The Best Way to Boost Serotonin

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DESCRIPTION: The secret to naturally boosting serotonin levels in the brain may include eating foods such as pumpkin seeds with a high tryptophan to total protein ratio. This may help explain why studies show that those eating plant-based diets have superior mood states. This is the final video of a four-part series (mentioned in Uprooting the Leading Causes of Death [nutritionfacts.org/video/uprooting-the-leading-cau…]) on natural ways to boost serotonin in the brain. Wednesday's video-of-the-day Human Neurotransmitters in Plants (nutritionfacts.org/video/human-neurotransmitters-i…) noted that plants themselves can contain serotonin. Thursday's video The Wrong Way to Boost Serotonin (nutritionfacts.org/video/the-wrong-way-to-boost-se…) was a cautionary tale about tryptophan supplements and Friday's video A Better Way to Boost Serotonin (nutritionfacts.org/video/a-better-way-to-boost-ser…) covered the role carbs can play in boosting tryptophan transport into the brain. The findings of better mood scores in those eating vegetarian is consistent with both cross-sectional (nutritionfacts.org/video/plant-based-diet-mood/) and interventional (nutritionfacts.org/video/improving-mood-through-di…) findings I've reported previously. The reason I report more data on nuts than seeds is due to researchers' greater access to funding for studies involving nuts (thanks to producer groups). From what little data we have, though, I have a feeling it's like the soy versus other beans story (nutritionfacts.org/video/soy-worth-a-hill-of-beans…. If I had to guess, I'd bet that, in general, seeds may be even healthier than nuts, and since I encourage daily nut consumption, I'd add seeds to that recommendation as well. If only researchers had more seed money! :)

Have a question for Dr. Greger about this video? Leave it in the comment section at nutritionfacts.org/video/the-best-way-to-boost-ser… and he'll try to answer it!

Image Credit: Evan-Amos via Wikimedia.

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