Dopamine Explained
We all seek happiness, and there is a scientific way we can find it.
Dopamine, the feel-good chemical in our brains, positively affects our mood, focus, energy and behaviour.
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Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that controls our brain's reward and pleasure centre. It can help us:
- Lose Weight
- Fight against Depression
- Be Motivated
- Improve our Memory
- Feel Happy
- Stay mentally strong
- Reduce bad habits
- Increase Feelings of contentment
The body and mind seek pleasureable experiences, resulting in the neurons creating dopamine in our brain. This can be also overdone using drugs, leaving a negative impact eventually.
Sugar interferes with your brain's dopamine centre, and occasionally it is ok.
High levels of sugar is dangerous, as it is now classified as a drug, having similar addictive effects.
Our Smartphone emits radiation that effects and interrupts our brain's dopamine production.
Turn off your smartphone or go out and get some sunshine, away from electronic gadgets.
Go out in nature, in the sunshine, as it increases dopamine production, as proven in many studies on nature's effect on our bodies and minds.
Many studies have proven that even simple exercise like walking or climbing stairs can increase our dopamine levels.
Apart from over the counter supplements, there are many foods that increase the chemicals responsible for dopamine production:
- Bananas
- Beef
- Chicken
- Green Tea
- Watermelon
- Yogurt
- Coffee
- Almonds
A good sleep can dramatically impact your mood and productivity.
Lack of sleep makes us feel grumpy and unmotivated, with major health problems in the long run.
Make Sleep a priority to increase your happiness levels.
A diet full of proteins and having less of saturated fats and oils works for the dopamine production in the brain.
If you have a to-do list full of big and small tasks, the more tasks you check off after completion, the more dopamine gets released.
When we do something we enjoy or are genuinely passionate about, we are not stressed and are simply loving the work. This releases dopamine as we are happy doing what we want to do.
Life is more interesting, full of happiness and joy, if planned and on track.
Your brain will reward you when you are accomplishing your life goals.
Your Brain will be free of worry and stress, as you become more productive and increase dopamine naturally, just be slowing down and creating space for meditation, a silent prayer or mindfulness.
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They are generally well regulated by the body, but there are a few diet and lifestyle changes you can make to boost your levels naturally:
- Eat lots of protein
- Eat less saturated fat
- Consume probiotics
- Exercise often
- Get enough sleep
- Listen to music
- Meditate
- Get enough sunlight
There's no single cause of low serotonin levels, but it typically occurs for one of two reasons:
- Not having enough serotonin - Your body might not be able to produce enough serotonin because of other factors, such as nutritional and vitamin deficiencies.
- Inefficient use of the serotonin you have. This can happen if you don't have enough serotonin receptors in your brain, or if the ones you have don't work well (for example, they break down and absorb serotonin too quickly).
Endorphins are hormones and neuro-signalling molecules that function as painkillers. They inhibit the transmission of pain signals in the central nervous system by binding to opioid receptors (the body’s natural morphine).
Endorphins & dopamine are often confused because each one is a chemical that makes you happy in the broad sense of the term. However, they are in some ways related because, when endorphins bind to receptors of the central nervous system, dopamine (the pleasure hormone) is released.