A lack of serotonin can lead to a multitude of serious medical issues ranging from sleeping and eating disorders to full blown panic attacks and clinical depression. Being one of your body's most important and widely used neurotransmitters, this...
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a significant role as a chemical in the brain. It's responsible for reducing anxiety, relieving depression, inducing sleep and is also what makes you feel happy. If your serotonin levels are low, you can...
Noni juice comes from the tropical noni tree, which grows in Polynesia. According to Carolyn Levett, author of "Reclaim Your Life," the Polynesian people have used noni juice for thousands of years because they believe it has health properties and...
Season affective disorder or winter depression, also referred to as "SAD" or "winter blues," is a form of depression that occurs during the winter season, according to MayoClinic.com. The condition tends to decrease your energy and contributes to...
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that links nerve cells and helps different parts of the brain communicate with each other. Serotonin is also known as the "happiness hormone." Low levels of serotonin can affect your mental health and are linked to...
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is essential for the transmission of impulses between nerve cells. Serotonin levels in your body can affect your mood, sleep and relaxation. To produce serotonin, your body requires the amino acid tryptophan....
Food affects the chemicals secreted by your brain and influence your mood and emotions. Your brain is primarily made of fat, which surrounds and protects all the cells, thus providing structural support for proper neuronal function. A healthy...
Serotonin, also called 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a neurotransmitter, a chemical required for the healthy functioning of your brain cells, nerves and gastrointestinal tract. Serotonin is synthesized in the brain and regulates sleep, body...
Serotonin is a chemical produced in the brain that helps to balance you mood and regulates many other body functions, according to the University of Michigan Health System. However, some patients who have low serotonin levels can experience...
The Atkins diet is a so-called "ketogenic" diet that encourages eating large amounts of protein and larger-than-normal amounts of fat in place of carbohydrate. Particularly during the induction phase of the diet, carbohydrate consumption is so low...
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, a chemical that facilitates communication between nerve cells. The level of serotonin in the brain has a profound influence on behavior and mood. Many prescription antidepressants work by changing serotonin levels,...
For many people, depression is brought on by a dramatic change in their lives or a chemical imbalance in their brains. However, some people have depression due to nutritional problems. Nutritional causes of depression include poor diets, lack of...
Creatine is a compound that is synthesized in your body by your pancreas and used for energy production in your skeletal muscles, with 95 percent of creatine stored in your muscles and the remaining 5 percent in your brain. Creatine can also be...
The biochemical serotonin is produced in the brain from the amino acid L-tryptophan and distributed to the central nervous system, blood platelets and gastrointestinal system of the body. Low serotonin levels may be the result of stress, a dietary...
Serotonin is produced naturally in the pineal gland of the brain. It is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan and found in areas of the body such as the intestinal wall, blood vessels and nerves. Serotonin has a a variety of effects on the...
5-hydroxytryptophan is a chemical that helps boost serotonin levels in your brain. As a dietary supplement, 5-hydroxytryptophan is sold as 5-HTP. There is no specific recommended dosage of 5-HTP for any specific condition, including premenstrual...
According to Dr. David Mrazek on Mayoclinic.com, lifestyle changes such as eating different foods can improve your psychological health in addition to your physical health. "The New York Times Health Guide" web page says that if you are prone to...
The neurotransmitter serotonin has been called the "happy neurotransmitter" by brain researchers. It helps increase feelings of relaxation, happiness and well-being. Deficiencies lead to depression, anxiety and insomnia. To treat serotonin-related...
L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid. It is not made in the human body so it must be obtained from the diet. It is found in a number of food sources such as turkey and dairy products. It can also be taken in supplement form for a range of...
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that causes symptoms of both mania and depression in patients. As classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-IV, symptoms of bipolar disorder must last for at least 2 weeks...
Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic muscle pain, as well as tender points on parts of the body that hurt when slight pressure is applied. An alternative treatment used for fibromyalgia is 5-HTP. Taking too little 5-HTP is not good for you,...
5-hydroxytryptophan, also known as 5-HTP, is a chemical your body creates from the essential amino acid tryptophan. Tryptophan is turned into 5-HTP and then into the neurotransmitting chemical serotonin. When you take 5-HTP as a dietary...
According to the National Institute of Mental Health more than 5 million people suffer each year from bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterized by extreme shifts in mood. Common emotions can quickly become intensified...
Serotonin and norepinephrine are two neurotransmitters that are involved in mood, and are thought to be connected to depression. The Mayo Clinic notes that it is hypothesized that a deficit in either neurotransmitter can cause depression. Both...
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, a chemical that carries signals through the brain to specific receptor cells, linked to depression. People with a tendency toward depression, may have ineffective serotonin receptor cells causing symptoms of...
FIbromyalgia is a chronic pain condition in your muscles and joints that is accompanied by fatigue. Trigger points are hypersensitive spots in muscles and connective tissues that are sensitive to pressure and touch. Myofascial pain syndrome, which...
5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an herbal supplement derived from the Griffonia simplicifolia plant. As a natural source of tryptophan, 5-HTP is used in alternative medicine to treat serotonin-related symptoms like low mood and overeating. The...
According to the Mayo Clinic, brain chemicals called neurotransmitters are responsible for controlling mood and behavior. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that experts have specifically linked to mood, so when more serotonin is present in the...
L-tyrosine is an amino acid your body uses to produce neurotransmitters, chemicals used for communication between brain cells. An imbalance between levels of neurotransmitters may contribute to depression. Clinically, depression is characterized...
