3 Natural Mood Boosters
🌍 While there’s a lot happening in the world that is beyond our control, we CAN control our habits and make choices that will be in service to our mental health.
One of the ways we can shift our habits to support our mental health and well-being is through small day to day changes that can boost our mood, such as increasing the production of serotonin.
😊 Serotonin is a neurotransmitter hormone responsible for improving and boosting mood.
🧠 This “happy hormone” is produced in an area in the brainstem that impacts several behaviors and functions, such as:
● Fear
● Addiction
● Memory
● Digestion
● The Stress Response
● Sleep
● Breathing
● Body Temperature
● Sexuality
💞 Here are three natural and simple ways we can support our mood each day:
1. Movement:
It’s no secret that exercise is one of the best ways to improve our mood. Movement of any kind that is enjoyable to you can help boost tryptophan, the amino acid the brain uses to produce serotonin. Going for a bike ride, brisk walk, or playing your favorite sport can help nudge you in the preferred direction.
2. Complex Carbohydrates: According to Harvard Health, consuming complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes can help increase the likelihood of tryptophan reaching the brain and assist with serotonin production as well.
3. Sunlight or Light Therapy:
Sunlight on our skin helps produce Vitamin D and sunlight in our eyes helps with serotonin production. Therefore, too little sunlight can affect how much serotonin our bodies produce. When our eyes receive sunlight, the part of the retina responsible for signaling the brain to produce serotonin is activated.
The amount of sunlight or photo-therapeutic light therapy that mimics sunlight (for those living in northern climates or winter months) varies from person to person, but typically 15 to 30 minutes can suffice. (Always being mindful of any potential harm and adjusting duration as needed.)
Take care, friends 💗
(Watson, S. “Serotonin: The natural mood booster.” Harvard Health Publishing, 2021)
(Clay Behavioral Health Center, 2017.)
