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6 Foods That May Boost Your Serotonin (The Happy Chemical)

Happy

Serotonin.

It’s the equivalent to your happy pill from nature! 

What Is Serotonin?

I’ve mentioned it before – but to reiterate – the decline of estrogen in our ovaries during peri/menopause can affect the production of serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (a chemical messenger that helps the brain function) aka our happy chemical. This can affect our mood, self-confidence, and the level of stress, irritability, depression, sleep and anxiety we feel.

Most of these are major issues for women during the meno years.

But you can take heart! 

Food Is Your Friend

As well as lifestyle factors like exercise and self-care (known serotonin boosters) you can look to your pantry and fridge to help keep serotonin levels on a level playing field.

Isn’t that good news? It’s a good idea to cover as many bases as possible in your bid to keep your serotonin up because it’s your soothing BFF courtesy of Mother Nature.

What Is Tryptophan?

A lot of your body’s serotonin is produced in the gut so it makes sense to look at what you’re ingesting. Food has the ability to boost an amino acid building block known as tryptophan so the serotonin can work with the brain. We can’t make tryptophan ourselves so we must get it from our food.

we can’t make tryptophan ourselves so we must get it from our food. Click To Tweet

But – and this a big but – many of us unwittingly eat low tryptophan foods that short circuit the process. This includes things like non-healthy fast food (happily we have some healthy options for fast food now), and refined carbohydrates like pasta, popcorn, crisps etc. They’re addictive we know, but they’ll bring you down so you pay a big price for that moment on your lips.

Serotonin itself can’t be found in food but tryptophan can Click To Tweet

Serotonin itself can’t be found in food but tryptophan can. Most experts recommend mixing it with complex carbohydrates – foods like sweet potatoes, oats, brown rice, apples and berries.

Tryptophan is usually found in high protein foods and mixing it with complex carbohydrates (not refined carbs) appears to enhance its ability to boost serotonin.

A Note On Carbohydrates

You’ll often see me recommend Meno-She’s cut right back on carbs because we don’t process them as well as we once did. This is true. To be clear though, when I say this I’m talking about refined carbohydrates and not nutrient dense, healthy carbohydrates such as vegetables, whole grains and some fruits. After all, it’s carbohydrates that fuel our energy.

That said, let’s take a look at six high tryptophan players that may work to keep you happy, healthy and sleeping well.

1. Eggs

Pretty much a mainstay for most of us, eggs are loved because they’re easy and high in protein. Bonus? They’re also loaded with tryptophan. The yolks are potent tryptophan players.

2. Green Leafies

I always recommend oodles of dark green leafy vegetables for 40+ ladies and their tryptophan levels are another good reason to do so.

3. Soy

Soy is controversial in some corners but for meno ladies, it’s a goody as well as being a rich source of tryptophan. Products made from soy contain isoflavones which mimic estrogenic activity and may help our estrogen levels. Indeed, Asian women who eat a diet high in soy have been found to have less body temperature fluctuations and other signs.

4. Nuts and seeds

Both of these are great plant sources of tryptophan so present a good option for vegetarians and vegans, and a delicious alternative for everyone else. Try seed cycling for added benefits.

5. Salmon

Fish lovers can rejoice because salmon is rich in tryptophan amongst all of its other goodies like omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D.

6. Cheese

There are a lot of cheese fans out there so knowing it’s a good source of tryptophan will be music to your years.

NB: It’s interesting to note that Healthline state that the tryptophan you find in food has to compete with other amino acids to be absorbed into the brain, so they feel it may not have much of an effect on your serotonin levels.

From my point of view, eating well and eating healthily makes you feel happier anyway so it’s still good advice. If you’re worried, add to your tryptophan intake with a supplement.

Here’s to happier days. 

#experience freedom

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Post-menopause


This is the time when menstruation is well and truly over, the ovaries have stopped producing high levels of sex hormones and for many ladies, perimenopause symptoms subside.

Estrogen has protective qualities and the diminished levels mean organs such as your brain, heart and bones become more vulnerable. It’s also a key lubricant so your lips may become drier, your joints less supple and your vagina might be drier. In addition, your thyroid, digestion, insulin, cortisol and weight may alter.

At this juncture, a woman might experience an increase in the signs of reduced estrogen but she should have a decrease of perimenopause symptoms. That said, some women will experience symptoms like hot flushes for years or even the rest of their lives.

Perimenopause

Peri = ‘near’

Most females begin to experience the symptoms of perimenopause in their mid-forties. Your progesterone levels decline from your mid-30s but it’s generally from around 40 that the rest of your sex hormones begin to follow suit. 

Perimenopause is a different experience for every woman and some women may barely notice it. The first indicators are usually changes to the monthly cycle. This means that for some ladies, this can be accompanied by things like sore breasts, mood swings, weight gain around the belly, and fatigue as time goes on.

For those with symptoms it can be a challenging time physically, mentally and emotionally.

Importantly, perimenopause lasts – on average – four to 10 years. The transition is usually a gradual process and many women enter perimenopause without realising.