Balance Body Chemistry for Happiness: Dopamine and Serotonin

 

Long term happiness is built upon a balance of neurotransmitters in the nervous system and brain. Problems often develop around the balance between dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine is the pleasure molecule which can become addictive. Serotonin is the happiness molecule. Excessive production of dopamine can result in an endless pursuit of pleasure even though it results in misery and depression.

Dopamine is associated with the familiar addiction and withdrawal symptoms experienced by those using heroin and cocaine. Elevated levels of dopamine are also associated with something called addiction transfer. For example, when someone stops smoking they often begin overeating and gain weight. They are now eating for a dopamine hit rather than getting it from smoking. Alcoholics often become addicted to sugar and caffeine when they quit drinking. The two addictive substances that are legal and readily available are sugar and caffeine in sodas and coffee. The two are often combined for a dopamine high. Dopamine acts upon opiate receptors in the emotional part of the brain. Without dopamine there would be little motivation to do anything. The contentment and happiness action of the brain is regulated by serotonin.Too much dopamine can interfere with serotonin formation leading to unhappiness and depression.

A third substance which plays a role in the balance between pleasure and contentment or happiness is cortisol or our stress hormone. Stress lowers serotonin levels contributing to depression.

Our society is heavily weighted in habits that promote high dopamine levels and low serotonin levels. Factors involved include recreational drug use, lack of sleep and excess sugar which drives up cortisol levels, addictions, addictive highly processed foods, and insulin resistance. Dopamine production is encouraged by high levels of of the amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine.

How does diet affect all this?

Tryptophan is the precursor to serotonin. It must compete with phenylalanine and tyrosine for transport in the body. Eggs, fish, nuts and poultry are relatively high in tryptophan on the right kind of diet. Unfortunately, when they are fed corn things change. Corn has very little tryptophan, but is loaded with phenylalanine and tyrosine. Feeding corn to chickens, beef, and fish has created a relative deficiency of the one amino acids upon which we are most dependent for long term happiness and avoiding depression.

Omega-3 fatty acids play a key role in the dance between balanced levels of dopamine and serotonin. Inflammation inhibits serotonin release and omega-3 fats reduce inflammation. NeoLife Omega-3 Salmon Oil Plus reduced the inflammatory index by 68% in 8 weeks in one study. Omega-3 fats are essential for the resolution of inflammation through the production of resolvins and protectins. Omega-3 fats also have a powerful anti-anxiety effect similar to marijuana and SSRI inhibitors without the risks associated with these substances.

I have tried to simplify a complex issue on the causes of anxiety and depression. Full details are available in the following book:

Lustig, Robert H., The Hacking of the American Mind, New York: Penguin Books, 2017.

Practical Summary: Avoid junk food, drugs, allergens, corn fed animal products, sugar, and lack of sleep. Supplement the diet with omega-3 fats and rich sources of tryptophan to avoid anxiety and depression and live a happy and contented life.

Clinical Nutrition Highlights

 Clinical Nutrition Meeting Insights

The following are some insights into nerve issues and nutrition from the recent yearly clinical nutrition meeting:

Depression:

A mouse model of depression found that some of the most common blue-red polyphenols decreased the symptoms of depression in mice induced by LPS-- lipopolsaccharides, substances which build up in the digestive tract on diets high in processed foods. LPS are very inflammatory. Polyphenols decreased brain inflammation in the hippocampus, calmed the nerves and promoted improved nerve health. The hippocampus is a key part of the brain associated with learning, memory and emotion. Supplements rich in polyphenols such as NeoLife Tre may be helpful in warding off depression when we are not eating the way we should.

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00087

The Vagus Nerve:

Several speakers at the conference pointed out that the vagus nerve connects the gut or digestive tract with the brain. The gut has so many neurons that it has been called the body's second brain. Due to the vagal nerve superhighway between gut and brain what goes on in one can have profound effects on the other. Abnormalites in gut function are common in many neurological conditions such as autism and ADHD.

Parasites:

American medicine give little attention to parasites but addressing them is sometimes helpful in addressing brain and nerve problems. Dr. Emily Gutierrez shared research on which compounds were the most helpful in dealing with common parasites. At the top of the list for bacteria were garlic and pumpkin seeds, and ivermectin. Most helpful for yeast was capryllic acid, nystatin, and grapefruit seeds.

SALMAN, S. S.; ARDALAN, N. M. Evaluation of Amygdalin (B17) and Cucurbita pepo (Pumpkin seed) Activity Against Blastocystis from Diarrheic Patients in Baghdad, Iraq: in Vitro Study. Plant compounds: • Allium sativum L. displayed high efficacy as a potential therapeutic agent against Cryptosporidium (mouse model) • Amygdalin (B17, plant compound from apricot seed) and cucurbita pepo (pumpkin seed) effective against blastocystis (in vitro)

Alyaa Farid, Mona Yousry, Gehan Safwat, Garlic (Allium sativum Linnaeus) improved inflammation and reduced cryptosporidiosis burden in immunocompromised mice,Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume292,2022,115174,ISSN 0378- 8741,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2022.115174.\

Weed, Seed, and Grow:

Promoting growth of beneficial organisms in the digestive tract of one of the most important things we can do to promote not only overall health, but also to help protect and nourish the nerves and brain.

Weeding refers to removing harmful bacteria and yeasts from the digestive tract as mentioned above.

Seeding refers to getting beneficial microbes in the digestive tract: pre and probiotic rich foods (fermented foods, garlic, asparagus, pickled vegetables, banana, honey, kefir, yogurt, onions.

Grow refers to generous intake of fibers to promote the growth of beneficial organisms: - fiber, both insoluble and soluble (apples, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds. A common mistake is to think there is only one type of fiber while there are many types and differing fibers have differing health benefits.

 Probiotics and Mental Disorders

 

     Brain disorders such as autism, major depression and anxiety are becoming increasingly common and debilitating. These problems are treated with what are often highly toxic and dangerous drugs. Increasing research suggests that mental disorders may have their root in a disturbed digestive tract. Mental disorders are often characterized by elevated levels of  inflammatory chemicals called cytokines, oxidative stress, poor nutritional status, and overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the small intestine. These problems can decrease the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which is essential for healthy brain functioning. All of these abnormalities are increasingly being shown to be improved by supplying beneficial bacteria such as those found in NeoLife Acidophilus Complex. Who would have thought that the bugs in your belly carry on a conversation with your brain cells? The next time you feel down support gut health with Acidophilus Complex and Aloe.

Reference:

Logan, Alan, and Katzman, Martin, Major depressive disorder: probiotics may be an adjuvant therapy, Medical Hypotheses, 2005;64:533-538.

Cryan, J.F., and O'Mahony, S.M., The microbiome-gut-brain axis: from bowel to behavior, Neurogastroenterol Motil, 2011;23:187-192.

Depression and Amino Acids

     Dr. Jonathan Wright tested his patients for amino acid deficiencies. He found that half suffered with specific deficiencies and felt better when the deficiencies were addressed with amino acid supplementation. Many of those with amino acid deficiencies suffer with low stomach acid or actually induce poor digestion of protein by the use of antacids.
Reference:
Wright, Jonathan, and Lenard, Lane, Why Stomach Acid is Good for You, New York: M. Evans and Company, 2001, 172.

Fighting Depression

Dr. Jonathan Wright believes that a good deal of depression would benefit from amino acid supplementation. He writes, "Depression is not caused by a patent medicine deficiency. After my first 20 years of medical practice, experience had taught me that a considerable proportion of 'clinical depression' was caused by a deficiency of neurotransmitters. (Neurotransmitters are the molecules that 'carry the messages' from one neuron--nerve cell--to the next.) After another 21 years of medical practice, I'm just as convinced as ever that this is the case. If you suffer from depression, and you've experienced a favorable response to an anti-depressant medication, I can be quite confident that a combination of nutritional therapies centering on amino acids will eliminate your depression better than the patent medicine ever did, and with virtually no side effects."

Dr. Wright explains that the most common reasons why people are amino acid deficient are poor digestion due to inadequate production of digestive substances such as hydrochloric acid (GNLD Betagest) and enzymes (GNLD Enzyme Digestive Aid and damage to the digestive tract from allergic responses to gluten or other foods. Bacterial overgrowth can also damage the digestive tract. GNLD protein products are often ideal for supplying missing amino acids because the company uses an exclusive predigestion technology (the Protogard Process) which breaks down protein into its most usable forms through the action of enzymes at body temperature. All GNLD protein products contain all 22 amino acids including those essential for neurotransmitter production. They all score a perfect 1.0 or above on the government standard of protein usability called PDCAAS (Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score). Feeling a little down? A serving of GR2 Meal Replacement might lift your spirits more than alcohol or soft drinks!

Wright, Jonathan, How to read your body's blueprint for treating--or preventing--depression, Nutrition and Healing, October 2011, 1.