Some ways in which you may be able to increase serotonin naturally are by exercising, taking vitamin B supplements, and eating healthy carbohydrates. Sunlight exposure might also make you feel much more cheerful in general. It is also typically advisable to avoid excess caffeine or alcohol, which can negatively affect the way your brain stabilizes your moods. If you want to increase serotonin naturally to avoid prescription anti-depressant and mood-enhancing medicines, you may be able to do so, but it is a good idea to keep in mind that extreme depression is a serious problem. If you experience severe depression or drastic mood swings on a regular basis, you should probably consult with your doctor because natural methods may not be enough to successfully treat your condition.
Getting in regular exercise may boost your levels of serotonin. When you exercise, you are typically taking in more oxygen, and extra oxygen can help to replenish your serotonin stores. The amount of exercise it takes to continually keep your levels of serotonin up might vary, but most doctors recommend at least 20 to 30 minutes of exercise four or five times per week to help with stress. Vitamin B is also very important for helping your body produce serotonin after it has been depleted. You can get in the vitamin B you need daily by either taking supplements or eating more green vegetables, dairy, and whole-grain breads, which all naturally contain lots of vitamin B.
Carbohydrates might increase serotonin naturally, but it is important to avoid the unhealthy carbohydrates and instead try to take in the good ones. Bad carbohydrates include all types of refined white flour and starchy foods. Many overly processed foods contain an excess of unhealthy carbohydrates. Good carbohydrates include whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. If you are eating the right kinds of carbohydrates regularly, you might begin to notice that you feel less depressed over time.
Research suggests that sunlight exposure might help to increase serotonin naturally. You may be able to reap the benefits of sunlight for your mood by either going out in the sun more or using a UV, or ultraviolet, lamp. There are also other types of lamps made specifically for mood enhancement that do not use UV bulbs, which means there is less risk of sunburn or skin damage. Staying away from caffeine and alcohol might also help you to increase serotonin naturally. Products containing caffeine and alcohol might make you feel better temporarily, but in the long run these products do much more harm than good for mood elevation and may additionally cause other health problems.
