Contents:
- Medical Video: How to boost your happy chemicals - Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin and Endorphin Hormones
- What is serotonin?
- Serotonin function in the body
- Digestive system
- Blood clots
- Sexual function
- Respond to nausea
- Sleep cycle
- Mood
- Bone health
- What happens if the body lacks serotonin?
- So what if the serotonin level is too high?
Medical Video: How to boost your happy chemicals - Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin and Endorphin Hormones
The body consists of various hormones and chemicals that control all chemical processes in the body. This includes the alias mood moodYou. Serotonin is one of the body's chemicals that acts to control your emotions and mood. Even lack of this substance can cause interference mood like anxiety to depression. Come on, find out more about this one chemical.
What is serotonin?
Serotonin is a chemical that is responsible for carrying messages between nerve cells in the brain. This substance is created by biochemical processes by combining various ingredients such as the amino acid tryptophan, protein components, and chemical reactors namely tryptophan hydroxylase. In addition to the brain, serotonin is also found in the intestine, in blood platelets, and in the central nervous system.
Tryptophan as one of the ingredients for serotonin is not produced in the body; but from the food you eat. Tryptophan can be found in foods such as nuts, cheese and red meat.
If the body lacks tryptophan, the levels of serotonin in the body will also decrease. As a result, you can experience mood disorders such as anxiety, anxiety, or depression.
Serotonin function in the body
In the body, serotonin plays a role and influences various processes in the body such as:
Digestive system
In the digestive system, serotonin functions to regulate bowel function and movement. In addition, this one substance also plays a role in controlling appetite when you eat.
Blood clots
During the blood clotting process, platelets release serotonin to help heal wounds. This substance then helps constrict small arteries which can slow down the flow and freeze blood.
Sexual function
Serotonin has a role in increasing libido when the levels in the body are low. Meanwhile, excess serotonin levels actually trigger a decrease in sexual desire. Therefore, balanced serotonin levels are very important to control your sexual desire.
Respond to nausea
Serotonin production will increase when you eat foods that are harmful to the body. So that this substance serves to encourage and excrete harmful foods consumed. Increasing chemicals in the blood will then stimulate the part of the brain that controls nausea.
Sleep cycle
Serotonin is also responsible for stimulating the parts of the brain that control when you sleep and wake up. In the process, this depends on which area is stimulated and what serotonin receptors are used.
Mood
In this process, serotonin functions to regulate the mood. Serotonin in the brain helps regulate feelings of anxiety and happiness. Low serotonin levels are generally associated with depression. While high serotonin levels are synonymous with feeling good and prosperous.
Bone health
Serotonin plays an important role in maintaining bone health and density. Research shows that serotonin levels that are too high can increase the risk of osteoporosis.
In fact, other studies have shown that antidepressant drugs, specifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can reduce bone mineral density, so you become at risk of fractures.
What happens if the body lacks serotonin?
Generally, normal levels of serotonin in the blood are around 101 to 283 nanograms per milliliter. If the level of serotonin in your body is lacking, then you will experience various symptoms such as:
- Cravings eat sweet or starchy foods
- Insomnia
- Low self-confidence
- Often nervous
- The mood is not busy
- Daze
The above symptoms are included in the general symptoms of depression. This is not surprising because quoted from Medical News Today, the study found an association between low serotonin levels and depression.
So what if the serotonin level is too high?
Serotonin is one of the body chemicals whose levels can change. Serotonin levels that are too high due to certain drugs can cause a condition called serotonin syndrome.
The various symptoms that will arise if you experience serotonin syndrome are:
- Trembling
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Daze
- Goose bumps
- Widen pupils
The various severe symptoms include:
- Twitching muscles
- Muscles become stiff
- High fever
- Increased and irregular heart rate
- High blood pressure
- Seizures
Symptoms of serotonin syndrome will sometimes disappear in a day if you take the medication prescribed by a doctor. However, on the other hand serotonin syndrome is a condition that can be life threatening if not handled properly.
