., 2019) <\/p>\n Dopamine is lower in individuals suffering from Parkinson\u2019s disorder and exercising is an important way to naturally boost dopamine levels. Exercise works by improving the plasticity of the cortical striatum, the cortical striatum<\/a> affects motor control, decision-making, and motivation. <\/p>\n Social isolation<\/a> can cause an increase in aggressive behavior, and therefore, aggressive behaviors are lessened by increased social interactions. <\/p>\n Set small goals throughout the day like \u201cmaking my kids smile\u201d or \u201cdo a two-minute meditation\u201d and check it off. It could even be a small chore or self-care task but write as many small things you do daily on paper and then check them off.<\/p>\n This will increase your motivation because you can see all of the little things you have accomplished and it will raise your dopamine levels. This is why I like to use a planner that I write at the beginning and end of the week, and in the mornings, I make my realistic list and then give myself credit as I do them. <\/p>\n This is the planner I use<\/em><\/strong><\/a> to have something to show myself what I have accomplished for the day and how it adds up over time!<\/p>\n This one may sound confusing, but childhood trauma can affect presynaptic dopamine function. (Howes et al., 2017) Research shows that child abuse or childhood trauma can cause schizophrenia. <\/p>\n Lower levels of dopamine can be from acute stress.<\/p>\n Polyunsaturated fatty acids such as Omega 3s help increase dopamine levels. Omega 3s also decrease overall brain inflammation, which contributes to depression and anxiety. <\/p>\n Green Oat Extract has been shown to decrease the active stress in rats<\/a>, it is recommended to take at least 800 mg of green oat extract to avoid dopamine decline with age. Green Oat Extract works by suppressing MAO-B which is an enzyme that decreases dopamine in the body. <\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\tWe earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t Research shows that dopamine plays a role in binge eating<\/a> and bulimia. The same pathways that respond to addictive drugs respond to sugar as well. Since sugar releases dopamine and opioids, it makes it more addictive.<\/p>\n Addiction is not as simple as \u201cjust stop using or doing that.\u201d Addiction can come in many forms, and you can be physically and mentally dependent on the substance that gives you dopamine and serotonin. This is why we should always empathize with people and ask questions before judging.<\/p>\n The fact that someone is overweight is maybe because they do not prioritize their health, or maybe they do, but they have been traumatized, abused, or severely hurt, and they are craving that dopamine and serotonin hit. <\/p>\n This is why this article is very important to me because we do not realize how much anxiety and depression can affect someone and their everyday decisions. <\/p>\n That\u2019s why I created my anxiety course<\/a> because I wanted to share what has helped me along with the research I have done on how to cope with anxiety naturally. <\/strong><\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\tWe earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhat is the difference between serotonin vs. dopamine?<\/h2>\n
![\"serotonin](\"https:\/\/holistic-momma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/serotonin-vs-dopamine-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nSerotonin<\/h2>\n
Low Serotonin Symptoms<\/h2>\n
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Conventional Treatments<\/h2>\n
How do I increase Serotonin Naturally?<\/h2>\n
1. Positive Thinking.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. Sunshine<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. Exercise<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. Diet<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
5. 5-HTP or Tryptophan Supplementation<\/h3>\n
\n\t\t\t\t![\"NOW](\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/716t3R5qLnL._AC_SX466_.jpg\")
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\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n6. Omega 3 Fatty Acids<\/h3>\n
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7. Magnesium <\/h3>\n
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Dopamine<\/h2>\n
Symptoms of Low Dopamine <\/h2>\n
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Conventional Treatments<\/h2>\n
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How do I increase Dopamine Naturally?<\/h2>\n
1. Meditation<\/h3>\n
2. Exercise<\/h3>\n
3. Social Interactions<\/h3>\n
4. Accomplishing Your To-do List<\/h3>\n
5. Healthy Childhood<\/h3>\n
6. Omega 3s <\/h3>\n
7. Green Oat Extract<\/h3>\n
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