Can Serotonin Help Us With Our Weight Loss

Serotonin is produced in the adrenal gland and as adrenalin plays an important part in helping us to lose weight, without serotonin we will find it very difficult to effectively lose weight and maintain the weight loss keep. If our serotonin levels are below average we will feel the need to eat sugary foods to increase our energy levels, which leads to eating more calories, ultimately resulting in weight gain.

If our serotonin levels are low, it also means that our body will be unable to effectively process foods which have high sugar content or foods which are high in refined carbohydrates, even if their sugar content is low. It is all connected with brain chemistry. Those of us with low levels of serotonin will show a different chemistry than those with normal levels.

Low blood sugar, is a common problem experienced by some of us with low serotonin levels. This is the main ca-use of us having sweet cravings and not being able to control our desire for highly refined carbohydrates or sweets.

Functioning as a brain messenger, serotonin needs to be working on the same level as our brain for all the messages to be accepted. It is a key factor for transmitting calming, happiness and feelings of contentment in our body as well as also being linked with inspiration and motivation. Low serotonin levels can lead us to gain weight because we may not have the inclination, inspiration of motivation to exercise. We may also be eating excessive amounts of sugar and carbohydrates if our serotonin levels are low, which also leads to weight gain.

There are various medications which can help raise our serotonin levels to assist weight loss, but of course there are possible side effects. Known as serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors, these drugs can cause side effects such as insomnia and heart palpitations as well as an increase in our appetite. Obviously this is likely to cause us to gain weight rather than lose it.

There are many natural ways that we can increase these levels which will help with weight loss. We should try to reduce our stress levels, get plenty of quality sleep, take vitamin B supplements as well as eating slowly absorbed grain products such as oatmeal and beans for example, which will all help us achieve our goal naturally.

Low serotonin levels are known to affect the way we think too. If we lose our motivation, it will ultimately reduce our confidence and we will gradually notice a lack of self-esteem. Another casualty can also be our willpower. We may lose our focus and even if we lose a few pounds we may just think that it will only creep back on, so why bother trying. Without willpower we will be tempted to eat anything, even when we know it is unhealthy because it may make us feel better, even if only for a short time. If we find that this is a common issue, we need to think positively. If we manage to lose a couple of pounds one week, aim to try to do the same the next week. Having such a positive attitude will help us to decline any sweet temptations when we are hit by cravings.

Serotonin has a huge effect on our ability to lose weight but there are ways that we can overcome problems related to low levels. We need to be aware of the problems and take positive steps so that we will stop eating large quantities of sugar and refined carbohydrates. By employing these tactics we will begin to lose more of those unwanted pounds and have a greater success in maintaining our weight loss forever.