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Everyone knows that the human body is a wonderfully complex machine capable of doing so many things – and natural dopamine agonists can help makes those things happen!
Many tissues, organs, and systems must all work together in order for the body to perform tasks, such as reading this article. Another significant part of the body that impacts the way we think, act, and move are chemicals found in the brain called neurotransmitters.
Neurotransmitters send signals from one neuron to another. Neurons are the most important cells in the brain in charge of receiving and processing information. There are different kinds of neurotransmitters, each with their own effect on the human body – many of which you may never have heard of! One of these neurotransmitters is dopamine.
Whether you are aware of it or not, dopamine is an important chemical that plays a number of vital roles in your body.
What Exactly Is Dopamine and What Does It Do?
The word “dopamine” has earned quite an unfavourable connotation in recent times. The word alone could be wrongfully associated with the term “doping”.
However, as we’ve mentioned above, dopamine is a natural neurotransmitter with quite a handful of essential responsibilities, including:
As you can see, dopamine plays a significant role in so many aspects of daily life. This neurotransmitter also permits us to focus on one particular thing at a time, almost “nudging” our brain into doing the task at hand.
So what does this mean? Basically what we’re trying to drive home is that dopamine is the chemical that enables you to do your job, read a lengthy book, or even finish this article! The amount of attention you put into one action largely depends on the dopamine levels of your brain.
In addition, dopamine does some other amazing things, such as being responsible for allowing your brain to process rewards.
Rewards come in all shapes and forms, whether in the manner of immediate gratification or as physical manifestations. Believe it or not, the brain even considers relief as a type of reward! The feelings of happiness you experience after doing something you consider fulfilling is all thanks to the neurotransmitter dopamine.
What You Need to Know About Dopamine Agonists
Dopamine agonists, in essence, are substances that directly stimulate dopamine receptors. There are drugs that have been developed for this and they have been studied for their effects on Parkinson’s disease. The link between Parkinson’s disease and dopamine is undeniable, serving as a prime example of what would happen in the event of a deficiency in dopamine.
Dopamine agonists have been used in the treatment of Parkinson’s in place of Levodopa, which requires modification from brain enzymes to stimulate dopamine receptors.
Dopamine agonists are primarily used during the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, as an alternative to levodopa.
5 Ways to Increase Dopamine Production
At this point, we’ve established that dopamine is a significant chemical that allows you to focus, perform complicated tasks, and feel rewarded. Furthermore, we have explored how dopamine agonists can help keep levels of dopamine balanced.
The brain also produces dopamine naturally, meaning you could essentially do a handful of things that will boost your dopamine levels, and in turn, boost your attention, mood, and productivity in the long run.
Natural ways of boosting your dopamine production include:
1. Cosume Dopamine Boosting Food
Diet is an important factor that affects our brain – as well as our dopamine levels. If you’ve been feeling a little lethargic lately, it could be due to low levels of dopamine. The neurotransmitter is made from the amino acid l-tyrosine, found most commonly in protein-rich food.
Increase your brain’s production of dopamine by eating animal products, almonds, apples, avocados, bananas, green tea, oatmeal, olive oil, soy products, and turmeric. Foods particularly high in natural probiotics also boost your production of dopamine, so consume more yogurt, kefir, and raw sauerkraut
2. Exercise Regularly and Often
TThere’s a good reason why you feel energized and invigorated after a great workout. It’s because your body constantly craves physical exercise, whether you like it or not. When you exercise, your brain releases chemicals that are beneficial for productivity and happiness, including serotonin, endorphins, and, of course, dopamine.
3. Unleash Your Creativity
Free your wild side and get creative, even in bizarre ways, without worrying about other people judging you! Dance! Sing a song!
Painters, writers, poets, singers, dancers, and many people strongly attached to the arts experience a state of being in the “flow” or “in the zone."
Dopamine is precisely the neurotransmitter that allows you to enter that state. Giving in to your creative side boosts your dopamine simply by doing whatever you love to do.
Additionally, if you recall, dopamine is what allows you to recognize rewards. When you create something and feel a certain satisfaction afterwards, that’s dopamine at work. When getting in touch with the artist within you, you are inadvertently increasing your dopamine levels as well.
4. Meditate
Meditation is an excellent way to de-clutter the brain and focus on the present. This simple practice is also a great way to maintain hormonal balance and keep dopamine production at optimal levels.
Meditating takes your mind off modern day distractions whilst allowing you to become more aware of yourself and your surroundings. Most significantly, meditation is arguably one of the best methods for stress relief.
Stress is one of the main causes of low levels of dopamine, so take a deep breath, close your eyes, and meditate.
5. Take Dopamine Supplements
Some people are still a little skeptical when it comes to taking supplements. However, that shouldn’t deter you from doing so! When you’re caught in a time crunch, one of the most effective ways to get that much needed dopamine boost is by taking supplements.
A great deal of natural dopamine supplements are available on the market that can aid you in your effort to increase dopamine levels in your brain.
MucunaPruriens, or – otherwise known by an alternative name that’s less of a tongue-twister – Velvet bean, is a supplement that is loaded with L-Dopa, the precursor to dopamine. The seeds of the Velvet bean are a natural source of L-Dopa, which produces the chemical dopamine.
The Bottom on Dopamine
Like the many other chemicals produced by our brain, dopamine is an important neurotransmitter that makes all thoughts and actions possible. The mere act of feeling emotions is a by-product of dopamine. Nearly everything you do and feel is reliant on the role of dopamine.
You can start giving your dopamine levels a boost by trying the natural dopamine agonists we mentioned. Eat dopamine-boosting food, like red meat, and workout regularly. Don’t forget to tap into your creative side as well, in order to experience being in that “zone”. Most of all, allow yourself to clear your head, be happy, and reap the rewards!
