Most people have to deal with a lot of stress in their lives, and many of them even suffer from depression. However, we can definitely become happier and less stressed by just changing our diet and lifestyle! You can increase serotonin levels and reduce stress by introducing a lot of fresh fruits into your diet and by giving up animal products and limiting processed foods intake (or completely avoiding them). Doing gymnastics, swimming, dancing, walking, running, listening to relaxation music, etc. can also help reduce stress, but practicing Yoga is even more efficient.
Animal Products & Serotonin (High-Carb Diet Vs. Low-Carb Diet)
Since the primary fuel for our brain is glucose, we need to get most of our daily energy from carbohydrates. A diet with a greater emphasis on carbohydrates has a favorable effect on the formation of serotonin in the brain. A sufficient supply of serotonin improves mental health. Not only does a low-carb diet cut off the brain's main energy supply and affect the serotonin levels, but an insufficiency of glucose can also impede the synthesis of acetylcholine, one of the brain's key neurotransmitters.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter which plays an important role in mood regulation, and it is biochemically derived from tryptophan, an essential amino acid. Stress-induced serotonin dysfunctions are associated with depression, anxiety and fear, among others. It can affect our mood, sleep, appetite, cravings, etc.
Those of you who used to eat an omnivorous diet probably noticed an overall mood improvement, after switching to a plant based diet, especially a diet rich in fruits and veggies, so you know what I mean. Omnivores tend to be far more depressed, anxious, aggressive / violent and nervous than vegetarians, even though animal products, especially meats, contain tryptophan. We tend to believe that eating more protein rich foods is supposed to increase tryptophan levels and decrease ''hyperness'', but high-protein / low-carb diets, such as the Atkins diet, are actually associated with depression, sleeping disorders and anxiety. Thing is, tryptophan is not the only amino acid involved in this process. Tryptophan actually competes with other amino acids, such as phenylalanine and leucine, for active transport across the blood-brain barrier, so increasing protein intake actually decreases tryptophan levels, because tryptophan is outcompeted by the other amino acids - meat does contain tryptophan, but it also contains much higher amounts of the other amino acids, which explains why this happens. Some people on high-protein / low-carb diets may experience ''hyperness'', that may be due to the increase in protein breakdown by the protease enzymes, which affect the tryptophan / serotonin levels. Fruits, such as bananas, dates and papayas, on the other hand, have the right ratio of tryptophan to phenylalanine and leucine, so they will increase serotonin levels, giving you a feeling of well-being, happiness, relaxation, calmness.
People who consume animal products may also have increased levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine. Norepinephrine is a hormone and a neurotransmitter, and so is epinephrine. Norepinephrine synthesis depends on the presence of tyrosine, but the human body can synthesize tyrosine from phenylalanine. Increased levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine lead to anxiety and fear, among others, just like decreased levels of serotonin, and, in some cases, it can even cause panic attacks. Meat, eggs and dairy are high in tyrosine, and they have tryptophan, but they also have much higher amounts of phenylalanine and leucine, so they will increase norepinephrine and epinephrine levels and decrease serotonin levels. In other words, animal products can make you feel anxious, depressed, nervous, etc.
Animal products can also increase stress levels, and they can even lead to hypercortisolism.
Animal Products & Serotonin (High-Carb Diet Vs. Low-Carb Diet)
Since the primary fuel for our brain is glucose, we need to get most of our daily energy from carbohydrates. A diet with a greater emphasis on carbohydrates has a favorable effect on the formation of serotonin in the brain. A sufficient supply of serotonin improves mental health. Not only does a low-carb diet cut off the brain's main energy supply and affect the serotonin levels, but an insufficiency of glucose can also impede the synthesis of acetylcholine, one of the brain's key neurotransmitters.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter which plays an important role in mood regulation, and it is biochemically derived from tryptophan, an essential amino acid. Stress-induced serotonin dysfunctions are associated with depression, anxiety and fear, among others. It can affect our mood, sleep, appetite, cravings, etc.
Those of you who used to eat an omnivorous diet probably noticed an overall mood improvement, after switching to a plant based diet, especially a diet rich in fruits and veggies, so you know what I mean. Omnivores tend to be far more depressed, anxious, aggressive / violent and nervous than vegetarians, even though animal products, especially meats, contain tryptophan. We tend to believe that eating more protein rich foods is supposed to increase tryptophan levels and decrease ''hyperness'', but high-protein / low-carb diets, such as the Atkins diet, are actually associated with depression, sleeping disorders and anxiety. Thing is, tryptophan is not the only amino acid involved in this process. Tryptophan actually competes with other amino acids, such as phenylalanine and leucine, for active transport across the blood-brain barrier, so increasing protein intake actually decreases tryptophan levels, because tryptophan is outcompeted by the other amino acids - meat does contain tryptophan, but it also contains much higher amounts of the other amino acids, which explains why this happens. Some people on high-protein / low-carb diets may experience ''hyperness'', that may be due to the increase in protein breakdown by the protease enzymes, which affect the tryptophan / serotonin levels. Fruits, such as bananas, dates and papayas, on the other hand, have the right ratio of tryptophan to phenylalanine and leucine, so they will increase serotonin levels, giving you a feeling of well-being, happiness, relaxation, calmness.
People who consume animal products may also have increased levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine. Norepinephrine is a hormone and a neurotransmitter, and so is epinephrine. Norepinephrine synthesis depends on the presence of tyrosine, but the human body can synthesize tyrosine from phenylalanine. Increased levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine lead to anxiety and fear, among others, just like decreased levels of serotonin, and, in some cases, it can even cause panic attacks. Meat, eggs and dairy are high in tyrosine, and they have tryptophan, but they also have much higher amounts of phenylalanine and leucine, so they will increase norepinephrine and epinephrine levels and decrease serotonin levels. In other words, animal products can make you feel anxious, depressed, nervous, etc.
Animal products can also increase stress levels, and they can even lead to hypercortisolism.
