What does dopamine do to your body? | Natural Performance

Dopamine … You've probably heard of it, right? This substance is also known as the "reward hormone." Generally speaking, this is certainly true! But… What many people don't know is that dopamine is involved in much more than just our mood.

I know… It's a very complicated story, involving a lot of scientific and complex language. It sometimes feels like they're trying to make it as difficult as possible. Don't worry… You've come to the right place! After reading this blog post, everything will be much clearer.

Let's start with the basics. I'll try to explain it as simply as possible for you...

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, one of those chemicals that transmit signals between the brain's nerve cells (neurons). In fact, very few neurons actually produce dopamine.

There is also a very large number of dopamine neurons, the full roles of which are not yet fully understood. These neurons are located in the part of our brain called the ventral tegmental area (VTA) .

One of the best-known roles of dopamine neurons in the VTA is reward learning. How does it work exactly? Simply put, they only release dopamine once they're activated. This happens, for example, when something unexpectedly "good" happens.

As soon as something like this happens, your dopamine neurons in the VTA are activated and start releasing dopamine. You then get an enormous feeling of happiness, as a kind of reward for your behavior. I know… It all sounds a bit vague, but it is! Our brains are incredibly complex machines that we still can't fully understand. 😉

But what happens when your dopamine levels are too low? This is also the case, for example, in people with ADD or ADHD. Well… Because dopamine gives us a sense of reward, it doesn't just affect our mood. Low dopamine levels also affect motivation, concentration, attention, and fatigue.

So, when someone has a dopamine deficiency, studying becomes much more difficult. And this doesn't necessarily mean you have ADD or ADHD... Plenty of people regularly suffer from the effects of low dopamine levels!

People with ADD or ADHD are often prescribed certain medications. These medications block the absorption of released dopamine, prolonging its effects. The problem with this is that they also come with several negative side effects, such as insomnia and paranoia.

As I mentioned, just because you're experiencing things like difficulty concentrating or insomnia doesn't automatically mean you have ADD or ADHD. It's actually quite complicated how this works, but I'll try to explain it simply for you...

Dopamine is converted into adrenaline in our bodies. People who experience symptoms of dopamine deficiency often find themselves in stressful situations, such as extremely busy work or studying. When you're stressed, the demand for adrenaline is very high. As a result, too little dopamine is produced, as it's largely used to produce adrenaline. Are you still with me?

Because too little dopamine is produced, a kind of "error" occurs in the balance between activity and relaxation. You can handle the pressure thanks to the production of adrenaline, but as soon as you relax a little (for example, after a big deadline), you suddenly feel very lethargic and inactive. This is due to a dopamine deficiency. 😉

Sound familiar? You're feeling down, suddenly having huge trouble concentrating, or you just can't fall asleep. At times like these, it's crucial to get your dopamine levels back up! I hope you understand a little about how it all works. But, rest assured... Many people recognize the symptoms but have no idea what's causing them.

Fortunately, there are several 100% natural and safe ways to help you maintain healthy dopamine levels. Learn from these tips and you'll feel like a new person! For clarity, a diagram is provided that describes how dopamine is produced in your body. This diagram is taken from the 2013 article "Complexity of Dopamine Metabolism" by J. Meiser, D. Weindl, and K. Hiller. It describes the process and the factors involved. For clarity, the diagram has been simplified.

As shown in the diagram, the process begins with protein sources. Proteins are made up of amino acids, including the essential amino acid l-phenylalanine. This amino acid can be converted into l-tyrosine. L-tyrosine can then be converted into dopamine via l-dopa. I know… It's all very complicated, but the bottom line is: It's important that you get enough of this essential amino acid.

How do you do this? Well… It's very simple: eat protein-rich food! There are plenty of healthy products that contain a huge amount of protein. Examples include chicken, fish, low-fat cottage cheese, nuts, or grains. So try to incorporate some of these products into your current diet. There's also plenty of inspiration for delicious protein-rich dishes in cookbooks or online. Trust me… Healthy can be delicious too!

For the complete conversion of l-phenylalanine to dopamine, certain "helpers" are needed. These are shown in blue in the diagram. What are they? Well… they are certain vitamins and minerals that aid in the conversion process. So make sure you get enough of these!

So how do you find a good multivitamin? It's important that the product contains a broad spectrum of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and herbal extracts. It's also crucial that the product contains only the most absorbable forms of vitamins and that they are dosed safely.

Magnesium plays a crucial role in the conversion of L-dopa to dopamine. Therefore, it's important to ensure you get enough magnesium. There are many different forms of magnesium on the market. Which one works best?

The most absorbable forms are magnesium bisglycinate and magnesium citrate. These are organic forms of magnesium, which are better than inorganic forms like magnesium oxide. For optimal results, it's wise to use a product that contains the active forms of vitamin B6 and vitamin D3 . This accelerates absorption! Exactly what you need, right?

Working in a stressful situation for a long time can have a significant impact on your body. Remember? Stress converts dopamine into adrenaline, which then leads to a deficiency. This process is described in the diagram above. In essence, you're slowly exhausting your body. Especially after such a period, it's important to take rest. Your dopamine doesn't recover overnight. Therefore, it's important to take at least four weeks of consistent rest, combined with the tips from this blog.

In addition, meditating, for example, can be very helpful . It's crucial to avoid stress as much as possible! Some studies show that the many benefits of meditation may be due to increased dopamine levels in the brain. Furthermore, it's generally good to clear your head and broaden your mind.

I hope you find the information in this blog useful. Just remember... Research on our brains has been going on for years, and there are still so many things science doesn't understand. It's perfectly fine if something remains unclear, as long as you know what can help you!

Do you have any questions or is something unclear? Feel free to ask us a question and we'll be happy to answer it for you. Want to stay up-to-date on more informative articles like this? Subscribe to our newsletter!