Serotonin is known as a hormone that can affect your mood and your behavior positively. In other words, serotonin is a “happy hormone” which is necessary for human’s body physically and mentally. It can influence many things inside your bodies such as your mood, sleep cycle, and even memory, and it can be found in human’s brain, blood, and it helps to deliver.
Foods containing tryptophan can help your body create a lot of serotonin. At the same time, tryptophan is an acid amino which is useful for the brain and helps you sleep well. It is said that tryptophan is associated with mood issues like unhappiness or nervousness. Let’s find out some foods that include tryptophan to increase “happy hormone” serotonin for your body:
Poultry
Poultry meats such as chicken, turkey, and goose containing a lot of tryptophan help to serotonin levels in your body. Besides, lean poultry will be high in protein and low in fat that helps you to keep fit.
Nuts
Nuts are a good source of tryptophan and protein for vegetarians. They are also rich in fiber, vitamins and healthy antioxidants such as almonds, peanuts, walnuts… You can easily find and add these nuts to dishes every day.
Eggs
Protein in eggs can increase significantly tryptophan concentrations in plasma. Moreover, egg yolk has a great deal of tryptophan, choline, biotin and omega-3 and other nutrients that benefit your health. You can try to make an omelet and eat it with a salad!
Soy products
Products containing soy, such as tofu, soya milk, or soy sauce, are one of the best sources providing tryptophan amino acids. Tofu is a protein-rich food that provides calcium for the body. It is a popular, easy-to-use food and a good option for vegetarians and vegans.
Milk
Milk provides a great deal of tryptophan amino acids. If you have trouble sleeping at night, you can drink a glass of warm milk before you go to bed because it increases serotonin, which makes it easier to sleep.
Salmon
Eating salmon is good for your health because it contains a lot of omega-3. These axes can make your skin healthy and improve eye function. Vitamin D is also included in salmon. It is needed for bones, teeth, and muscles to be strong and tough. There are various ways to make delicious dishes with salmon.
Seeds
Seeds do not have as much tryptophan as salmon, poultry or eggs. However, they still supply enough tryptophan and protein for vegetarians and vegans. There are many ways to eat more seeds like mixing nuts and seeds for a snack or adding seeds to cereal, yogurt, or porridge.
To increase serotonin “happy hormones”, you also need to exercise and live positively. If you combine a healthy lifestyle and serotonin-boosting foods, you will always be happy and love life. By increasing serotonin levels in your body, you can reduce mental stress and improve your mood. When facing difficulties in life, choose for yourself a delicious dish to regain your spirit!