Dopamine: The Feel-Good Hormone You Didn't Know You Needed

:

One of the most important hormones in your body that you may not have heard about before is dopamine. Dopamine plays an essential role in our brain function and influences both mood and cognition (1). There are many factors that can influence dopamine levels, some of which include diet, exercise, and sleep. If you’re looking to naturally boost dopamine levels, then this article has 17 natural ways to do just that! The first thing you need to know about dopamine is that it acts as a neurotransmitter in your brain, which means it allows neurons to communicate with each other.

What Is Dopamine?

The chemical dopamine is a natural brain hormone. It is responsible for your feelings of happiness and well-being, among other things. When you are feeling low or stressed, it might be due to low levels of dopamine in the brain. Luckily, there are several ways you can naturally boost your dopamine level in order to feel better again!

5 Ways to Increase Your Dopamine Levels Right Now

We all know that happiness is the best medicine, but did you know that many people's brains produce too little dopamine to experience their own natural happy state? In this blog post, we will talk about what dopamine is and how you can increase your levels with some easy steps.

The brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine help regulate emotions, motivation, concentration, energy levels and sleep. But studies have shown that many people suffer from low levels of these key hormones due to poor diet and lack of physical activity. Luckily, there are several ways to naturally boost your dopamine levels so you can get back on track.

Here are five ways to increase your dopamine levels right now 1) Spend time in nature; 2) Get enough exercise; 3) Take care of yourself; 4) Treat yourself with a healthy meal or activity; 5) Sleep well. These are just a few examples of things you can do today to start increasing your dopamine levels!

6 Other Things That Increase Dopamine Levels

1. Voluntary Work - A classic example of a helping behaviour that increases dopamine levels is volunteer work. It's impossible to be engaged in a volunteer activity without feeling pretty good about yourself. That good feeling boosts the dopamine flow, and volunteers often have substantially higher levels of the feel-good hormone than non-volunteers do.

2. Massage - In general, anything that stimulatesneurotransmittersstimulatesneurotransmittersstimulatesstimulates the nerves in your skin will cause an increase in brain neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. One of the easiest ways to stimulate more dopamine is by getting a massage. Even if you just get a foot rub, the nerve stimulation will release some feel-good chemicals into your bloodstream. 3. Music - According to research conducted at Dartmouth College, listening to classical music can lead not only to better sleep but also increased levels of dopamine and other 'feel-good' hormones such as prolactin and oxytocin. 4. Exercise - Exercise releases endorphins, which are known for their mood boosting qualities. At the same time, it triggers dopamine production in the central nervous system. So when you exercise hard enough for long enough, you'll start producing more of this happy hormone. 5. Napping - People who nap during the day are less likely to experience depression and anxiety symptoms than those who don't take regular breaks from their day to rest their brains out!

11 THINGS That Increase Serotonin and Make You Happy

1. Drinking green tea - it's not just a caffeine boost, green tea also contains the amino acid L-theanine which stimulates production of dopamine. 2. Taking omega 3s - the fatty acids in omega 3s have been shown to boost mood and increase energy levels by improving dopamine receptor density in your brain. 3. Eating dark chocolate - because dark chocolate is high in magnesium, it helps regulate serotonin release. 4. Eating leafy greens - leafy greens are an excellent source of vitamin B6, which may improve the conversion of tryptophan into serotonin. 5. Getting more sleep - lack of sleep can impair your body's ability to produce adequate amounts of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, so be sure you're getting at least 7 hours each night! 6. Having sex - sex releases feel-good hormones like oxytocin, vasopressin, and endorphins that promote happiness. So go ahead and have some fun (safely)! 7. Listening to music - music activates the reward centers in your brain that release dopamine. 8. Playing video games - there's something about mastering new skills that triggers feelings of accomplishment and boosts mood. 9. Spending time with friends and family - interacting with loved ones has been proven to help lower stress levels and raise self-esteem. 10. Doing yoga or other forms of exercise - physical activity has been found to reduce depression and anxiety, as well as make people happier. 11. Eating vegetables for breakfast - eating vegetables for breakfast could help people lose weight because they tend to be higher in fiber than processed foods that lead to cravings later on during the day when blood sugar dips again.

12 Practical Tricks to Reduce Anxiety

1. Start Your Day with a Morning Walk and Boost Your Endorphins

One of the best ways to reduce anxiety is to start your day off with some light exercise, which boosts your feel-good endorphins. So go for a walk first thing in the morning - try going outside when you can so you don't get too wrapped up in thoughts about all the things you need to do. 2. Make Sure You're Eating Enough Protein

When our body doesn't have enough protein, it starts breaking down other proteins like muscle tissue or hair to compensate. That leaves us feeling drained and fatigued by the end of the day (which isn't great if we want to avoid panic attacks).

3. Try to Stay Calm After an Upsetting Event

Our bodies respond much better to stressful events when we stay calm than when we allow ourselves to become stressed out and anxious. 4. Write Down Positive Affirmations Every Day

Studies show that people who write down positive affirmations every day are less likely to experience feelings of depression and anxiety because they have something to turn their attention towards. 5. Take Care of Yourself

One easy way to take care of yourself is just taking time for yourself each day. Whether it's meditating, reading a book, or watching your favorite TV show - make sure you give yourself time without any distractions. 6. Think About What's Making You Happy

Find one small thing that makes you happy each day, whether it's getting to talk to your friend on the phone or reading a page from your favorite book. It'll be easier to think positively and resist those negative thoughts when you've already found something good. 7. Get Some Sunlight

It might seem counterintuitive at first since sun exposure causes skin cancer but studies show people who spend more time outdoors have higher levels of dopamine! Studies show people who spend more time outdoors have higher levels of dopamine! Getting natural sunlight during the day also provides vitamin D which helps regulate mood. 10. Spend Time With Friends and Family

Studies have shown that having strong relationships with friends and family lowers stress hormones such as cortisol, thereby reducing symptoms of depression. 11. Consider Supplementing With Tyrosine

Some studies suggest that supplementing with tyrosine may help boost dopamine levels, making it useful for improving mood and enhancing cognitive function. 12. Find Meaning in Your Life

It sounds vague but people who find meaning in their lives tend to have healthier brains and lower rates of depression. So try to figure out what brings you joy every day - even if it's just listening to music or reading a book!