We all want to feel happy. Balancing the brain’s biochemistry is fundamental to experiencing the joy in every day. Perhaps you associate the brain with learning, mental health, thinking and memory. Our brain forms an integral part of our Central Nervous System which, in effect, governs every function of every cell in our entire body.
Sometimes it may be difficult to determine why we can’t cope, are feeling tired or unmotivated. There have been decades of scientific research into the motivation behind human behaviour, and it all comes down to a very simple concept: We are motivated to take action when there is reward attached to it. Read more and learn how you can make the changes you want in order to achieve the joy you deserve.
The head of the body’s team
In every great production or successful sports team, there are many more people who work ‘behind the scenes ‘ that support the main players. The same is true for our brain. The role of vitamins and minerals is to help turn glucose into energy, amino acids into neurotransmitters, simple essential fats into more complex fats like GLA, or DHA and prostaglandins, and choline and serine into phospholipids. They help build and rebuild the brain as well as the nervous system to ensure all is running smoothly.
Phospholipids improve the brains hearing, by keeping neuron receptor sites in good condition. Amino acids, the building blocks of proteins improve the brain’s talking. The words the brain uses to send messages from one cell to another are neurotransmitters and the letters they are built from are the amino acids. A deficiency in amino acids can be quite common and can give rise to depression, apathy and lack of motivation, an inability to relax and poor memory and concentration. Supplementing amino acids has proven to correct these problems. For example, tyrosine has shown to improve mental and physical performance under stress.
To understand why amino acids are vitally important to our brain, we need to explore the function of neurotransmitters. There are hundreds of neurotransmitters in the brain and body, but the main players are Adrenalin, nor Adrenalin and Dopamine (stimulating, motivating, mood lifting) Serotonin (improves mood, banishes the blues), GABA ( counteracts these stimulating neurotransmitters by relaxing and calming), Acetylcholine ( keeps the brain sharp, improving memory & mental alertness), Tryptamines ( keep us connected i.e melatonin keeps us in sync with day and night)
There are many other substances in the brain that act much like neurotransmitters , such as endorphins which gives us a sense of euphoria. But these are the key orchestras of the brain. Our mood, memory and mental alertness are all affected by the activity of different kinds of neurotransmitters. If serotonin is up we are likely to be happy, if dopamine and adrenalin are down we are likely to feel unmotivated and tired. Having the right balance of these key neurotransmitters is a must if we want to be in tip top mental shape.
How neurotransmitters work?
Neurotransmitters are released from one neuron and sent across the gap, the synapse, to deliver their message to the next neuron. Each neurotransmitter only fits into certain receptor sites- the letter boxes of the receiving cell. When the message is delivered an electrical signal passes from one neuron to another.
Professional advice
In order to assess your individual needs, it is essential to consult a qualified natural health practitioner. At True Medicine we specialise is individualised care as no two people are the same and, as such, you deserve to get the treatment that you need. Furthermore, True Medicine only stocks TGA-approved practitioner-only high grade supplements and herbal preparations to support you in regaining optimal health, vitality and joy. Call for an appointment today on 0468 774 633.
Always consult a qualified health professional and never self-prescribe. Note that only qualified Naturopaths or Nutritionists are permitted by law to prescribe nutritional supplements.
Above article courtesy of fxMed.