Serotonin is both a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger in the brain) and a hormone. Surprisingly, about 90% of your body’s serotonin is found in the digestive tract, not the brain.
What Serotonin Does:
Serotonin plays a key role in mood regulation, contributing to feelings of well-being and happiness. It also influences sleep quality, appetite, digestion, memory, and learning. In the gut, it regulates bowel movements and function.
Serotonin and Other Hormones:
Serotonin production can be influenced by estrogen, which is why some women experience mood changes related to their menstrual cycle. Low serotonin is associated with depression and anxiety, though the relationship is complex and not fully understood.
Natural Serotonin Support:
Your body makes serotonin from the amino acid tryptophan, found in foods like turkey, eggs, cheese, nuts, and seeds. Sunlight exposure, exercise, and gut health also influence serotonin production. Note that dietary serotonin doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier, but the building blocks for serotonin production do.
