Dopamine is a chemical in the brain that produces feelings of happiness and euphoria, increases concentration and focus and is also known as a “motivation molecule”. It is the neurotransmitter that makes us feel motivated. Dopamine increases when we are active, when we have successfully completed a task, whether small or large. It gives us a boost of energy and motivation and promotes productivity. Low dopamine levels can make you feel tired, moody, and unmotivated. Dopamine deficiency symptoms are associated with lethargy, depression and chronic fatigue, as well as a number of mental disorders such as: B. Depression, panic attacks, various types of addictions, Parkinson's disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and others. Low dopamine levels literally drain our vitality - you become short of breath, irritable, apathetic, unmotivated, find it difficult to start something and even harder to finish it.
Dopamine is a hormone that transmits chemical messages between nerve cells in your brain or between your brain and the rest of your body. It plays an important role in many body functions,including memory, motivation, learning, reward and exercise. Dopamine deficiency means that there are low levels of dopamine. This has been linked to certain health conditions such as depression. It can also make one more prone to developing addictions.
What causes the hormone deficiency?
The hormone is produced in certain areas of your brain. Low levels of dopamine can occur when the areas of your brain that produce the hormone have been injured. This can also happen if your body doesn't respond properly to the hormone (if there's a problem with the nerve cell receptors that pick up and transmit the chemical message). People with Parkinson's disease have a loss of nerve cells and dopamine in certain areas of their brain. And people with cocaine addiction need more and more of the drug to get the positive effects because the dopamine receptors in their brain are damaged and hormone release is reduced.
What are the dopamine deficiency symptoms
Symptoms may include:
- You lack motivation
- Chronic fatigue
- You can't concentrate
- Moody or anxious states
- They do not feel joy in previously pleasant experiences
- You are depressed and feel hopeless
- You have a low sex drive
- You have sleep disorders or disturbed sleep
- Trembling of the hands or other tremors at rest
- Loss of balance or coordination
- Increased muscle/limb stiffness, muscle cramps (symptoms of Parkinson's disease)
- Restless legs syndrome
- Problems with short-term memory, completing everyday tasks, and solving simple thinking problems (symptoms of cognitive changes)
- Problems with anger, low self-esteem, anxiety, forgetfulness, impulsivity and lack of organizational skills
- Social withdrawal, reduced emotions, not feeling joy
- Gastrointestinal symptoms, including chronic constipation
How are dopamine deficiency symptoms diagnosed?
Dopamine deficiency symptoms are not associated with a medical diagnosis. Healthcare providers rarely check dopamine levels. A blood test alone doesn't provide much useful information either. A blood test can measure dopamine levels, but cannot determine how your brain responds to the hormone. Instead, your healthcare provider will take your medical history, ask lifestyle questions (including alcohol and drug use), ask you about your symptoms, examine you, and order any necessary tests based on your symptoms. Using this information and the results of your tests, your healthcare provider will determine whether you have a condition related to low dopamine levels.
How to increase hormone levels naturally
- Eat a diet rich in magnesium and tyrosine. These are the building blocks of dopamine production. Tyrosine is an amino acid. It is absorbed in the body and then travels to the brain, where it is converted into dopamine. Foods known to increase hormone production include chicken, almonds, apples, avocados, bananas, beets, chocolate, green leafy vegetables, green tea, lima beans, oatmeal, oranges, peas, sesame and pumpkin seeds, tomatoes, turmeric, watermelon and Wheat germ.
- Engage in activities that make you happy or relax you. This will make theDopamine levels increased. Examples include exercise, meditation, yoga, massage, playing with a pet, walking in nature, or reading a book.
Which dietary supplements increase dopamine levels
Supplements that increase dopamine levels include:
- Tyrosine: Tyrosine is a natural amino acid and a precursor to dopamine. (Dopamine is made from tyrosine.)
- L-Theanine: L-Theanine is another precursor to dopamine.
- Vitamin D, B5 and B6. These vitamins are needed for the production of dopamine.
- Essential omega-3 fatty acids
- Magnesium
What else do you need to know about the problem?
Low dopamine levels cannot be viewed in a “black and white” scheme. It's a complex topic. It is important to know that low dopamine levels do not cause disease. Although there is a connection or association, low dopamine levels are not directly the cause of the diseases. It is known that diet and exercise can influence how the brain uses the hormone. After all, no neurotransmitter works in isolation from others. Dopamine, for example, works closely with serotonin. As a neurotransmitter, serotonin releases signals between nerve cells or neurons and regulates their intensity. It is believed to play a key role in the central nervous system and the general functioning of the body, particularly the gastrointestinal tract. Serotonin affects most brain cells, both directly and indirectly.
