Natural Ways to Raise Norepinephrine

The link between depression and low levels of norepinephrine leads people to seek natural methods for boosting this neurotransmitter. (See Reference 1) While a change in lifestyle and food consumption can improve mood and increase norepinephrine production, serious mood disorders require treatment through a psychiatrist or licensed clinical therapist. A natural raise in norepinephrine is a stand-alone method to overcome a mild slump, and it may accompany pharmacological treatment of depression with your physician's guidance.

Foods for Norepinephrine

• Increase your consumption of protein, because proteins provide the amino acids your body uses in production of neurotransmitters. (See Resource 3) Dopamine (a neurotransmitter) and tyrosine (an amino acid) both contribute to the production of norepinephrine (See Resource 2), and everyday healthful foods contain the building blocks of each.

  Add wheat germ to your breakfast. Wheat germ contains phenylalanine, which converts to tyrosine and aids production of dopamine, according to MedHelp.org (See Reference 2). Incorporate a well-balanced diet into your daily regimen, and eat foods that contain tyrosine, such as beans, fish, eggs, bananas, mustard greens and cottage cheese. Eating chicken will aid production of both dopamine and norepinephrine, too (See Reference 2).

Exercise for Norepinephrine

• The sympathetic nervous system releases norepinephrine during exercise, according to Charles M. Tipton of the American College of Sports Medicine (See Reference 3, pg. 493). Meet with your physician to discuss an appropriate level of exercise, as pre-existing health conditions may make some exercises more suitable than others.

  Choose an exercise routine that fits your lifestyle, such as a daily walk, use of workout videos or membership to an aerobics class. Consider weightlifting if you are physically fit for this activity, as physiology expert Charles M. Tipton notes that concentration of stress hormones increases with heavy muscular exercise (See Reference 3, pg. 493). Regular exercise will boost norepinephrine, and it may help your body improve its response to stressful situations.