Serotonin - Best Antidepressant

Perhaps the most popular, most well-known neurotransmitter in the human body - Serotonin. He is best known as the hormone of happiness. Meanwhile, serotonin regulates many processes throughout the body.

How does Serotonin act?
The two main substances from which to create our happiness hormone: the amino acid tryptophan, and its derivative - 5-hydroxytryptophan.
From tryptophan can also be synthesized by melatonin and nicotinic acid.
An important point that tryptophan - is an essential amino acid, that is, if you do it receive less of its products - the serotonin and melatonin would be enough. Even by this banal reason is a slight depression.
5-hydroxytryptophan - an amino acid that has just one step away from serotonin. And once an amino acid that is also present in the protein products.
Tryptophan in the body becomes a 5-hydroxy-tryptophan, and he was - serotonin.

Next, consider the distribution of serotonin.
90% of serotonin are in the gastrointestinal tract. The remaining 10% - in the blood and brain. In the digestive tract, our mediator operates mainly hunger and motility, ie the rate of metabolism. In short, an excess of serotonin in the gastrointestinal tract - nausea, and a toilet becomes your best friend for some time. Few serotonin - and binge eating as a consequence - obesity, hunger, reduced metabolism.

Serotonin receptors
We are more interested in how the serotonin in the central nervous system in the brain. And for that analyze its receptors.
Receptors are found on the surface of nerve cells and as a molecule serotonin, as if secured to these receptors, exerting its effect. They are pretty much isolated by 7 basic types, but some still are divided into several subtypes.
5-HT1 - includes 5 subtypes. Their total effect is directed to the emotions: aggression or peace of mind, effect on dopamine, depression or enjoyment of life. So agonists or activators of these receptors increase the production of dopamine in the prefrontal cortex, reduce depressive symptoms and aggression, increase the pain threshold.
Antagonists are doing everything exactly the opposite.
5-HT2 - consists of 3 subtypes. The most freaky group of receptors. Every self-respecting psycho or person who loves the state of altered consciousness, tells about these receptors is not worse than academic. These receptors are activated when taking LSD and other psychedelics popular, hyperbolizing external noise, such as flying dragonfly to a huge six-legged creatures buzzing.

Agonists of these receptors reduces anxiety, appetite, depression, release of noradrenaline. Contribute to the emergence of empathy and reinforce signs of schizophrenia.
5-HT3 - Upchuck one of the main body. Activation of these receptors leads to vomiting. Antagonists, in contrast, are sometimes used as antiemetic agents.
5-HT4 - here we have an antidepressant effect again and again on the part of the digestive tract. Agonists of this receptor accelerates intestinal motility and reduce depressive symptoms. Drugs agonists and antagonists
5-HT4 is usually used in relation to digestive problems.
5-HT5 - the least studied of serotonin receptor. It is known that compounds that activate this receptor agonists or inhibit adenylate cyclase. It catalyzes this process, that is, accelerates the conversion of ATP into cyclic AMP. In general, the process has many terms, but the point is that the activity is reduced, for example, hormones such as adrenaline.
5-HT6 and 5-HT7 have similar functions. Agonists of these receptors improves intellectual abilities, contribute to more stress and activate adenylyl cyclase - the opposite of the receptor 5-HT5.
The main advantage of serotonin at a high level, but within the normal range - an antidepressant effect and promoted metabolism.

How to increase Serotonin?
- Tryptophan. An essential amino acid! Serotonin will simply not be created without the proper amount of tryptophan. There are no detours, to create today's neurotransmitter. Tryptophan and 5-HTP supplements are sold as - is a very convenient way to control for the production of serotonin, although it is better to just eat normally.
Tryptophan is necessary to obtain about 1.5 g's. In 100 ml of milk for example, 40 mg tryptophan, in the 1st chicken egg, about 130 mg, in chicken meat - 290 mg, and 100 grams peanuts already 750 mg. Thus, 3-4 eggs, and 50 grams of peanuts - already half closed for the norm of the amino acid, the rest of you, most likely, so get with food or supplements.

- Vitamin D. activates the gene that produces the enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase 2, which the brain converts the amino acid tryptophan into serotonin. Vitamin D is produced in the body itself, in the presence of sunlight. However, in winter time, it makes sense to add vitamin D tablets to its diet. Well, or get out for a week in some warm country)
In principle, the two mechanical conditions for the creation of serotonin already now go through the other factors:
- How banal sounds, but regular exercise in the moderate mode, when there is excessive fatigue increases serotonin. Placebo-controlled study showed an increase in serotonin. Members trained 2 months, 3 hours of training per week. The first measurement was the day before the first exercise, the second - 4 days after the last. Serotonin rise by 50% in the control group 11%. Thus, some bike ride, twice per week will keep serotonin average half higher than that of the untrained person.

Yes, now sports fashion, and smoking and watching television is bad, but believe me, if fast food and obesity would be hauled serotonin, better and longer than jogging, we would have to project it accurately stated. But it is not so!
- There are many ways to increase serotonin, but they all revolve around abstract concepts as "significance." You need to be a cut above others in any field, no matter what. And we need to demonstrate the importance of this! Not bad play a musical instrument? Excellent! Do not miss the opportunity to show off skills. You are not afraid of php and HTML5 - forward in a large firm or create your own! You make yourself a good figure - it's time to show off on the beach or in the club! For good production of serotonin is necessary to strive for significance, suitable even the notorious career at his workplace. Be humble - it's not about serotonin!

Another important point: It's almost impossible to say which of serotonin receptors may be stimulated by the same run. Most likely, as we all have different hair color, eye color, height, weight, and much more - we all have a different initial activity of these receptors.

Drugs that increase serotonin, or acting on the receptors:
The project does not call, there are similar drugs without a prescription. Remember that life is not will be a bright and happy, as you see the intelligence, without your active action, even if you examine all tablets.

So basically in medicine use substances that inhibit the reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine and sometimes, sometimes even nearly all - MAO inhibitors. This means that the conditional "excess" serotonin is not withdrawn by the body. And its concentration increases sharply. What is the medicines:

• Citalopram;
• Escitalopram;
• Fluoxetine;
• Fluvoxamine;
• Paroxetine;
• Sertraline;
• Agomelatine;
• Bupropion;
• Desvenlafaxine;
• Duloxetine;
• Mianserin;
• Milnacipran;
• Mirtazapine;
• Moclobemide;
• Reboxetine;
• Quetiapine;
• Selegiline Transdermal;
• Tianeptine;
• Trazodone;
• Venlafaxine;
• Fevarin

Perhaps rather obscure terms. If you really want to have a tablet - buy 5-HTP and Tryptophan.

How to reduce serotonin?
Quite an odd question, given the fact that serotonin is not possible to say when the disadvantages normally high. There is evidence from the English Wikipedia, that the consumption of 0.8 g per kg of ethanol reduces serotonin by 25%. So cool combos to kill a bunch of serotonin: plump, plump, not seeing the sun and do not eat foods with tryptophan.
But seriously, the substantial excess serotonin is called serotonin syndrome and it is impossible to get without a strong pharmacology. Treat serotonin syndrome antipsychotic medications, such as for example Aminazin.
Such substances as LSD, mescaline, psilocin and psilocybin analogs structurally similar to serotonin, but they are clever and are attached only to special receptors, which have just hallucinogenic effects. Although the same freaky mushrooms too often cause digestive problems.

Bottom line:

• Based on the mechanism of action of serotonin can be called the hormone of happiness, expense antidepressant effects.
• For the synthesis of serotonin and tryptophan need a vitamin D or sun, so vitamins are usually in short supply.
• Actions aimed at increasing serotonin, suggest self-improvement and demonstration of success, regardless of the activity. 3 workouts per week hold neurotransmitter 50% larger than the original level.