Why do eating chocolate and exercising make you happy? Both increase serotonin production in the brain. The messenger substance serotonin plays an important role in our mood: a serotonin deficiency makes itself felt as depression. Serotonin is an important messenger substance of the body that plays a prominent role in the transmission of signals in the brain, but also plays a decisive role in the cardiovascular system or in the intestinal nervous system. Serotonin is also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine, abbreviated as 5-HT. Less familiar is the name enteramine, which is also used synonymously with serotonin.
Serotonin: effects of this hormone of happiness.
Serotonin, like most neurotransmitters, works by binding to specific receptors in the body. There are at least 14 different serotonin receptors, called 5-HT receptors. Serotonin is involved in the regulation of various body processes. In the cardiovascular system, for example, it influences the contraction of blood vessels, and in the intestinal nervous system it is involved in the control of intestinal peristalsis. However, serotonin’s best-known effect is probably in the brain. It is one of the messenger substances that play an important role in the development and treatment of mental illness. Along with dopamine and norepinephrine, serotonin is often referred to as the happiness hormone. Serotonin is also known as the “feel-good hormone” because it not only has a mood-lifting effect, but also dampens the body’s stress response. Among other things, it has the following effects.
- Relaxing
- Antidepressant
- Sleep-inducing
- Pain-relieving and
- Motivational
Serotonin deficiency: depression as a consequence?
Serotonin is considered to have a decisive influence on mood. Serotonin deficiency is therefore also associated with the development of depression. A serotonin deficiency in the brain manifests itself in symptoms such as.
- Depressed mood
- Anxiety
- Aggression
- Increased appetite
The sleep-wake rhythm, body temperature, sexual behavior, pain perception and the onset of migraines are also regulated by serotonin and are easily thrown out of balance when there is a serotonin deficiency, often in the context of depression.
SSRI: Treating depression with serotonin.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs for Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) are given to treat depression. These SSRIs cause serotonin, which is secreted in the brain to communicate between nerve cells, to act for a longer period of time. This indirectly compensates for serotonin deficiency and increases serotonin levels in the brain. However, whether serotonin therapy alone is effective in alleviating depression is scientifically controversial. Some medications might even cause a decrease in serotonin levels. SSRIs are also commonly prescribed to treat anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Antidepressants in the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) group include:
- Citalopram (cipramil)
- Escitalopram (Cipralex)
- Fluoxetine (Fluctin)
- Fluvoxamine (Fevarin)
- Paroxetine (Serotax)
- Sertraline (Zoloft)
Serotonin syndrome: excess serotonin.
Not only a serotonin deficiency, but also an excess of serotonin, can have a negative impact on health and well-being. If an excess of serotonin occurs – often as a result of drug interactions – this is referred to as serotonin syndrome. Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include:
- Restlessness
- Anxiety
- Arousal states
- Increased muscle tension
- Muscle twitching
- Tremors
To avoid serotonin syndrome, antidepressants should always be dosed in consultation with the treating physician.
Serotonin deficiency compensate by chocolate?
Serotonin is not only produced by the human body, but is also found in various foods. In certain types of fruits and vegetables, such as kiwis, bananas, pineapples or tomatoes, but also in walnuts or cocoa, serotonin is contained in larger quantities. Chocolate containing cocoa therefore also contains serotonin. However, the mood-lifting effect of chocolate is due less to the serotonin it contains than to its high carbohydrate content. Serotonin cannot cross the blood-brain barrier.However, carbohydrate-rich food stimulates – via a series of intermediate steps – the formation of serotonin in the brain. So it’s not so much the consumption of serotonin-rich foods that makes you happy; it’s more the carbohydrate content that matters.
Increase serotonin levels with exercise
A lower-calorie method for happiness is represented by exercising: Studies in humans and animals have shown that athletic endurance training can raise serotonin levels. This is because physical activity increases the availability of the amino acid tryptophan in the brain. The body in turn forms serotonin from tryptophan. And this ultimately has positive effects on mood and psychological well-being. Regular exercise can therefore permanently increase serotonin levels. Thus, serotonin can indirectly contribute not only to physical health, but also to mental health.
