If you’re looking for the perfect excuse to book that long-overdue escape to the Côte d’Azur, Naturopathic Nutritionist Erica has one for you: it’s not just a holiday – it’s a health boost, with sea, sun, and… serotonin.
Serotonin is a chemical in your body that significantly influences how you feel. Produced in both the brain and gut, it plays a key role in regulating mood, sleep, and even digestion.
One of the biggest factors affecting serotonin levels is exposure to sunlight. During the winter season in Scandinavian countries and the UK (for example), where sunlight exposure is not always a guarantee, people tend to spend more time indoors, which can greatly impact their mood and overall sense of wellbeing.
In contrast, here on the Riviera, we benefit from plenty of sunshine, which naturally boosts serotonin and enhances our joie de vivre!
Below, you’ll find the many reasons why it’s important to be aware of our serotonin levels, and how to boost them.
What can cause low Serotonin?
There are several reasons why your body might not make enough serotonin:
- Not getting the right nutrients from your food
- Stress
- An unhealthy gut
- Certain medications
- Lack of sunlight
- Lack of exercise/movement
- Drinking excess amounts of alcohol or caffeine
How serotonin impacts you:
When serotonin levels drop, you may experience mood swings, anxiety, trouble sleeping, or migraines. If you’re feeling down or anxious often, low serotonin could be a reason.
Sunlight exposure is important and here’s why:
Certain hormones in our brain are triggered by sunlight and darkness. Serotonin is released by the brain when the retina is exposed to sunlight. At night or when it’s darker, melatonin (a hormone) is released, and this enables us to sleep.
It has been shown in studies that the production of serotonin by the brain is directly related to the prevailing duration of bright sunlight. This explains mood seasonality.
I recommend getting 15 to 20 minutes of morning sunlight. Exposure to light first thing in the morning signals to our cells that it’s time to wake up, eat and release hormones, with serotonin being one of them.
To help your body make more serotonin, focus on getting these important nutrients from your food:
- Tryptophan – an amino acid your body needs to make serotonin
- Zinc – helps your body use tryptophan
- Vitamin B6 – is needed for serotonin
- Iron – helps your brain make serotonin
- Eating low-sugar carbohydrates that don’t cause big spikes in your blood sugar can help keep your serotonin levels steady
- Antioxidants – can help protect your body and brain.
P.S. Read my natural sun protection tips here.
Sources if you’d like to read further:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12480364/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10239563/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5986471/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4117050/
Health disclaimer: I do not claim to diagnose, cure or treat diseases, symptoms or illnesses. The information and service provided through the platform/consultations are here to provide individuals with an alternative holistic method if you choose to make changes in this direction. Please contact your medical practitioner if you have any medical issues.
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Read more posts from Erica on Wondergreens website here.
