{"id":41231,"date":"2022-02-18T23:11:55","date_gmt":"2022-02-18T23:11:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/?p=41231"},"modified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T08:35:01","slug":"foods-that-increase-serotonin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Foods That Increase Serotonin In The Brain"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_75 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#Get_your_personalized\" >Get your personalized<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#Why_Are_Foods_That_Increase_Serotonin_Important\" >Why Are Foods That Increase Serotonin Important?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#List_Of_Foods_That_Increase_Serotonin_In_The_Brain\" >List Of Foods That Increase Serotonin In The Brain<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#What_Boosts_Serotonin_Fast\" >What Boosts Serotonin Fast?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#Get_Some_Sunlight\" >Get Some Sunlight<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#Practice_Gratitude\" >Practice Gratitude<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#Hug_Someone\" >Hug Someone<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#Exercise_More\" >Exercise More<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#Try_Acupuncture\" >Try Acupuncture<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#Improve_Your_Gut_Health\" >Improve Your Gut Health<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#Are_Bananas_High_In_Serotonin\" >Are Bananas High In Serotonin?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#The_Bottom_Line\" >The Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the conversations surrounding mental illness being spoken about in public more and more, many people around the world are able to find help as well as factual information on how to prevent, manage, and even treat these disorders. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the mental health issues that has and continues to have a light shown upon it is depression. While this illness has many varied causes, one cause that scientists theorize upon is a lack of serotonin. In fact &#8211; many doctors will prescribe a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor as a treatment for depression. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, medications are not everyone&#8217;s cup of joe. For those looking for natural ways to increase this hormone&#8217;s levels, foods that increase serotonin are a good way to start. Keep reading to find out which foods increase serotonin the most, as well as other simple lifestyle changes that will boost the production of this happy hormone.<\/span><\/p>\n\n    <section class=\"ad-single-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"ad-single-text ad-title-wrapper\">\n            <h3 class=\"ad-single-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Get_your_personalized\"><\/span>Get your personalized<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n            <span class=\"ad-single-sub-title color-green\">\n                <svg class=\"icon-sparkle\" width=\"36\" height=\"21\" viewBox=\"0 0 36 21\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\n                          d=\"M34.6837 0.515943C34.8247 0.835947 34.9421 1.16291 34.9891 1.48987C35.1417 2.64466 35.3179 6.51949 35.2592 7.29863C35.2592 7.53515 35.1887 7.7995 35.0243 8.01516C34.7307 8.39777 33.9791 8.4256 33.5681 8.07081C33.4154 7.94559 33.3215 7.77863 33.2745 7.61863C33.1453 7.15254 33.0396 6.68645 32.9809 6.22035C32.8165 4.81512 32.6638 3.40293 32.5581 1.9977C32.5229 1.53161 32.6051 1.05856 32.6991 0.592466C32.7695 0.244637 33.251 -0.0197144 33.6973 0.00115537C34.2257 0.0289818 34.5546 0.230723 34.6837 0.515943ZM18.6184 9.78225C18.5734 9.67557 18.5344 9.57528 18.4971 9.47956C18.4178 9.27568 18.3465 9.09257 18.2426 8.91267C16.7159 6.24133 14.2615 3.86217 11.4665 1.60128C11.1377 1.33693 10.7267 1.08649 10.2687 0.919531C10.0221 0.829095 9.52885 0.843009 9.247 0.933445C9.03562 1.00301 8.88295 1.27432 8.92992 1.42736C9.01213 1.71954 9.18828 2.01868 9.4349 2.28303C11.0555 4.02913 12.6879 5.76829 14.3437 7.50048C14.8308 8.0068 15.3395 8.50887 15.8473 9.01L15.8473 9.01001C15.9883 9.14921 16.1293 9.28833 16.2697 9.42746C16.4811 9.64311 16.7159 9.85181 16.9626 10.0466C17.2327 10.2692 17.6437 10.4014 18.0547 10.2553C18.0691 10.2501 18.0836 10.245 18.0981 10.2399C18.1097 10.2358 18.1213 10.2318 18.1329 10.2278C18.3785 10.1424 18.6184 10.0589 18.6184 9.78225ZM1.98942 20.1407C2.17783 20.1221 2.37674 20.105 2.58175 20.0875C2.99012 20.0525 3.42272 20.0154 3.84492 19.9598C6.34632 19.6259 8.84771 19.292 11.3374 18.9442C11.8776 18.8676 12.406 18.7355 12.8875 18.5824C13.5334 18.3807 13.7566 18.0954 13.6509 17.7824C13.5452 17.4694 13.1224 17.2746 12.3826 17.2676C11.8776 17.2607 11.3374 17.2676 10.8559 17.3372C7.69683 17.8102 4.5378 18.2972 1.3905 18.7911C1.03819 18.8468 0.674137 18.9442 0.404034 19.0833C-0.2771 19.4242 -0.065712 19.9598 0.803314 20.092C1.01858 20.1228 1.25262 20.1258 1.51135 20.1291C1.66195 20.131 1.82092 20.133 1.98942 20.1407Z\"\n                          fill=\"#17B991\"\/>\n                <\/svg>\n               meal plan!\n            <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n    \n        <div class=\"ad-single-text ad-desc-wrapper\">\n            <p class=\"ad-single-desc\">What's your main health goal?<\/p>\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=The_Best_Foods_That_Increase_Serotonin\" class=\"btn-ad btn-green\">Lose weight<\/a>\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=The_Best_Foods_That_Increase_Serotonin\" class=\"btn-ad btn-green\">Feel great<\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <img class=\"ad-single-img\" alt=\"health-food\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"395\" height=\"383\" src=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/themes\/gridlove-child\/assets\/img\/ad\/health-food.webp\">\n    <\/section>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Are_Foods_That_Increase_Serotonin_Important\"><\/span><b>Why Are Foods That Increase Serotonin Important?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before outlining the foods that increase <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-fish-good-for-weight-loss\/\">serotonin<\/a> and dopamine in the brain and body, we must first understand these hormones, what they do and where they come from.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Serotonin <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; Also known as<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, this is a chemical naturally produced in the body. While it is mostly found &#8211; and produced &#8211; in the digestive system, it is also found in your blood and in the central nervous system. It acts as a neurotransmitter that carries signals between the nerve cells throughout the body.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people have some knowledge of this neurotransmitter\/hormone for its role as a mood regulator, but this is not all it does. As previously stated, this hormone is mostly found and made in the gut where it is essential for healthy digestion. It also works to help improve sleep, memory, sexual function, bone health, and blood clotting (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK27940\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">17<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cell.com\/cell\/fulltext\/S0092-8674(15)00248-2?\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Dopamine<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Like serotonin, dopamine is a neurotransmitter made in the body and used by your nervous system to send messages between nerve cells. Commonly known as the &#8216;pleasure chemical&#8217; or the &#8216;pleasure hormone&#8217; it doesn&#8217;t actually produce any pleasure but instead reinforces and feelings of pleasure &#8211; by these sensations to certain behaviors.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This chemical affects many of our behaviours such as movement, learning, motivation, sleep, attention\/focus and emotions. It also affects other bodily functions such as lactation, heart rate and blood flow, kidney and pancreatic function, pain processing, <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/black-sesame-seeds-calories-benefits-side-effects\/\">insulin regulation<\/a>, digestion, nausea, and vomiting, stress response and much more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is also said to contribute to feelings of alertness, focus, motivation, and happiness as well as euphoria. This neurotransmitter is produced in the the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, and hypothalamus of the brain (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4684895\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">23<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nih.gov\/news-events\/nih-research-matters\/dopamine-affects-how-brain-decides-whether-goal-worth-effort\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So to answer the above question, <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/are-pistachios-good-for-weight-loss\/\">foods<\/a> that increase serotonin and dopamine could be important as they might help our bodies make more happy and pleasure hormones &#8211; things that are especially important now, as cases of depression are steadily increasing around the world (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/articles\/2021\/depression-rates-tripled-and-symptoms-intensified-during-first-year-of-covid\/\">3<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A point to note is that the neurotransmitters (serotonin and dopamine) are made from the amino acids tryptophan and phenylalanine\/tyrosine, respectively (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/7903674\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S000398611000514X?\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">24<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/topics\/medicine-and-dentistry\/dopamine-metabolism\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Read More:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/benefits-of-turnip-greens\/\">Benefits Of Turnip Greens: Reasons You Should Be Eating These Healthy Vegetables<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=The_Best_Foods_That_Increase_Serotonin\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-39902 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/8-7.jpg\" alt=\"BetterMe\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/8-7.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/8-7-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/8-7.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"List_Of_Foods_That_Increase_Serotonin_In_The_Brain\"><\/span><b>List Of Foods That Increase Serotonin In The Brain<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As stated above, serotonin is made from the essential amino acid, tryptophan. While our bodies can synthesize serotonin from tryptophan, they cannot make this amino acid by themselves. In light of this, if you would like to boost the production of this neurotransmitter in your body, you must consume foods that contain this essential amino acid.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some incredible foods that are rich in tryptophan include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Eggs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/25572038\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) &#8211; They are a complete protein and the perfect breakfast food or sandwich filling.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Salmon<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; It is also rich in vitamin D and omega 3 fatty acids which protect against heart disease.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Poultry<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> like chicken, duck, and turkey. They are also great sources of protein, essential fatty acids and other minerals.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Milk<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Also a great source for calcium.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cheese<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; If you are worried about that fat content, you could choose to go for healthier options such as low-fat cheeses including cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, parmesan, feta, and goat&#8217;s cheese, and low-fat cream cheese.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nuts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Especially peanuts, walnuts, cashews, pistachios, and almonds<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Soy milk and <\/span><b>soy products<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> like tofu<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Seeds<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> like chia, flax, pumpkin, and sunflower seeds.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Carbs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; While carbs may not have tryptophan, combining them with any of the above tryptophan containing foods may boost serotonin production in the body. According to <i>Healthline<\/i>, carbohydrates trigger the release of insulin in the body which in turn promotes the uptake of amino acids<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=The_Best_Foods_That_Increase_Serotonin\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-39908 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/2-8.jpg\" alt=\"foods that increase serotonin\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/2-8.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/2-8-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/2-8.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Boosts_Serotonin_Fast\"><\/span><b>What Boosts Serotonin Fast?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no denying that these tryptophan<a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/mate-tea-benefits-side-effects\/\">\u00a0rich foods<\/a> could go a long way in increasing the level of happy hormones in your body, since you need tryptophan to make serotonin. But what happens when you are feeling low and have none of these foods at hand? What can you do?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some non-medicated natural ways to increase serotonin:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Get_Some_Sunlight\"><\/span><b>Get Some Sunlight<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of sunlight is one of the main causes of a drop in serotonin levels. In fact, one of the main types of depression i.e. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is directly linked to the lack of sunlight. According to the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Psychiatric Association<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, SAD aka winter depression usually occurs during the fall and winter months when there is less sunlight and usually improves with the arrival of spring. This condition has been linked to a biochemical imbalance in the brain prompted by shorter daylight hours and less sunlight during the winter time (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychiatry.org\/patients-families\/seasonal-affective-disorder\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to a two-week study published by the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Environmental Health<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> journal, research done on about 16,800 participants found that lower levels of sunlight exposure were associated with impaired cognitive status (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2728098\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Another article published in the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Issues in Mental Health Nursing<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> journal suggested that a lack of vitamin D may play a role in the development and maintenance of not only depression but also other major mental health disorders as well (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2908269\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">25<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you feel sad or your mood sours for no particular reason, go outside and get some direct sunlight and we guarantee that you will start feeling better and calmer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Looking for a way to <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=The_Best_Foods_That_Increase_Serotonin\">break the vicious cycle of weight loss<\/a> and tone up all the jiggly parts? Watch the extra pounds fly off and your muscles firm up with the BetterMe app!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=The_Best_Foods_That_Increase_Serotonin\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-38877 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Frame-5419-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Fitness App\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Frame-5419.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Frame-5419-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Frame-5419.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Frame-5419-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Frame-5419.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Practice_Gratitude\"><\/span><b>Practice Gratitude<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It may sound like some new-age nonsense but research continues to show that being grateful or practicing<\/span> gratitude meditation<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is one of the best natural ways to increase serotonin. This practice has been shown to boost both dopamine and serotonin which together lift our mood immediately (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/research-topics\/18327\/the-neurobiology-of-gratitude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/positivepsychology.com\/neuroscience-of-gratitude\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">22<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ps. We know that sometimes when things are really hard, finding things to be grateful for can be difficult. We suggest keeping a gratitude journal so you can flip through it anytime when you feel down or defeated.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hug_Someone\"><\/span><b>Hug Someone<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When we think of hugging or generally touching another human being, many of us relate to it as a way to show affection, reassurance, comfort, sympathy, and support. While all these factors are true, studies have found that a simple touch can immediately boost serotonin levels in human beings. If you cannot find someone to hug &#8211; or feel that it&#8217;s too intimate &#8211; try holding hands, or maybe get a massage. A review published in 2015 found that something as simple as massage therapy increases urinary dopamine and serotonin (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4701942\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">21<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). In children, physical touch has been shown to not only help them become more sociable, but also helps improve both their mental and physical well-being (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/science.thewire.in\/the-sciences\/human-touch-serotonin-locust-swarms-physical-distancing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Exercise_More\"><\/span><b>Exercise More<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While exercise is often associated with weight loss, it has a great effect on your mental health and &#8216;happy hormone&#8217; production. According to a review by the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Journal of Psychiatry &amp; Neuroscience<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, exercising can increase the production of serotonin and dopamine in the body.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The review states that in relation to mood, exercise has both antidepressant and anxiolytic effects &#8211; in fact, working out is often recommended in place of antidepressants in the treatment of mild depression (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2077351\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). .According to this review, and another study published in the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Frontiers in Psychology<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> journal, aerobic exercises are the best form of exercise to battle depression and boost serotonin (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2015.01890\/full\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=The_Best_Foods_That_Increase_Serotonin\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-38852 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Frame-5284-1024x576.png\" alt=\"foods that increase serotonin\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Frame-5284.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Frame-5284-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Frame-5284.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Frame-5284-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Frame-5284.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Try_Acupuncture\"><\/span><b>Try Acupuncture<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mayo Clinic<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> this traditional Chinese medicine is used to offer relief following conditions and illnesses such as labor and low back pain, menstrual cramps, Osteoarthritis, headaches, neck pain, toothaches and much more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2006, a study done on rats and published in the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stated that this traditional practice helps with serotonin production and even went further to suggest that it could be used to treat emotional disorders, drug abuse and alcoholism (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/16565594\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2019, another study done on lab mice saw that this treatment helped alleviate depressive-like behavior in mice through central brain neural activity and serotonin receptor modulation (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2019.01353\/full\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Read More:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/beet-greens-benefits\/\">Beet Greens Benefits, Nutrition Facts, And Side Effects<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improve_Your_Gut_Health\"><\/span><b>Improve Your Gut Health<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just like with caffeine consumption, this is a long term plan. For those who may not be aware, 90 to 95 percent of the serotonin we have in our bodies is manufactured in the gut while the other 5 to 10 percent comes from the brain.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thus, for your serotonin levels to remain as high as they can be, your gut health needs to be in tip top shape &#8211; with more good bacteria than bad ones (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/monitor\/2012\/09\/gut-feeling\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">19<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). To improve your gut health\/bacteria you are advised to<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consume more<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/probiotics-for-weight-loss\/\"> probiotic<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and fermented foods<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eat a diverse diet that is rich in vegetables &#8211; If you can be rid of the Western diet, that would be even better for you. If you can, switch to a<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/types-of-vegetarian-diet\/\"> vegetarian diet<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eat more<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/reset-gut-bacteria\/\"> prebiotic foods<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eat more whole grains and reduce your added sugar intake<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=The_Best_Foods_That_Increase_Serotonin\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-38863 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5175-1024x576.png\" alt=\"foods that increase serotonin\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5175.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5175-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5175.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5175.png 1344w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_Bananas_High_In_Serotonin\"><\/span><b>Are Bananas High In Serotonin?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to the question of which fruits are high in serotonin, bananas are on top of many people&#8217;s list. Unfortunately, this is not true. While the on-going conversation around mental health is a good one, the downside of it is that most people get their facts from unreliable sources on the internet who are often spreading myth more than fact.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The truth of the matter is that while bananas do have some serotonin, the amount is not that high. Even more, the serotonin found in these fruits it does not cross the blood\u2013brain barrier &#8211; which simply means that it cannot cross the semipermeable border between the blood and the extracellular fluid of the central nervous system to help supplement the serotonin already being produced by the body (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2077351\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This however does not mean that bananas are entirely useless in the serotonin production front. These fruits contain about 38 percent of your daily recommended Vitamin B6 intake. Studies show that, including other nutrients, vitamin B6 is used by the body to make this neurotransmitter (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/10103464_Studies_on_the_effect_of_vitamin_B6_on_hydroxytryptamine_serotonin_formation\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">18<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you tend to let yourself off the hook, raise the white flag when things get tougher than you expected, send yourself on an unconscious binge-eating trip \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=The_Best_Foods_That_Increase_Serotonin\">BetterMe app is here to help you<\/a> leave all of these sabotaging habits in the past!<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Bottom_Line\"><\/span><b>The Bottom Line<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The above-mentioned foods that provide the precursors for serotonin are great to have around the house for anyone that suffers from depression or anyone just looking for natural ways to boost the production of this happy hormone in the body.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Please note that while natural is often a preferable way to go, medication exists and is prescribed for a reason. If you suffer from depression, do not stop taking your medication in favour of replacing them with these foods or activities. Instead, choose to take them alongside the antidepressants prescribed to you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are not diagnosed with depression but suspect that you may suffer from it, please speak to a doctor. These foods, while great, may sadly not be enough for you and your mental health.<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=The_Best_Foods_That_Increase_Serotonin\" target=\"_blank\"><video autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"muted\" playsinline=\"playsinline\" width=\"777\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><\/video><\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With the conversations surrounding mental illness being spoken about in public more and more, many people around the world are able to find help as well as factual information on how to prevent, manage, and even treat these disorders. One of the mental health issues that has and continues to have a light shown upon [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41233,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"coauthors":[109,87],"class_list":["post-41231","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nutrition"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.2.1 (Yoast SEO v25.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Best Foods That Increase Serotonin In The Brain - BetterMe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Are you looking for foods that increase serotonin? Check out this article for the best list of foods to help boost happy hormones in the body.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Best Foods That Increase Serotonin In The Brain\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Are you looking for foods that increase serotonin? Check out this article for the best list of foods to help boost happy hormones in the body.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"BetterMe Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"#\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/shutterstock_1711597738.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"667\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"\u0421. Kamau, Kristen Fleming, RD\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\u0421. Kamau, Kristen Fleming, RD\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"BetterMe\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/304f67ff245e9df71e0c97b98796925d\"},\"headline\":\"The Best Foods That Increase Serotonin In The Brain\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/\"},\"wordCount\":2047,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/shutterstock_1711597738.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Nutrition\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"articleBody\":\"<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">With the conversations surrounding mental illness being spoken about in public more and more, many people around the world are able to find help as well as factual information on how to prevent, manage, and even treat these disorders. <\/span><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">One of the mental health issues that has and continues to have a light shown upon it is depression. While this illness has many varied causes, one cause that scientists theorize upon is a lack of serotonin. In fact - many doctors will prescribe a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor as a treatment for depression. <\/span><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">However, medications are not everyone's cup of joe. For those looking for natural ways to increase this hormone's levels, foods that increase serotonin are a good way to start. Keep reading to find out which foods increase serotonin the most, as well as other simple lifestyle changes that will boost the production of this happy hormone.<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n\\r\\n<h2 style=\\\"text-align: center;\\\"><b>Why Are Foods That Increase Serotonin Important?<\/b><\/h2>\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Before outlining the foods that increase <a href=\\\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-fish-good-for-weight-loss\/\\\">serotonin<\/a> and dopamine in the brain and body, we must first understand these hormones, what they do and where they come from.<\/span>\\r\\n<ul>\\r\\n \\t<li style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\" aria-level=\\\"1\\\"><b>Serotonin <\/b><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">- Also known as<\/span><i><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\"> 5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT<\/span><\/i><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">, this is a chemical naturally produced in the body. While it is mostly found - and produced - in the digestive system, it is also found in your blood and in the central nervous system. It acts as a neurotransmitter that carries signals between the nerve cells throughout the body.<\/span><\/li>\\r\\n<\/ul>\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Many people have some knowledge of this neurot ...\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/\",\"name\":\"The Best Foods That Increase Serotonin In The Brain - BetterMe\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/shutterstock_1711597738.jpg\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\",\"description\":\"Are you looking for foods that increase serotonin? 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Check out this article for the best list of foods to help boost happy hormones in the body.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The Best Foods That Increase Serotonin In The Brain","og_description":"Are you looking for foods that increase serotonin? Check out this article for the best list of foods to help boost happy hormones in the body.","og_url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/","og_site_name":"BetterMe Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching","article_author":"#","article_modified_time":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":667,"url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/shutterstock_1711597738.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"\u0421. Kamau, Kristen Fleming, RD","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@betterme","twitter_site":"@betterme","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"\u0421. Kamau, Kristen Fleming, RD","Est. reading time":"11 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/"},"author":{"name":"BetterMe","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/304f67ff245e9df71e0c97b98796925d"},"headline":"The Best Foods That Increase Serotonin In The Brain","dateModified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/"},"wordCount":2047,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/shutterstock_1711597738.jpg","articleSection":["Nutrition"],"inLanguage":"en-US","articleBody":"<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the conversations surrounding mental illness being spoken about in public more and more, many people around the world are able to find help as well as factual information on how to prevent, manage, and even treat these disorders. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the mental health issues that has and continues to have a light shown upon it is depression. While this illness has many varied causes, one cause that scientists theorize upon is a lack of serotonin. In fact - many doctors will prescribe a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor as a treatment for depression. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, medications are not everyone's cup of joe. For those looking for natural ways to increase this hormone's levels, foods that increase serotonin are a good way to start. Keep reading to find out which foods increase serotonin the most, as well as other simple lifestyle changes that will boost the production of this happy hormone.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Why Are Foods That Increase Serotonin Important?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before outlining the foods that increase <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-fish-good-for-weight-loss\/\">serotonin<\/a> and dopamine in the brain and body, we must first understand these hormones, what they do and where they come from.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Serotonin <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">- Also known as<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, this is a chemical naturally produced in the body. While it is mostly found - and produced - in the digestive system, it is also found in your blood and in the central nervous system. It acts as a neurotransmitter that carries signals between the nerve cells throughout the body.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people have some knowledge of this neurot ..."},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/","url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/","name":"The Best Foods That Increase Serotonin In The Brain - BetterMe","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/shutterstock_1711597738.jpg","dateModified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","description":"Are you looking for foods that increase serotonin? Check out this article for the best list of foods to help boost happy hormones in the body.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/shutterstock_1711597738.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/shutterstock_1711597738.jpg","width":1000,"height":667},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-increase-serotonin\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Nutrition","item":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/nutrition\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"The Best Foods That Increase Serotonin In The Brain"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#website","url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/","name":"BetterMe Blog","description":"Health &amp; Fitness","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization","name":"BetterMe","alternateName":"Betterme Limited","url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"BetterMe"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching","https:\/\/x.com\/betterme","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/betterme\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/betterme-apps","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/bettermetips\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC0svgcjc3jSgcryqo83spPQ","https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@betterme.health.coaching","https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/app\/betterme-health-coaching\/id1264546236","https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.gen.workoutme&amp;amp;amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;gl=US","https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q114895798"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/304f67ff245e9df71e0c97b98796925d","name":"BetterMe","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/f8c457bbfb019eee5091c2120aabff05","url":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-6-150x150.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-6-150x150.png","caption":"BetterMe"},"sameAs":["#"],"url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/author\/bttrm-admin\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41231","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41231"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41231\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41231"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41231"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41231"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=41231"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}