Serotonin works on the central nervous system

The compound Serotonin is associated with mood in humans and it is a medically accepted fact that those people who have low levels of this important hormonal compound are likely to suffer from depression and other mood disorders. Serotonin works on the central nervous system and works as an important neurotransmitter so that your mood, your appetite, your metabolism and even your sexuality can be modulated or stimulated as needed. Serotonin is also associated with a reduction in stress levels and anxiety.

There is no doubt that certain foods can have a big effect on your mood as many people will testify. Chocolate is probably the most famous mood enhancing food but there are lots of others which are much healthier. You cannot actually find Serotonin in foods but certain other compounds enable the body to manufacture it. You need to eat foods which have high levels of the amino acid tryptophan and these tend to be found in food which has high levels of protein.

For example you find tryptophan in meats, cheeses, chocolate, sesame seeds, milk, salmon and even bananas. Many people associate turkey with high levels of this amino acid and that is why many people speculate that we feel so good after Christmas lunch.  However the reality is that turkey only contains just a little bit more tryptophan than chicken, beef and pork and in fact a little bit less then cheese, (but then it’s easier to eat a lot of turkey than cheese.)

If you are feeling depressed maybe you should have a look at your diet and make sure that you are getting enough protein and therefore tryptophan. Exercise is also said to boost the levels of serotonin in the body which explains why people feel so good and sleep so well after exercise.