Serotonin

							Serotonin



Serotonin is a chemical in the brain and defensive cells of connective tissue. Mast cells, a type of
defensive cell lodged in connective tissue, produce serotonin from the essential amino acid Tryptophan
to slow blood flow in damaged areas because it acts as a powerful vasoconstrictor. In the brain,
serotonin functions as a neurotransmitter, a chemical required for the transmission of nerve impulses.
Serotonin is involved in inducing sleep, sensory perception, and temperature. It diminishes pain, reduces
appetite, and has a calming effect.



Certain antidepressants such as Prozac boost serotonin levels. Diet can possibly affect mood by altering
brain serotonin levels. Eating carbohydrates may reduce the level of most amino acids in the blood
except tryptophan, so that this amino acid can more easily penetrate the blood-brain barrier without
competing with other amino acids. According to this hypothesis, as the level of tryptophan rises in the
brain, more serotonin is synthesized, leading to relaxation and decreased alertness.