Dopamine is known as the "happy hormone". It is a type of chemical messenger in the brain (neurotransmitter) that is responsible for sending signals between nerve cells in the brain. As a "happy hormone", dopamine also has several other benefits.

Why is Dopamine Called the "Happy Hormone"?

Dopamine is called the "happy hormone" because it provides feelings of pleasure and motivation in everyday life. When dopamine is released in sufficient amounts in the brain, this chemical can trigger feelings of pleasure, satisfaction, and happiness.

Dopamine is also closely related to motivation. When the brain releases dopamine, you will feel driven to achieve goals or motivated to perform desired actions.

Benefits of Dopamine for Our Body

Dopamine has various functions and benefits for the body, including:

• Physical movement of the body
• Improves memory
• Feeling happy and motivated
• Behavior and thinking abilities (cognition)
• Improves attention
• Affects sleep quality and sexual arousal
• Affects mood
• Helps in learning
• Helps in breastfeeding

When released into the bloodstream, dopamine plays a role in the body's stress response (fight-or-flight syndrome) when facing a stressful situation.

In addition, dopamine also has several functions, such as:

• Helps blood vessels to stay relaxed
• Helps remove excess salt and urine from the body
• Reduces insulin production from the pancreas
• Slows down the movement of the digestive system and protects the walls of the digestive system
• Reduces the activity of white blood cells (lymphocytes) in the immune system

How to Increase Happy Hormones

Lack of dopamine in the body can cause you to feel tired easily, have frequent mood swings, and lack motivation. Low levels of dopamine in the body are associated with depression, Parkinson's disease, and restless leg syndrome.

You may also experience difficulty concentrating, anxiety, decreased sexual desire, and difficulty sleeping when you lack dopamine. Here’s how to increase dopamine levels in the body:

Eat nutritious foods

There are several nutrients that can help increase dopamine levels in the brain, such as the amino acid tyrosine, vitamin B6, iron, magnesium, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Exercise regularly

In addition to meeting nutritional needs, dopamine levels in the body can be increased by exercising regularly. Improved mood can even be seen from 10 minutes of aerobic activity. Mood tends to improve after you exercise for 20 minutes.

You are free to choose which type of aerobic exercise you want to do. However, if you have certain health conditions, you should consult your doctor first.

Get enough sleep

Getting enough sleep can help release dopamine in the brain, which in turn increases alertness. According to the National Sleep Foundation, every adult should get at least 7-9 hours of sleep every day.

Engage in activities under the sunlight

Research shows that people who don't get enough sun exposure tend to develop Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression that occurs during certain seasons. You will feel sad or depressed when you don’t get enough sunlight.

Some research suggests that people with SAD may have decreased levels of dopamine in the brain. However, it is still unclear whether the decrease in dopamine levels is a direct cause or a result of SAD. For this reason, it is recommended that you spend time in the sun every day.

Listen to the music

True, some studies have shown that listening to music can increase dopamine levels in the brain. When someone listens to music they like, the brain releases dopamine in response to the experience.

Dopamine deficiency can be identified through blood tests and other medical history checks. If all of the above methods have been done but the situation does not improve, you should consult a doctor for a more detailed examination.

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can visit a doctor in person or use telemedicine services available through the Ai Care application. The app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store.

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