We might be moving forward towards an advanced era that involves boosted productivity, a comfortable lifestyle, and lots of fast food but the one thing that we are not able to carry forward in the modern era is happiness. Staying happy might be simple but staying simple is difficult.
With mental issues like depression and anxiety becoming a common ailment, people are becoming more concerned about their level of happiness and this is why terms like serotonin which was earlier known to health experts only have now become a buzzword.
You might be knowing serotonin with the name of happy chemical but just knowing this crucial chemical makes you feel happy and searching for what increases serotonin naturally is not enough and this is why, in this blog post, we are going to discuss everything you need to know about serotonin in a detailed manner.
What is serotonin?
Serotonin is a type of neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in your mood and it is the same chemical that can give you the feeling of happiness and well-being. But in addition to this, there are various other organs of the body that are affected by serotonin as well.
Since serotonin plays a crucial role in making you feel happy, a low level of serotonin can be directly linked with depression and other mental issues that make you feel miserable. Although it’s true that a low level of serotonin can make you feel miserable, still, we haven’t been able to find a direct link between depression and a low level of serotonin.
Since serotonin is a neurotransmitter, it directly sends signals between different nerve cells present in the body. This is what makes serotonin an important molecule that influences your overall mood.
How does the body use serotonin?
In addition to searching for what increases serotonin naturally, you should also get familiar with how our body uses serotonin.
Mood
Serotonin is present in the brain and therefore, it is responsible for regulating anxiety, mood, and happiness. As discussed above, a low level of serotonin can lead to various mental issues but at the same time, a very high level of serotonin can decrease arousal as well.
Bowel movements
Most people link serotonin with happiness only but do you know that this neurotransmitter has a direct effect on your bowel movement as well? You should know that serotonin is also present in your stomach and intestine and therefore, it is responsible for controlling bowel functions and bowel movements.
Nausea
Whenever you become nauseated, the brain starts producing serotonin, and then the serotonin starts removing all the bad foods present in your body in a natural manner. In addition to this, serotonin also increases blood flow, and therefore, it stimulates that part of the brain which is responsible for controlling nausea.
Sleep
The specific part of your brain that controls both waking and sleep is also affected by serotonin and therefore, a decrease in the amount of serotonin produced by the body can affect your sleep cycle as well.
What is the normal range of serotonin?
For maintaining serotonin you must be aware of the ideal range of serotonin. According to the experts, the normal range of serotonin in the blood is between 101-283 ng/ml. But the main thing to note here is this benchmark can differ on the basis of the sample tested and the measurement. This is why it is necessary to get in touch with your doctor to know the ideal range.
What are the effects of high levels of serotonin?
If you have a high level of serotonin in your body then this can lead to carcinoid syndrome. If you are suffering from carcinoid syndrome then you might have to deal with tumors in the appendix, colon, small intestine, and even bronchial tubes.
This means that not only low levels but even high levels of serotonin are not good for your body and this is an important point to discuss since most people are aware of the effects of low levels of serotonin only, not of high levels.
What increases serotonin naturally?
If you are planning to increase serotonin naturally then you can use the below-mentioned tips:
- Exposure to sunlight is the best way to increase the amount of serotonin in your body as even experts recommend light therapy for increasing serotonin.
- Regular exercise is another way of boosting the level of serotonin in your body and this might be the reason why you always feel good after a gym session.
- Following a healthy diet supplies, your body with the right amount of nutrients and this allows the brain to keep producing the right amount of serotonin.
Serotonin is an important part of the body and in addition to making us feel happy, it plays an important role in our sleep cycle and digestion as well. So, follow the tips mentioned in this blog post and start maintaining an ideal level of serotonin in your body.
