When one thinks of peace, one imagines himself calm, relaxed, in an atmosphere of generosity and friendship, can many consider this scenario as a utopia that can only be lived later?Always in the future? Or from time to time. However, this does not mean that it is impossible to achieve, today we will talk about the neurotransmitter of peace.
Consider an important question: in real life, are cortisol levels high because of the amount of stress we all experience?to a greater or lesser degree?The adrenal glands work to try to adapt to the chaos of the multiple stimuli to which the environment subjects us.
- In the midst of all this work.
- If there is one substance that secretes the body to manage stress and promote tranquility is Serotonin.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter produced in the central nervous system and also in specific cells of the gastrointestinal tract. This neurotransmitter has several functions, most of which are related to well-being and tranquility, which has earned it the title of “peace hormone”.
In the central nervous system, Serotonin plays an important role in inhibiting rabies and suppressing aggression, so it can be said that this substance is the one that puts a cold cloth over the heat caused by anger.
Its increased nervous circuits produce a sense of well-being, relaxation, increased self-esteem, concentration and motivation, which is very pleasurable and can make us think that we have achieved peace.
In the brain, serotonin regulates anxiety, which improves mood and makes us happier, making us see what happens in life with positive lenses.
Key Serotonin functions include regulating appetite through satiety, balancing sexual desire, controlling body temperature, motor activity and cognitive and perceptual functions.
It also intervenes in other known neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and norepinephrine, which are linked to anxiety, anxiety, fear, aggression, in addition to food problems and addictions.
It works in faeces because it is found in large amounts in the stomach and intestines, so it helps the breakdown of food. It also regulates nausea because when Serotonin increases, it helps remove toxic substances from the gut (in diarrhea, for example). ) and stimulates the region of the brain that controls nausea.
In addition, Serotonin causes vasoconstriction, which facilitates blood clotting because platelets release Serotonin to help heal wounds.
At night, when your levels naturally drop, cortisol (which keeps you alert), makes a negative return on serotonin (which rises), which opens the door for the entry of melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone. It is produced in the brain by the pineal gland, the main regulator of the circadian rhythm (sleep-wake).
At dawn, the adrenal gland begins to release our fuel, cortisol, to wake us up and prepare for the day, reducing melatonin and increasing Serotonin, which no longer converts into melatonin.
The internal serotonin clock is responsible for coordinating all these biological functions of the sleep cycle: the regulation of body temperature, the pulse of cortisol, the production of melatonin, among others, good coordination allows us to sleep soundly and rest for the next day.
Men produce up to 50% more Serotonin than women. As a result, they are more sensitive to changes in Serotonin levels. Estrogen and progesterone are associated with Serotonin. Women whose ovaries produce more estrogen and progesterone are more stress-resistant because they have more amounts of Serotonin.
However, those with less estrogen and progesterone have less Serotonin and, at the beginning of menstruation, become hostile, irritable, depressed and may experience crying and tantrums.
Stress, blood sugar and hormonal changes, especially estrogen levels, are some of the causes of Serotonin disruption. Your deficit is also related to moods, for example: aggressiveness, morning mood swings, anxiety, depression and even migraine, because when your Serotonin levels drop, your blood vessels expand.
Low Serotonin levels are clearly observed in depressive states (e. g. discomfort and negative thoughts) and in fibromyalgia, whose low Serotonin levels cause, in part, the pain typical of this condition and sleep disorders.
This can also be seen in people with learning, memory and concentration issues, as well as changes in sexual desire, in addition, this can affect the rhythm of the diet: for example, it can make you want to eat sweets or eat every hour.
Negative thoughts (” Should I have done it? ”, Which always mark what is missing and lead us to think about what others think of us, etc. ), in addition to being absolutely self-deprecating and destructive, are evidence of a deficiency of serotonin, which can create catastrophic realities.
When spring and summer arrive, Serotonin is conditioned by the light it receives from the body, leading to a gradual increase in well-being and happiness, with increased sexual stimulation, resulting from concentrations of this neurotransmitter in the brain.
It is also called the ‘pleasure hormone’, because in a sexual relationship, for ejaculation or orgasm to occur, the hypothalamus, the great commander of the brain, who rules the pituitary gland and directs the endocrine system, releases oxytocin (the love hormone). ) through the pituitary gland, and after ejaculation, greatly increases the amount of Serotonin in the brain, causing a state of pleasure and tranquility.
Serotonin can be stimulated by eating a variety of foods. Tryptophan is a precursor to Serotonin; it is an essential amino acid that, if not produced by the body, must be obtained by food (milk and derivatives, eggs, chicken or turkey, soy, legumes, banana, pineapple, tomato, pasta, cereals, rice, cheese, dark chocolate, lean meats).
Sport regularly produces not only endorphins, but also Serotonin. In addition to the benefits for the cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal system, relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, outdoor life, walking, dancing and pleasure promote their increase. participate in new activities also stimulates this substance.
In short, happiness, well-being and peace are linked to this neurotransmitter; therefore, let’s do activities that fill us with Serotonin. Let’s be Serotonin!