Mar 5, 2018

More Serotonin Please!

We all want more! But, how do we get it...?

Well, I'll tell ya! First, let's dive into what serotonin is and why it's so important. Serotonin is a compound present in blood platelets and serum that constricts the blood vessels and acts as a neurotransmitter. Low serotonin levels have been linked to depression. Serotonin is an important chemical in the human body. It is believed to help regulate mood and social behavior, appetite and digestion, sleep, memory, and sexual desire + function. It sends signals between your nerve cells.

Serotonin plays an essential role in:

Health of Mucus Membranes in Stomach + Intestines
Appetite Regulation
Body Temperature
Tone of Blood Vessels
Perception of Pain
Depression
Migraines

Serotonin is found mostly in the digestive system, although it's also in blood platelets and throughout the central nervous system. Serotonin is made from the essential amino acid tryptophan. Tryptophan converts into 5-hydroxytryptophan then into serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine), if all of the co-factors are present. A shortage of tryptophan is believed to be a major culprit leading to depression. High levels of tryptophan in the brain directly influence increased serotonin production and new brain cell production begins to rise.

Sound Healing is amazing for so many reasons, and one is that is can shift your mood! 10 Hz Alpha waves are known as the frequency of happiness. This frequency will help you to boost positive thoughts and to enjoy a pleasant moment in completely relaxed state of mind. I included a video below from Greenred Productions, I really like what they have going on, and you can release serotonin naturally, just by playing their relaxing videos.

10 NATURAL SEROTONIN BOOSTING TIPS:

Vitamin B6: spinach, turnip greens, garlic, cauliflower, mustard greens + celery
Tryptophan: sunflower seeds + pumpkin seeds (Eating a high animal protein diet does not help create more serotonin.Quinoa, for example, is an excellent plant source of protein that also has those important B Vitamins.)
Include fermented foods + drinks in your diet – greatly assist in digestion + assimilation of all the important nutrients you need for serotonin. Additionally, they boost the nutrients in your food by at least a hundred fold.
Get plenty of Exercise – Researchers have found that exercise boosts serotonin. Even gentle exercise like walking + rebounding can boost your immunity + mood.
Get massages + other forms of body work – We’ve heard about the healing power of touch, but now research backs it up! A study conducted by the Touch Research Institutes at the University of Miami School of Medicine shows that massage increases serotonin by 28% + decreases cortisol (the stress hormone) by 31%.4!!!
Have fun in the sun - Early morning sunlight is more intense and this can boost your body’s production of melatonin in the evening. Serotonin converts to melatonin for a great night’s sleep. Getting outside for a 20-minute walk in the early morning sunlight can boost your mood and improve your sleep!
Consider purchasing a BioMat. This is a wonderful pad that you lie on -- ideally with headphones and beautiful relaxing music that increases brain cells. The BioMat combines far infrared negative ions + amethyst crystals and produces negative ions that increase the flow of oxygen to your brain having a positive effect on how serotonin is oxidized in your blood stream. Like a large, chamber-size and more expensive sauna the Bio Mat also helps with removal of toxins that interfere with brain health. I recommend the smaller size because it is more affordable + yet you can still do a “sauna-level” sweat on it.
Reduce Stress – prolonged physical or emotional stress produce adrenaline and cortisol, which interfere with serotonin.6 It’s very common in today’s modern world to try to fit an overwhelming amount of work and errands into a day or week. This creates chronic stress. Shifting your lifestyle and adding more relaxation into your week can make a huge difference.
Eliminate sugar (or at least drastically reduce sugar) – If you have low serotonin, you may have intense cravings for sugar. This is your body’s way of trying to increase serotonin because eating sugar produces insulin, which helps tryptophan go into your brain. However, too much sugar can eventually cause addiction to sugar, insulin resistance, hypoglycemia and type 2 diabetes. Instead, satisfy your sweet tooth in a healthy way with fresh fruit.
Focus on Emotional Healing – Reducing stress and focusing on spending more time relaxing is a first step to boosting serotonin. You can take this even further by taking action in key areas to remove negative emotions like fear, guilt and anger.

NEED SUPPORT?

Doing this naturally means you may have to shift many long-standing habits. To keep your stress levels low when experiencing this kind of change, you may require support, understanding and encouragement. Even baby steps towards changes in your eating habits can offer big rewards. Rewards like feeling better, sleeping better and feeling like your mind is more clear. This is nature’s gift to us.

It is often said we are spiritual beings having a human experience. As humans, we are NATURAL beings. Our bodies have not evolved much over the last 100 years, but our lifestyles, technology, manufactured foods, personal care products and environment have changed dramatically. Sometimes this means we have to go back to basics...back to nature...to create our best health. You owe it to yourself to create healthy habits that will keep you feeling energized and vibrant for the long-term!

So, if you need a helping hand or guidance,

please send an email to vibe@vibeslifestyle.com for a

FREE Consultation!