Five Natural Ways To Boost Your Serotonin Level

You’ve heard people talk about the ‘happiness hormone’ before. How lack of it drives them through sadness and melancholy. That happiness hormone is called Serotonin, and it is the key hormone that stabilises our mood, feelings of well-being, and happiness. It actually impacts how we perceive things, how we think, how we feel, sleep, eat, and behave. 

The lack of serotonin can even lead people towards depression, if left untreated. So here are five things you should start doing, to boost your serotonin levels. 

Exercising, Moving, Walking

Lack of physical activity is a serious problem. You notice how your muscles begin to shrink, your strength begins to reduce, and your interest in doing things lowers, considering that you have no energy. 

On the other hand, you constantly hear how people who exercise regularly are full of strength and will to go on with their day, even if they have woken up at 5.00am and have run up the hills first thing in the morning. 

As cliché as it may sound, exercising, running, walking, doing yoga or any other sort of activity that gets you moving – is a serotonin inducer. 

Add B-12, B-6, And Tryptophan

The people who said you are what you eat weren’t all that wrong. Eating a lot of junk food always leaves us feeling drain, bloated, and decreases our energy levels. Instead, try to look for more foods that contain Tryptophan-rich foods  such as: milk, chicken, eggs, tofu, nuts, turkey, cottage cheese, soy beans, and red meat can increase your tryptophan intake. 

And definitely look for foods rich in Vitamin B6 and B12, such as whole grains, cabbage, and avocados, legumes, brussels sprouts, seeds, nuts, cauliflower, bananas, broccoli, all of which naturally produce serotonin. 

There are many available studies that have linked lack of tryptophan-rich and B-12 / B-6 foods into our diets with depression, irritableness, and anxiety.

Get Your Beauty Sleep

You’re probably a little bit irritated by me, as I am pretty much stating the obvious – getting enough sleep is key to good mood, concentration, strength, and increase of serotonin levels. 

If you don’t trust me, observe yourself on the days you’re experiencing sleep deprivation, and see how wrecked your nerves will be. 

Or better yet, go watch the movie Awake on Netflix, and see the chaos that captures people after a global event wipes out all electronics and takes away humankind’s ability to sleep.

Get A Pet

Studies say that gazing into your dog’s eyes for a few moments, increases serotonin levels. How awesome is that? 

You get yourself a four paw-er, and you’ll the joy they provide you with every time you walk through the door after work, when you take them outside, give them treats, or pet them. If not a dog, get a cat, a turtle, or a parrot. 

The company of pets is simply priceless!

Make ‘You Time’ Available

I think I can’t manage to stress enough the importance of making some time alone. Rituals are extremely important for us to recharge our batteries, and do what we love alone. 

This sacred amount of time we spend with ourselves provides us with plenty of rest and composure to face many upcoming challenges and difficult people as well. 

Bottom line?

Exercise.

Eat.

Sleep.

Pet an animal.

Get to know yourself.

Piece of cake.

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