Do you feel like there’s no reason to get out of bed in the morning because it seems as though life is no longer exciting? You may have low dopamine levels in your brain, say the experts. There are a number of ways to increase its levels, but a lot of them can be very addicting and are likely to put your life in shambles. It’s a good thing that there are various ways to increase the levels of dopamine without resorting to unfavorable solutions.
A type of neurotransmitter, dopamine is a chemical responsible for sending messages from one brain cell to the other. It is sometimes referred to as the “motivation molecule” due to the fact that it helps you feel driven. In other words, dopamine makes life feel like it’s a wonderful thing — it encourages you to live and achieve dreams and successes.
However, it’s possible for dopamine levels in the brain to drop. Having insufficient amounts of the said neurotransmitter can be a real problem because it tends to sap your motivation to do anything that’s pleasurable and rewarding. According to experts, low dopamine levels can cause apathy, fatigue, memory loss, inability to focus, failure to connect with others, diminished libido, sleep problems, mood swings and even depression. In fact, laboratory mice lacking in dopamine become so lethargic and uninterested that they end up starving themselves to death!
Some people with dopamine levels compensate by engaging in activities that can stimulate dopamine production but are usually addictive and destructive. Some examples of these dopamine-boosting pursuits include addiction to the likes of caffeine, alcohol, sugar, drugs, sex, pornography, internet, gambling, video gaming, shopping and even power.
Fortunately, there is no need for you to gamble your future away for the sake of having renewed love for life. Here are some all-natural ways to have your dopamine levels increased effectively:
Find a New Hobby
Anything that interests you can help increase the levels of dopamine in your brain. Look for a new hobby and incorporate it into your daily life. Look for ideas on the internet or by checking out what your family and friends find enjoyable doing these days. Anything from taking care of a puppy to collecting stamps can be beneficial for your dopamine levels.
Consume Tyrosine-Rich Foods
Tyrosine is an amino acid and it is said to be the building block of dopamine. It’s for this reason why you can stimulate the increase of dopamine in the brain by including tyrosine-rich foods in the diet. Some wonderful examples are avocados, bananas, watermelon, dark chocolate, almond, yogurt, eggs, chicken, beef and green tea.
Exercise on a Regular Basis
We all know that exercising causes the production of endorphins that make you feel happy. Did you know that it also triggers the production of dopamine, allowing you to remain driven to achieve things? Experts say that even the mildest forms of exercise such as taking Fido for a walk, gardening or bicycling can help boost production of dopamine.
Spend Time Meditating
One effective way to increase the amount of dopamine in your brain is by momentarily focusing your attention to yourself and blocking out the rest of the world. There are numerous ways to meditate aside from sitting on a giant lotus flower. Anything from listening to music, painting to writing in your journal is an excellent form of meditation.
Create and Achieve Short-Term Goals
Long-term goals can be frustrating as they take months or years to be achieved. On the other hand, short-term goals are simpler and faster to attain, and they can help flood your brain with more dopamine. Anything as simple as learning to whip up a killer pasta or deleting read or junk mails in your inbox can help increase your brain’s dopamine levels.
