8 Natural Ways to Increase Dopamine Levels to Boost Brain Productivity

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Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that our brain produces to nudge us into doing stuff. Dopamine also helps regulate movement and emotional response, and it enables us not only to see rewards, but to take action to move toward them. It’s something your brain produces for itself. But what you can do is increase dopamine in your system to help you stay focused, productive and motivated.

Additionally, dopamine helps the brain generate sufficient energy to run the body. It stimulates the heart, regulates the flow of information through our brains, controls movement, and allows humans to experience feelings of passion and pleasure, according to the Health News Stand website.

Symptoms of Dopamine Deficiency

-Often feel depressed, flat, bored, and apathetic
-Low on physical or mental energy
-Difficulty in focusing or concentrating
-Low libido
-Sugar cravings
-Caffeine cravings
-Inability to handle stress
-Insomnia

8 Natural Ways to Increase Dopamine Levels

Listen To Music

Studies have shown that if you listen to music you really enjoy, the brain releases dopamine as a response. Even the anticipation of hearing that music also increases dopamine levels, which is probably why you see all these crazy lines in front of music stores.

Meditate

Sometimes the best way to do something is by doing nothing. Specifically, you do nothing physically but in your mind you’re trying to sort out your thoughts. Whether you meditate, pray or do simple self-reflection, all these activities are linked to increased dopamine levels.
Dopamine is an addictive chemical but in a good way. It’s helps motivate you in doing things you need to do, even if you don’t want to do them.

Detoxification

As miraculous as our bodies are, we do accumulate toxins and bacteria that is bad for us. Endotoxins are the kind that can cause our immune systems to get out of whack, and it also constrains the production of dopamine. Here are a couple tips for helping cleanse the gut of endotoxins: eat fermented good, get enough sleep, and resist the urge to indulge in fatty or sugary foods.

Vitamins

B vitamins (B6, B9, B12), NADH and omega-3 fatty acids found in high doses of fish oil supplements appear to increase dopamine levels.

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo can increase dopamine while enhancing oxygen flow and blood flow to the brain – promoting healthy transmission of nerve impulses.

Green tea

Contains polyphenols, good for brain and heart function, as well as dopamine production

Eat tyrosine and phenylalanine rich foods

Dopamine comes from the amino acid tyrosine. So it’s a no brainer that when you eat tyrosine rich foods, you increase your brain dopamine levels. Additionally, another amino acid called phenylalanine can be converted by the body to tyrosine so it also promotes higher dopamine levels.

Foods rich in both tyrosine and phenylalanine

Meat
Fish
Cottage cheese, yoghurt
Eggs
Tofu and soy protein
Spirulina
Bananas, legumes, seeds, mustard greens & spinach, avocado

Curcumin

One of the active ingredients in Turmeric, it is capable of effortlessly crossing the blood-brain barrier and lifting your dopamine levels. Further, research has shown that curcumin inhibits memory loss issues from dopamine deficiency.

Spend time with family and friends

Cultivating relationships with loved ones can help boost your dopamine levels. Socializing and being around friends and family members affect your neurotransmitters by increasing self-confidence, happiness and focus. Isolation contributes to depression.

Sources:

https://www.powerofpositivity.com/increase-dopamine-brain-boost-productivity/

http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/04/17/how-to-increase-dopamine-levels/

http://lifehacker.com/how-to-harnass-your-brains-dopamine-supply-and-increas-1496989326

Sherice