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Releasing Serotonin: Your Secret to Better Mood and Happiness

How do we get happy or in a good mood? Yes, when someone makes us laugh or when we meet someone after a long time. But what actually results in happiness? Have you ever thought about it? Well the answer lies in one word: serotonin!

What is Serotonin?

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter produced by neurons to communicate with each other and present in different areas of the central nervous system. This substance also acts as a regulator of appetite and the sleep cycle.

Serotonin also plays an important role in sexuality and in the regulation of mood, temperature and pain perception. According to some studies, there are several natural methods to increase the presence of this neurotransmitter in the brain, and thus improve mood and social skills, in healthy subjects. Eager to discover what you can do to bring more serotonin in your life? Let’s find out more.

Be Positive

Maintaining a positive attitude is one of the essential habits for releasing more serotonin. Positive thinking in general keeps you healthy and well and is essential for managing daily stress. Optimism and simply remembering positive or pleasant moments increases serotonin levels production.

Have Fun in the Sun

Another good habit is to sunbathe in the early morning hours. Vitamin D is essential for our health. Among its functions, it increases the level of serotonin, which also promotes better rest.

Listening to Classical Music

Another good habit to stimulate serotonin production is to listen to classical music. In particular, Bach’s compositions are organized in a mathematical pattern that produces a state of harmony in the brain. In addition to Bach, you can also listen to Chopin, Handel and Haydn.

Get Your Stress Under Control

Prolonged stress produces adrenaline and cortisol, two hormones that interfere with serotonin. This can happen when we try to accomplish an excessive amount of work in a short period of time, or when we are overly concerned about something and can’t stop thinking about it.

Chronic stress is one of the worst enemies of our well-being. That’s why changing your lifestyle and adding relaxation time to your week can make all the difference. It’s about living with everything calmly instead of stressing out.

Practice Some Physical Activity

Another good habit to boost serotonin is to exercise every day. It’s no understatement to say that exercise makes you happy: it’s been shown that when sweating increases, the body produces more of this neurotransmitter. Cardiovascular physical activity – such as running, swimming or dancing – is the most effective.

In addition, physical activity increases the amount of tryptophan, an essential component of serotonin. This causes a prolonged effect in the brain that lasts even after exercise. However, it is recommended to combine exercise with an activity that calms the mind, such as a walk in nature or a swim in the sea.

Foods Containing Tryptophan

Another crucial habit to boost serotonin production is to eat a healthy diet (check out one of our previous blogs on Eating Your Way to Happiness). However, eating fruits and vegetables alone is not enough to optimize levels of this neurotransmitter.

Fermented foods and beverages also greatly aid in the digestion and assimilation of all the important nutrients necessary for serotonin production.

In general, all foods that contain tryptophan are recommended. However, special attention should be paid to carbohydrates because they can alter our mood. If they increase the amount of tryptophan, they produce a boomerang effect on the others.

Meditation

The last of the serotonin-boosting habits we put on this list is meditation. Overthinking is not only a habit that absorbs all of our focus, it also has negative effects on our spiritual development and happiness, especially because it generates complaints and negativity.

Some recent studies have shown that practicing mindfulness causes the brain to produce more serotonin.

The habits we’ve listed aren’t the only ones that will help you increase serotonin levels, but they are some of the ones that have been shown to be most effective. Try the ones that inspire you the most and in no time you will see huge improvements in your psychophysical health. And don’t forget to share with us in the comments below which one you already practice and how do you see it affecting your happiness and overall mood.

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