Boost Your Serotonin and Say Goodbye to Wintertime Depression with These Home Remedies 

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that relays messages from one part of the brain to another. If your body doesn’t produce sufficient amounts of serotonin – an affliction that affects millions of people every year – then you are much more likely to suffer from mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. But the good news is that you can do lots of things to boost your serotonin levels this winter without relying on medication. A few simple lifestyle changes can help boost your serotonin levels naturally. Here are the top home remedies to increase serotonin by 50% or more, without having to resort to costly prescription drugs. Let’s look at some of the best ways to beat the wintertime blues.

Exercise regularly 

During the winter, one of our most common emotions is stress which can lead to depression. The best – and easiest – way to boost your serotonin levels during the winter is to exercise regularly. Aerobic exercise is typically the best for releasing more serotonin into your blood, so consider jogging, swimming, or brisk walking every day to beat the wintertime blues. Stimulating aerobic exercise performed routinely will raise the serotonin levels in your brain and contributes positively to your overall mood and sense of wellbeing. The key to beating winter blues is plenty of exercise! Research shows that regular physical activity increases serotonin levels in the brain. This can help you feel happier and more content during these cold months of rain, snow, or ice outside without having any negative side effects.

Enjoy a massage 

If you feel too cold to do outdoor exercise, neck massagers are a great way to help you get back into exercising during winter. They’re especially good if your muscles feel sore or stiff and can eliminate cervical fatigue by relaxing the neck after working hard all day! A deep tissue massage helps to increase both dopamine and serotonin while simultaneously decreasing cortisol, a hormone that your body has in abundance when you’re feeling particularly stressed. And the great news is that studies have shown that you don’t need to pay for expensive massage therapy to reap the rewards. Instead, asking your partner to massage you for around twenty minutes at a time is enough to increase serotonin levels in your brain while releasing stress and pent up frustrations.

Take the right supplements 

There are many different supplements out on the market these days that can either help you sleep or alleviate depression. One type of supplement in particular, serotonin releasing agent (SRA), has been shown to increase levels within your brain and reduce symptoms for those suffering from major depressive disorder. They include:

Pure tryptophan 

Tryptophan is an amino acid that is converted to serotonin when it reaches your brain. And while it can be found in high-protein foods, opting for a supplement is a great way to ensure you’re maximizing your tryptophan intake. If you actually want the most bang for your buck, go with supplements instead of high-protein foods because sometimes they have less nutrients or fat content than what we need in order to feel happy and fulfilled.

SAMe 

Another supplement that can boost serotonin levels is SAMe. It’s known to boost serotonin and alleviate mild depression symptoms, but it shouldn’t be taken alongside medication. We all know that the body needs a balance of antioxidants to stay healthy. Oxidative stress can arise from environmental toxins and SAM-e helps restore one of these most crucial ones, known as Glutathione.

Reduce your caffeine intake 

Although caffeine provides you with a short-term boost in mood and energy levels, chronic coffee consumption can actually lead to serotonin depletion in the long run. If you notice that your mood has been dipping recently and you regularly drink more than one or two cups of coffee in a day, consider trying a detox tea and seeing what impact it has on your mood. You can switch to green tea or a different type of herbal tea when you make the transition from coffee. You may want to read my topic on – Start Your Morning Right: With These Healthy Coffee Alternatives.

Make sure your diet consists of nutrient-rich foods 

There’s actually a strong relationship between mood and food, so it’s super important that you eat foods that are rich in the essential oils and nutrients that your body needs to function. If you don’t feed yourself sufficient nutrients, it’s likely that your serotonin levels will be negatively impacted as a result. Some helpful foods to consider adding to your diet include eggs, salmon, oats, cheese, turkey, nuts and seeds, pineapple, plantain, tomatoes, and kiwis. It’s amazing what a well-balanced diet can do to your serotonin levels.

Take action to beat the winter blues this year 

It’s that time of year again! The days are getting shorter, the weather gets colder, and your mood starts to suffer. There are plenty of natural remedies to help combat your wintertime blues. Try these few alternatives that will boost serotonin and fight off the symptoms for good! Low levels of serotonin will affect your mood and may even lead to complications with your mental health. Thankfully, the five remedies we’ve introduced above are alternatives to medication and present an excellent opportunity to boost your serotonin levels and fight off the dreaded wintertime blues.

Be sure to check back with us at Peak Essential Health frequently. We are always posting new articles, product reviews, insights, and stories about the latest and greatest ways to improve your health and lifestyle. Thank you for reading, and happy shopping!