Dopamine is one of the four important brain chemicals. I will touch on the next three chemicals in the following blogs. Dopamine helps us to feel pleasure as part of the brains reward chemical. Dopamine is the feel good neurotransmitter in our brain that contributes to feelings of alertness, focus, motivation and happiness.
Dopamine is released when your brain is expecting a reward. Eating food, or the smell of food, shopping, having sex or doing anything that you love, will raise dopamine levels.
Dopamine is also responsible for other functions in the body such as:
• Blood flow
• Sleep
• Memory and focus
• Heart and kidney function
• Digestion
• Motor control
Low dopamine might be the reason while you're not in the best mood or feeling depressed. Low dopamine contributes to:
• Reduced alertness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty with movement
• Not much enthusiasm or motivation
• Poor coordination
• Trouble sleeping
• Low sex drive
• Anxiety or sadness
• Not feeling pleasure is activities you once enjoyed
Too little of dopamine can lead to mental health conditions. This can lead to drug misuse and addictions. Drugs such as cocaine can cause a massive surge in dopamine in the brain. Repeated use means that raise the threshold and have to have more each time to get the same high. This also means that body is less likely to produce dopamine naturally so you will end up with emotional lows when you're sober.
We also can a big hit of dopamine from unhealthy behaviours like:
• Emotional eating
• Internet, social media and gaming
• Gambling or over shopping
• Porn
• Thrill seeking behaviour
We need to look at limiting these and not become addicted to getting our dopamine hits from these that can become detrimental to us in the long term.
How can you help boost your dopamine naturally??
Dopmaine rises naturally when you do things that make you feel happy and relaxed. Do some exercise that you enjoy, spending time in nature, or reading a favourite book.
Eating foods that have magnesium and the amino acid, tyrosine will help boost dopamine. Examples of food that are high are:
• Chicken
• Almonds
• Apples
• Green leafy vegetables
• Green Tea
• Tumeric
• Tomatoes
Supplements that are also great for increasing dopamine levels are:
• Tyrosine
• L-theanine
• Vitamins D, B5 and B6
• Omega 3 essential fatty acids
• Magnesium
Dopamine plays a major role in how we feel pleasure, seek rewards and stay motivated. It is one of the four brain chemicals that are extremely important that they remain balanced. Make sure to be doing the things that bring about a healthy balance of dopamine levels in your life.
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