I thought that mental health problems like depression and anxiety were passed down in my family but since researching about the impact the lack of water and serotonin have on the brain, I am starting to wonder if these were a big contributory factor. Serotonin is responsible for appetite, mood, pain reception, sleep and digestion. Low levels of serotonin are usually only mentioned when talking about anxiety or depression, but low levels can result in lots of different symptoms. The chemicals in the brain are responsible for a lot of the communication that takes place between our brain and our bodies and messages are sent through neurotransmitters that help us operate effectively.
We need enough serotonin to manage our moods and stablise neurotransmitters and it also regulates other functions like sleep cycle, carbohydrate cravings, digestion and pain control and if serotonin is low it can impact on your immune system.
The following symptoms can mean that your serotonin level is low.
- You crave sweet foods and carbohydrates.
- You can’t think straight, get brain fog, have poor memory
- Anxiety (medication to boost it is often prescribed)
- Digestive Trouble including irritable bowel syndrome
- Fatigue and exhaustion.
- Insomnia
- Libido changes and reduced emotional connection to people.
You can increase your levels of serotonin by eating carbohydrate and protein rich food (especially salmon, nuts and seeds, eggs, dairy and pineapple), exercising, meditation, massage, bright light, serotonin supplements and B vitamins with a B complex formula. Incorporating some of the above has made such a difference for me.
