The happy hormone Dopamine can be increased by natural and artificial means. The changing Dopamine levels cause mental frustration and an imbalanced life cycle. Reduced Dopamine levels also lead to depression, attention deficit disorder, obesity, and other medical conditions.

Natural Ways to Increase Dopamine Levels are:

1. Magnesium-rich diet helps to increase Dopamine levels in the body. Magnesium plays a vital role in bio-chemical reactions, and has antidepressant properties. People having a poor diet are likely to be deficient in magnesium. To maintain a magnesium-rich diet, one should have spinach, pumpkin seeds, avocado, almonds, and dark chocolate in their diet.

2. Less consumption of sugar in the diet results in positive Dopamine Levels. Practicing such a diet for a week returns the dopamine levels to normal.

3. Doing a workout or warm exercise in your routine help to boost hormones such as Dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin which freshens the body, and makes one feel pleasure. No matter what type of exercise you follow, a minimal body movement can also yield the same effects.

4. Apart from diet, listening to music also releases Dopamine in the body. The more pleasant music, the more pleasurable the experience will be.

5. Getting satisfied by rewarding ourselves increases Dopamine in the body. To achieve this feeling, one should set daily goals, which on accomplishment results in satisfactory and happy feeling.

Effects of increased or decreased dopamine levels:

Schizophrenia: It is a kind of disease related to a mental disorder in which the patient perceives reality abnormally. This disease occurs due to an imbalance of Dopamine and Serotonin levels in the body present in the brain. The symptoms of the disease are in the form of a combination of hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking.

Parkinson’s Disease: It generally occurs due to low Dopamine levels, which slows the CNS (Central Nervous System) and causes depression. This disease shows symptoms in the form of:

• Lack of mobility.
• Muscle stiffness due to long-term contraction of muscles.
• Instability of body.
• Involuntary or uncontrolled movement.

Drug misuse and Addiction: Intake of drugs increases the Dopamine levels in the brain, thus satisfying the natural reward center of the brain. Habitual intake of such addictive drugs impairs the dopamine level (reduces) and hence slows down the Dopamine production in the body. It further leads to addiction and hormonal imbalance.

ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder occurs due to more quantity of Dopamine in some parts of the brain. This disease shows symptoms in the form of:

• Restlessness.
• Lack of concentration.
• Spontaneous reactions.
• Excessive physical movement.

Conclusion

Dopamine blends with other hormones to transmit the neuro-signal and makes us responsive. It generates emotions & any imbalance in these can be controlled but overdoing will end up resulting in diseases.