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Dopamine is
a neurotransmitter or a chemical in the brain that either increases or reduces the activity of
neurons which are nerve cells. Dopamine has a variety of influences on the brain function,
including regulating attention, movement, pleasure and hormonal processes. Dr. Ruden discovered
that the cause of addiction lies in a complex chain reaction that originates from the brain. When
the system is inappropriately activated, it drives the body to crave sometimes with behavior as the
end result.
It’s All in the
Mind
People without
cravings will probably say that food cravings are all in the head. This statement has been proven
to be true; it’s all in our heads in specific areas of our brain. The brain is responsible for
memory and sensing pleasure and is the one to blame for keeping those food cravings coming. There
are three areas of the mind which are the hippocampus, insula and caudate which are active during
the food cravings. Memory areas of the brain are more essential to food cravings than the
brains reward centre. If you take a walk, treat yourself occasionally and finding something sweet
this will ease your mind and you will not crave more often. This makes the statement that cravings
are all in the mind indeed true. Read more on food cravings and
dopamine.
Nutrients, Craving and the
Brain
The brain is
always producing chemical messengers such as serotonin and dopamine to tell the cells when to
start, continue or stop biochemical reactions. The material that is being used here are the
nutrients. If the brain does not get the right nutrients and balanced, it has been proven that
neurotransmitters will be produced which will lead to the brain working slow down. Cravings may be
a psychological reaction to wanting what you couldn’t have. Scientists have realized that you can’t
get rid of cravings, although you can gain control over them.
Foods That Increase Dopamine
Production
The brain
generates dopamine from essential amino acid called phenylalanine that
it converts into tyrosine in order to produce dopamine. The results of low dopamine may result
to food cravings, poor attention and loss of satisfaction. There are
foods that contain phenylalanine that will lead to the increase of dopamine this will include
bananas, meat and cottage cheese. Dopamine is important for
motivation, sexual arousal and proper functioning of the immune and autonomic nervous system. To
read more on food cravings and dopamine you can go to Livestrong.com. Taking foods that are high
in protein is important because they will produce amino acids from protein. This will lead to
the increase of the tyrosine levels in the blood.
At this point and
time I am sure that it has become clear that food cravings and dopamine are
really a good combination. We have found the foods that you will need to take in, in order to
increase your
dopamine. From today onwards you will have to eat all the foods that have been mentioned, for
your own health. For future reference you can bookmark this page.
Summary
- Dopamine has a variety of influence on
brain function
- Food craving is all in the
mind
- The brain needs to get right nutrients and
balanced in order for it to function properly.
- Banana, meat and cheese are one of the
foods that an individual should take in order to increase dopamine
- High protein foods produce amino acids
which will lead to tyrosine levels increase.
Additional Information
Some of the
results that you will see that your dopamine levels are low will be depression, cravings, loss of
satisfaction. What cause the levels of dopamine to be low? Dopamine levels are depleted by drug
use, poor nutrition and poor sleep. Sugar, caffeine and alcohol seem to decrease dopamine activity
in the brain.
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