Health Care

By Favio Lukas

A lot has been said about serotonin. Some is very true but most of it is downright wrong. Take some time to go through this article that will provide a quick overview about this feel good hormone. I will quickly list 12 things you definitely need to know.

1. It affects a person's mood - If you Serotonin levels are low, you are most likely to feel down and out but with increased level, you feel energetic. They don't call it the feel good hormone for nothing.
2. Low availability of serotonin in the body may stimulate food cravings. This is because this hormone controls the feeling of hunger in the brain.
3. Regular exercise can increase serotonin levels and help deal with food cravings.
4. Junk food increases serotonin only temporary and can lead to food cravings, which can consequently lead to obesity and consequently death.
5. Smoking increases serotonin for a short while. The increase is as a result of the nicotine element available in the cigar. When the serotonin activity falls, the craving for another cigarette occurs. The cycle almost never stops.
6. Affects body balance: This feel good hormone facilitates communication between neurons or nerve impulses between cells. Imagine employees working together all day to make sure that operations of a business are kept smooth all day long. This is basically what serotonin facilitates.
7. Lack of serotonin can cause some discomforts and anxiety. This is definitely not a good place to be at.
8. Lack of it can lead to depression can cause one to be very violent. Some people are even known to make poor judgments that may even lead them to committing suicide.
9. For most male lack of it can lead to premature ejaculation. This is why some recommend some reuptake inhibitors.
10. Lack of it can cause sleep disturbances
11. There are good proteins and carbohydrates that increase serotonin levels in the body and those that are really bad.
12. Too much of serotonin in the body may lead to serotonin syndrome. Think of how someone behaves when drunk or overdosed or after taking large amounts of caffeine drinks.