An integrative psychiatrist gives tips on how to increase serotonin, without taking any prescription drugs.

Try out these tips to boost your mood.

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And its tempting to wonder how to increase serotonin since it seemingly is the thing that makes you happier.

Research suggests itsneeded for motor skillsand cognitive functioning.

Its also included in nerve function that regulates blood pressure, heart rate, and the digestive system.

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psychiatrist and assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University

So its pretty darn important.

Besides serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, andendorphinsall play essential roles in regulating mood.

Still, there are several small suggestions for how to increase to boost your serotonin levels naturally.

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Keep reading to see what they are.

7 tips on how to increase serotonin

1.

Tweak your diet.Depending on what you eat, you could be replenishing the serotonin in your brainor depleting it.

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Nutritional deficiencies can directly lead to problems with replenishing serotonin, Dr. Lake says.

This is something Well+Good Council member and psychiatristDrew Ramsey, MD, preaches on the reg.

And this could affect your bodys ability to use or make serotonin.

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psychiatrist and assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University

(The finding was on rats though, which isnt conclusive for humans.

)Aim to get between seven to eight hours of good sleep a night.

Talk to your doctor to see if a vitamin D supplement is something worth considering.

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Get creative and crafty.Doing something you enjoycrafting, gardening, playing musichas mood-boosting rewards.

Get a massage.Its no secret thatmassagesare, in most cases, pretty relaxing, right?

Take steps to lower stress.Surprise, surprise:stress is messing with your serotonin.

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In other words, stress causes inflammation, which is bad news for your brain.

So you should talk to your doctor about any risk factors.

In more severe cases, high serotonin levels can yield symptoms like high fever, seizures, and unconsciousness.

But doing socanhelp with milder mood issues.

Give the above tips a shot and see how you feel.

Looking to improve your whole week?

Heres one beauty editors weekly mental health routine:

Relationships also play a role in boosting happiness.So does sex.

Originally published on April 3, 20219, with additional reporting by Patia Braithwaite.

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