How often do you think about the over 80 billion neurons in your brain? They continuously work together and communicate via neurotransmitters or chemical messengers. Dopamine is perhaps one of the most important of these.
Dopamine is responsible for the ability to learn, move, sleep and have fun. But excess or deficiency of this substance can be associated with serious disorders, ranging from depression and insomnia to schizophrenia and drug abuse.
So, let's figure out together with estet-portal.com how dopamine affects our health.
- What is dopamine
- What can be fraught with a lack or excess of dopamine
- How to Increase Dopham Levelsina
What is dopamine
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter (or chemical messenger) that binds to receptors in the brain, causing them to send signals from one cell to another.
Dopamine allows us to move and feel.
Dopamine is produced in three parts of the brain:
- black substance;
- ventral segment area;
- hypothalamus.
During its synthesis, the amino acid tyrosine is converted into the precursor DOPA, a compound found in nervous tissue, and then into dopamine.
Serotonin and dopamine are both neurotransmitters, but serotonin acts as a mood regulator and dopamine is associated with the "pleasure center" .
Happiness Hormone: Effects of Body Serotonin on Skin
In moments of pleasure there is a rush of dopamine, and when its levels are too low, we experience a lack of motivation and a feeling of helplessness.
The reward system of the brain is closely related to dopamine. The neurotransmitter allows us to experience feelingsyour pleasure and helps create motivation.
What can be fraught with a lack or excess of dopamine
Dopamine is considered to be an important element in the brain's reward system. Although dopamine neurons make up less than 1 percent of the total number of neurons in the brain, studies show that this neurotransmitter has a profound effect on brain function and mental health.
According to research, there is a clear link between depression and dopamine deficiency.
Too low dopamine levels can cause the following problems:
- fatigue;
- focus problems;
- mood changes;
- insomnia and sleep disturbances;
- anxiety;
- lack of motivation;
- Guilt and hopelessness.
Read the most interesting articles in Telegram!
Abnormal dopamine levels (either too high or too low) are also associated with many pathological disorders, including:
- schizophrenia;
- Tourette syndrome;
- Parkinson's disease;
- Alzheimer's disease;
- autism;
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder;
- drug abuse.
Lack of dopamine is often associated with dependence on substances that artificially increase its level: alcohol, sugary foods, nicotine.
How to increase dopamine levels
In order to increase the level of dopamine, you need to eat foods rich in its precursor – amino acid tyrosine:
- poultry;
- eggs;
- dairy products;
- nuts and seeds;
- legumes.
Eating tyrosine is especially important for people with dopamine deficiency.
Tyrosine needs enough vitamin B6, folic acid and copper to be converted into a neurotransmitter. It is also important to avoid dopamine depleting foods, saturated fats and refined sugars, which can cause a short-term surge of the hormone, but over time lead to its deficiency.
Good sleep helps the brain regulate dopamine production. Our circadian system works like a biological clock:
- In the morning, dopamine levels rise naturally, allowing us to wake up and start the day.
- dopamine levels drop in the evening, so we can sleep peacefully.
There are three main neurotransmitters that are modulated by exercise: norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. It is the connection between physical activity and these neurotransmitters that allows exercise to have a positive effect on brain function.
A 2016 study shows that vitamin D therapy modulates dopamine circuits in the brain. For this reason, vitamin D supplementation has been shown to help treat addiction and dopamine-dependent behavior.
Vitamins of the D group and their effect on the body: expert advice
In addition to these natural ways to increase dopamine levels, there is a pharmaceutical drug called levodopa that is used to increase dopamine levels and treat Parkinson's disease.
More useful and interesting information on our channel on YouTube:
Share:
Add a comment