How to Increase Dopamine in the Brain

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that has different functions, playing a vital role in how people respond to cocaine, nicotine, alcohol and amphetamines. Dopamine has a critical role in the central nervous system, which is responsible for how the brain receives, processes and interprets incoming sensory information such as taste, smell, sounds and pressure on skin. Too much dopamine and your brain will hear voices and you will start to hallucinate. Low levels of dopamine will result in your body being unable to move, depression, addictions and cravings. There are simple way to increase dopamine levels.

Things You'll Need

• Bananas
• Almonds
• Fish
• Watermelon
• Dopamine supplements

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Instructions

• 1

  Increase your intake of bananas, fish, almonds and watermelons. These foods are a good source of amino acid tyrosine, a mineral that aids in the body functioning normally. These are just some of the foods that help to produce tyrosine, which is then converted into dopamine and norepinephrine, resulting in increased dopamine levels.

• 2

  Exercise daily to get not only physical but mental benefits. Exercise will boost your energy levels and optimize your mood. Serotonin and norepinephrine are associated with elevated mood, which is linked to increased dopamine levels.

• 3

  Reduce intake of foods that are high in sugar, cholesterol and saturated fat. These foods will cause low dopamine, working against your goal. Avoid coffee since this provides a temporary elevated mood and then will cause you to crash.

• 4

  Take dopamine precursors. These are amino acids your brain uses to produce dopamine. Sometimes a modern diet does not supply neurotransmitters with enough dopamine levels and stress depletes dopamine. Dopamine supplements increase dopamine naturally because they contain tyrosine, which is what produces dopamine.