Serotonin helps maintain a calm mental state, allowing you to overcome challenges even when faced with them. Here’s an interesting report: Monkeys live in groups. Within groups, hierarchical relationships are strictly organized. It’s known that the brain functions of boss monkeys and lower-ranking monkeys differ. Boss monkeys have more receptors for the neurotransmitter serotonin, resulting in higher levels of serotonin activity. High levels of serotonin help them overcome stress and anxiety and remain unafraid even when confronted with enemies. This allows them to behave in a manner befitting a boss monkey. The lower the rank of the monkey, the lower the level of serotonin activity. Serotonin plays an essential role in controlling anxiety. Poor serotonin activity increases anxiety, making people timid and small-minded.
Serotonin is also a substance involved in sleep and mental stability. A serotonin deficiency can lead to negative mental symptoms such as sleep disorders and anxiety. Therefore, increasing serotonin secretion can improve stress tolerance and overcome anxious feelings. Simply put, this can be achieved by consuming a diet that promotes serotonin secretion. The raw material for serotonin is the essential amino acid tryptophan. This essential amino acid cannot be produced in the body, so it must be obtained through diet. Foods rich in tryptophan include meat, fish, and beans. However, consuming tryptophan from these foods alone does not result in the synthesis of serotonin. Vitamin B6 and iron, which are closely related to protein metabolism, are essential for tryptophan synthesis.
Humans have evolved to become more active with sunrise and less active with sunset. When the retina detects natural light from morning sunlight, the brain secretes the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is an awakening hormone secreted in the morning and improves brain function. This serotonin makes it easier for signals to reach the brain’s neural circuits, bringing about wakefulness in the brain. At night, serotonin secretion decreases, and melatonin is produced from serotonin. Melatonin promotes good quality sleep. Sleep is a system that thoroughly reduces brain activity when the body is resting. Sleep is essential for human growth and maintaining health. Serotonin is at the core of this essential process.
