How to Become a world champion of dopamine your happy hormone

The brain’s feel good chemical is called dopamine, which sends feelings of well-being and pleasure into your body.
Apart from dopamine making you feel good, it helps with weight control, energy levels and it also supports brain and heart health. Without it, we would feel unhappy, tired and perhaps overweight.

The good news is that you can increase dopamine levels just by eating certain foods. The right amount of dopamine could uplift you from mild depression, help you lose weight, and make you feel more alive ! 

Dopamine is made from tyrosine one of the protein building amino acids, hence eating foods rich in tyrosine will help to boost dopamine production.

These foods are:

• Sardines -  or any other oily fish. Evidence suggest Omega 3 fats may be linked to dopamine production

• Eggs – always try and eat organic, free range or even better home produced eggs.

• Spirulina – which is a water algae – I like to see myself as a spirulina connoisseur ! I only consume premium spirulina and make sure that it is grown in Hawaii. The reason being that Hawaiian Spirulina is the only spirulina cultivated in a Biosecure Zone and is certified free of pesticides, herbicides and industrial pollutants. That is one of the reasons that makes Hawaiian Spirulina so special and the other reason being that it contains high levels of antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals.

• Beetroots  – Contain betaine, acting as an antidepressant, and tyrosine.

• Apples – Contain quercetin, to prevent neurodegeneration and boost dopamine.

• Spinach – Rich in folate, to trigger dopamine production.

• Bananas –are a happy fruit. They have tryptophan, which gets converted into serotonin in the body which is known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier. Don’t forget that they also have tyrosine which boosts dopamine – hence you get a double dose of banana happiness ! When I’m feeling down I tend to go on a banana binge and by the forth banana I am starting to feel brighter ! Oh and I am talking about the small Cyprus bananas not the large South American ones.

• Strawberries and blueberries – not only have tyrosine, they are anti-inflammatory and are high in anti-oxidants which help combat anxiety and depression.

• Green tea – Contains polyphenols, which are good for brain and heart function, as well as dopamine production.

• Herbs – like ashwagandha, tulsi,  ginkgo biloba, nettles, dandelion, and ginseng all make you feel good !

 
Exercise is a brilliant way to increase dopamine levels to flood your brain with this feel-good chemical. When you exercise, the cells in your brain (and the rest of your body) start firing, becoming more energized.

You also produce more serotonin and dopamine—both crucial in mood elevation. Some credit these chemicals with what’s known as the “runner’s high”, common in endurance athletes. What we do know for sure is that they make you feel good, filling you up with a sense of wellbeing and happiness, increasing your overall physical health.

The best way to a natural happy high would be to exercise, eat tyrosine rich foods and add in a supplement such as ginko biloba, drink nettle or tulsi tea.

It would also be wise to avoid alcohol and sugary foods as these are mood dampeners.  

All in all it can be said that through a healthy, whole foods diet and regular exercise, you can boost your mood and attain a sense of overall wellness, smiles and laughs !

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