Cultivating a happy, calm and motivated mind that finds it easy to concentrate, relax and sleep soundly is not as easy as just willing it to happen…

There are many factors that affect your mental wellbeing, and one of the most significant is a group of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters that directly influence how you think and feel.

Neurotransmitters are defined as a group of chemical agents released by neurons They act as chemical messengers, passing signals from one nerve cell to another, linking the brain and spinal cord to muscles, organs, and glands. Neurotransmitters also interact with specific sites called receptors located throughout the brain to regulate emotions, memory, cognitive function, attention span, energy, appetite, cravings, sensitivity to pain, and sleep patterns.

There are many different types of neurotransmitters, each with their own unique functions. Dopamine, for example, creates feelings of energy and vitality, whilst serotonin is crucial for balanced mood, peace and calm. The level and efficiency of neurotransmitters is directly linked to your mental and emotional wellbeing..

Deficiency or poor functioning of any one or a number of neurotransmitters can soon have a negative impact on behaviour and quality of life and can create a vast amount of health issues.

For example:

  • Anxiety
  • Addiction
  • Behavioural disturbances
  • Cognitive disorders
  • Diseases (Such as Parkinson’s)
  • Fatigue
  • Hormonal imbalances
  • Mood disorders
  • Obesity
  • Pain

Key nutrients can help to naturally support neurotransmitter balance and optimal function. If you think you could do with a bit of a boost though, it’s important to first identify which areas need extra help

Neurotransmitters – Main Types and Functions

Dopaminergic neurotransmitters – ‘energy and vitality’:

Dopamine – is needed for walking and balance, for motivation, attention, and reward / goal directed behaviour. Dopamine acts to reinforce behaviours that make you feel good.

Noradrenaline – is the neurotransmitter that gets the brain and body ready for action.

Adrenaline – is responsible for the ‘fight or flight’ response generated in stressful situations.

 

Serotonergic neurotransmitters – ‘relaxation and healthy state of mind’:

Serotonin – is involved in mood, appetite and sleep. It is the neurotransmitter of calmness and patience, helps us to cope with stress and frustration, and helps to limit aggression. It also has some cognitive functions, including memory and learning.

Melatonin – is crucial for regulating the sleep-wake cycle. It is produced in the pineal gland, and levels are at their highest between 12am and 3am.

Neurotransmitter balance is key for mental and emotional wellbeing

If you think your mental and emotional wellbeing is a bit under par and could do with a bit of extra support you can use the simple test to identify the area where you most need help and supplement with targeted nutrients to give your brain a natural boost.

Simple test to identify neurotransmitter imbalance

Dopamine Pathway – Energy & Vitality

• I have restless sleep
• I need caffeine / energy drinks to start the day
• I struggle to begin tasks
• I feel tired before starting tasks
• I have difficulty waking in the morning
• I have little interest in hobbies and activities
• I have a low motivation for love & sex
• I am not working on any new projects
• I have difficulty concentrating, or difficulty following my train of thought
• I feel tired / sad
• I have lacked vitality & dynamism for some time
• I feel less creative and imaginative than previously
• I have difficulty finding words

If you mostly agree with the statements above, it is likely that your dopamine pathway may need a bit of extra support.

Key nutrients to support the dopamine pathway: L-Tyrosine Folate , Rhodiola, Siberian Ginseng

Serotonin Pathway – ‘Relaxation & Healthy State of Mind’

• I am irritable, impulsive and quick to anger
• I am impatient
• I feel both depressed and agitated
• I experience sugar cravings towards the end of the day
• I consume alcohol in the evenings to help me relax
• I struggle to stay calm & stand back
• I have trouble getting to sleep
• I am often awake at 3am
• My thoughts are often agitated, even at night
• I am highly sensitive to stress & noise
• My mood changes quickly
• I feel inner nervous tension, abdominal pain, digestive discomfort and/or muscle pain
• I often feel ‘on edge’
• I am prone to migraines and sensitive to light

If you mostly agree with the statements above, it is likely that your serotonin pathway may need a bit of extra support.

Key nutrients to support the serotonin pathway: L-Tryptophan, Magnesium, 5-HTP Saffron

 

Claudia Carrillo, your Health Care Professional at BioMed, is happy to recommend Nutri Advanced

as a reliable and trustworthy supplier for all your supplement needs. The company is a family owned and run business set up in 1981 by a progressive leading

Naturopath. At the heart of the business is their passionate mission to improve people’s health and wellbeing.

It is underpinned by 3 things:

  • superior quality of products
  • expert advice and education provided by qualified Nutritionists
  • outstanding customer service offered to all customers

The best way to experience the full range of benefits would be to shop directly and place your orders on their website.

To do this – register as my patient and enter my account number when prompted. Account name – Claudia Carrillo – Account No 3067651.

You will then automatically receive 10% discount on all your orders. Follow the link

 

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