Wound Healing: In addition to the stomach, serotonin is found in blood platelets.
It helps regulate bowel movements and other digestive functions. Digestion: As previously mentioned, most of the serotonin in your body is found in your stomach and intestines, not your brain (though it sends signals to the brain and impacts its function).Unlike the hormone melatonin, which helps you fall asleep at night, serotonin helps promote wakefulness in the morning. Sleep: Serotonin plays a big role in our sleep/wake cycles.Serotonin does much more than regulate mood, though. Serotonin keeps feelings stable and should prevent any major fluctuations in happiness, which is why serotonin deficiency is often associated with depression. But rather than thinking of serotonin as a mood booster, think of it as a regulator instead. Eggs, tofu, salmon, and nuts are all great foods to eat to make sure you are meeting your tryptophan needs and supplying your body with plenty of material to work with to create serotonin.Īs most people know, serotonin is often associated with happiness and good moods. However, turkey is not the only source of tryptophan. You may have heard of tryptophan, the chemical found in turkey that is said to make people feel blissful and sleepy after their Thanksgiving meal. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, which means the body cannot produce it on its own, and you must consume the amino acid via your diet. This is because serotonin is produced from the amino acid tryptophan. While its most well-known functions have to do with brain function and mood, most of the serotonin in your body is found in the digestive system. They also play a role in important bodily functions, such as sleep, digestion, and pain response.Īs a neurotransmitter, serotonin is responsible for sending signals between cells of the body. It is also important to note that serotonin and dopamine are not only related to mood and happiness. While serotonin and dopamine are both neurotransmitters, and are both considered "happy chemicals," as they affect mood, they have different, distinct functions. Everyone experiences the impact of these brain chemicals, whether positive or negative, but most people do not know what they are or what they do. People struggling with mental health issues are often dealing with imbalances of serotonin and dopamine. However, sometimes, one component falls out of place or stops communicating with the control center, creating problems for mental or physical health. When the brain and all its parts are functioning optimally, all is well. It is the body's control center, using neurotransmitters to manage over 100 billion nerves that are constantly communicating with one another, controlling what we do, think, and feel. The brain is the most complex organ in the body.