Dopamine is a neurotransmitter responsible for carrying information to various parts of the body. When it is released, it causes the sensation of pleasure and increases the state of motivation.
Likewise, it is a hormone that is involved in emotions, cognitive processes, movement control, heart function, learning, attention span and bowel movements. When the body has excess of it, neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Parkinson’s disease or schizophrenia can occur, according to information from the Psychology Online portal.
For its part, its shortage can lead to the development of conditions such as depression. Some symptoms of dopamine deficiency are drowsiness, low mood, craving for sugars or loss of interest in things, among others.
This neurotransmitter is produced by the body, in the central nervous system and in the adrenal glands, however, its levels can be increased through the consumption of foods rich in tyrosine such as eggs, fish, meat or beans, for example, according to the portal of health and wellness Tua Saúde.
Additionally, the consumption of some plants can help increase this hormone in the body. One of them is ginkgo biloba, which according to scientific research, has been found to help with memory enhancement. “In an experiment it was also shown that the consumption of this herb significantly increases dopamine levels,” states an article published in the journal The universal, from Mexico.
Ginseng: “It has been shown that the properties of this plant help manage anxiety and depression problems,” indicates the aforementioned publication.
Saffron: The Digital Health portal ensures that “in a review of five studies, saffron supplements were significantly more effective than placebos in treating symptoms of mild to moderate depression.”
In addition, it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action, according to a publication on the Cuídate Plus portal, which cites Miguel Alfonso García Escudero, a psychiatrist at the General University Hospital of Elche (Alicante), who says that this plant is recommended for healthy people with low mood and is ideal because it does not cause hematological or biochemical alterations.
Grass of San Juan: This plant has been used for centuries as a medicine to cure pain and its relationship with the management of depression also goes back to the ancestors. The Mayo Clinic research institute ensures that several studies highlight the therapeutic benefit of St. John’s wort for the treatment of mild to moderate depression.
“In fact, some research has shown the supplement to be as effective as several prescription antidepressants. Its benefits in the treatment of severe depression are not yet clear”, specifies this institution, which indicates that because this herb interacts with several medications, it may not be an appropriate option, especially if prescription medicines are consumed.
skisandra. This is a plant, according to Cuídate Plus, widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat mood disorders. “There are published scientific studies that support its effectiveness.” However, “90% are in Chinese, which is why the European Medicines Agency has not yet published the corresponding monograph, as other medicinal plants already have,” he says.
In addition to these plants, which can be taken as an infusion, there are some foods that are recommended to be included in the diet if it is necessary to increase dopamine levels.. On the list are oatmeal, whose proteins and amino acids improve mood in the morning; banana, eggs, pineapple, salmon, bell pepper and sunflower seeds.
There are also some recommendations that can help with the fulfillment of this objective and that can be done in a practical way. For example, playing sports, resting well, listening to music, sunbathing and doing activities that generate relaxation.