Mother nature has many happy hormones. A couple that deserve mention are serotonin and melatonin. These hormones, when out of balance, can cause of insomnia, depression, anxiety and poor mood.
Melatonin – The Natural Sleep Aid
Melatonin is a natural sleep regulator produced by the pineal gland in the brain. In times of stress or with progressive aging this hormone can decline and affect the quality of sleep.
It has also been shown to be an important antioxidant that protects against free radical damage. Doses of 1-3 mg have been studied and shown to improve the quality of sleep and help the body’s response to stress.
It should not be taken in individuals younger than 40 on a routine basis unless needed for a condition such as a sleep disorder.
Serotonin – Keeping Your Brain Happy
Although the brain contains less than 2% of the total serotonin in the body, serotonin plays a very important role in a range of brain functions. It is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan. Serotonin makes melatonin from an amino acid known as Tryptophan.
Low serotonin can disrupt your sleep when the system gets out of balance. Tryptophan is found in turkey and milk. Tryptophan is controlled by the Circadian Rhythms. If you don’t sleep soundly, your Circadian Rhythm may be upset by hormonal imbalance.
The first natural way to control serotonin is 5-HTP. 5-HTP is the precursor to serotonin and can increase its production. In addition to mood control, serotonin has been linked with a wide variety of functions, including the regulation of sleep, pain perception, body temperature, blood pressure and hormonal activity.
Outside the brain, serotonin exerts a number of important effects, particularly involving the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems.
You Are In Control of Your Thoughts
You are the creator of balance and imbalance. Everything is created twice. First in your mind as a single thought and then second in physical form. The sooner you learn that you are in control of your emotions the sooner you will be happy.
It is your choice. People sometimes say that a certain person “makes them mad”. You are the only one that can make yourself mad. You do have the freedom of choice to get mad or to stay calm. Thoughts and thinking control emotion.
Get Rid of the Stress
Stress is the number one killer as it throws all things in a tail spin and out of balance. Decide if the stress facing you can be resolved by you.
Can you do something about it and make the necessary changes to resolve the stress?
There are some things you can make changes about and others that are out of control. If you cannot do anything about it, you have to learn to let it go. If you are unable to let it go, it can kill you.
Cortisol (a stress hormone) produced by the adrenal glands in high amounts over a period of time tears down your entire body. When the adrenal glands are healthy and strong, one can handle a lot more stress. When the adrenal glands become stressed and weak, as stress becomes more and more overwhelming the body begins to break down.
Decide what you can resolve with your stress and do something about it. Those things that you can’t, let it go immediately.
Get your body healthy and it will be happy. It requires awareness and attention to stay on track.
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