Natural Serotonin Boosting Ingredients

1. What is serotonin?

Serotonin acts as a neurotransmitter, a type of chemical that helps relay signals from one area of the brain to another. Although serotonin is manufactured in the brain, where it performs its primary functions, some 90% of our serotonin supply is found in the digestive tract and in blood platelets.

2. How is serotonin made?

Serotonin is made via a unique biochemical conversion process. It begins with tryptophan, a building block to proteins. Cells that make serotonin use tryptophan hydroxylase, a chemical reactor which, when combined with tryptophan, forms 5-hydroxytryptamine, otherwise known as serotonin.

3. What role does serotonin play in our health?

As a neurotransmitter, serotonin helps to relay messages from one area of the brain to another. Because of the widespread distribution of its cells, it is believed to influence a variety of psychological and other body functions. Of the approximately 40 million brain cells, most are influenced either directly or indirectly by serotonin. This includes brain cells related to mood, sexual desire and function, appetite, sleep, memory and learning, temperature regulation, and some social behavior.

In terms of our body function, serotonin can also affect the functioning of our cardiovascular system, muscles, and various elements in the endocrine system. Researchers have also found evidence that serotonin may play a role in regulating milk production in the breast, and that a defect within the serotonin network may be one underlying cause of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

4. What is the link between serotonin and depression?

There are many researchers who believe that an imbalance in serotonin levels may influence mood in a way that leads to depression. Possible problems include low brain cell production of serotonin, a lack of receptor sites able to receive the serotonin that is made, inability of serotonin to reach the receptor sites, or a shortage in tryptophan, the chemical from which serotonin is made. If any of these biochemical glitches occur, researchers believe it can lead to depression, as well as obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, panic, and even excess anger.

One theory about how depression develops centers on the regeneration of brain cells — a process that some believe is mediated by serotonin, and ongoing throughout our lives. According to Princeton neuroscientist Barry Jacobs, PhD, depression may occur when there is a suppression of new brain cells and that stress is the most important precipitator of depression. He believes that common antidepressant medications known as SSRIs, which are designed to boost serotonin levels, help kick off the production of new brain cells, which in turn allows the depression to lift.

Our DC 247 natural formula contains a serotonin boosting ingredient Garcinia Cambogia with 85% of HCA (Hydroxycitric Acid).

How It’s Supposed to Work

Garcinia cambogia contains a substance called hydroxycitric acid (HCA) which increases serotonin levels in the brain and is found inside the skin of the Garcinia Cambogia fruit. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter and neurotransmitters are known to significantly stabilize moods, decrease appetite and improve mental clarity.

Low serotonin levels are linked to depression and anxiety. As your serotonin levels rise, your mood improves. Studies on lab animals show that HCA helps increase serotonin levels, but we haven’t seen how that translates to humans and depression yet.

There have been no significant studies to test whether or not garcinia cambogia or HCA supplements can treat depression. However, some studies have shown that HCA can boost serotonin levels in laboratory animals.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4252288/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15200237
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23990846