Feelings of stress can often take a toll on the body, causing a person to feel tired, on edge, nervous or experience other negative symptoms. While stress can certainly be caused by external factors, such as a person's job, family or financial situation, some elements of stress are purely biological and can cause a person to feel depressed and even suicidal. One of the chief chemicals that affects stress levels is serotonin.
Research
A Duke University Medical Center research study found that people with low levels of serotonin are more likely to have put a greater strain on their hearts when faced with a stressful situation. Compared to those with average or even high serotonin levels, the low-serotonin group were more likely to suffer from heart disease.
Theory
Serotonin in the brain is specifically found in two receptors known to directly affect mood. The lower the levels of serotonin, the more extreme the body's reaction to stress.
Restoring Balance
Because people with lower serotonin levels do not deal with stress in the same ways someone with higher levels would, physicians may prescribe medications to raise serotonin levels in the body.
Seratonin Production
Serotonin is produced in the body using the building blocks of the amino acid tryptophan, which is found in such foods as turkey, chocolate and milk products. As many of these foods are associated with comfort foods, serotonin can also release "feel-good" chemicals to the brain.
Diet and Serotonin
A frequent stress reaction is to eat something indulgent. When a person engages in "emotional eating", serotonin is released in the brain, creating the feeling of pleasure or calmness.
Other Sources of Serotonin
Serotonin also is released by the body while engaging in exercise, which is why exercise has been shown to help prevent depression.
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