People often describe a person's anger as "losing his mind". In fact, it is not necessarily that his brain is irrational at this moment, but that the part in charge of reason in the brain lacks the help of a signal substance-serotonin, so it is difficult to control the activities of brain parts related to anger.
Neurons need serotonin to transmit information, and the human body usually uses tryptophan in food to synthesize serotonin. The researchers asked some volunteers to eat foods rich in tryptophan or lacking tryptophan on different days, and then used some pictures to arouse anger in their brains, and used magnetic resonance imaging technology to observe the internal reactions of their brains.
The results show that it is more difficult to suppress the brain's anger reaction when tryptophan is lacking, which leads to low serotonin content. The observation of brain activity shows that when the serotonin content is low, the signal connection between the middle frontal lobe and the amygdala will decrease. The amygdala is related to anger, and the signal from the frontal lobe can help control this anger. Therefore, in the absence of serotonin as a messenger, it is difficult for the "rational" frontal lobe to control the "angry" amygdala. This study finally found the mechanism that serotonin acts as a messenger between the brain parts responsible for reason and anger.
Therefore, people who are prone to anger might as well eat more tryptophan-rich foods in their daily lives to increase the serotonin content in their brains. Usually, foods with high content in protein contain a lot of tryptophan, such as soybeans, eggs and chicken.
second, the method of increasing serotonin
it is very important to keep the balance of serotonin level in the brain. When serotonin is insufficient, it is necessary to supplement it in time. Methods to increase this element include consuming a large number of foods rich in amino acids and taking serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
serotonin is produced by an amino acid called tryptophan, which is contained in many foods. Therefore, the simple method is to eat more foods with high content of amino acids (especially tryptophan).
Studies have found that foods rich in protein, such as meat and nuts, can increase the level of serotonin in the brain.
Bright light also helps to increase the level of serotonin. Although there is no scientific evidence, it is necessary to increase the sunshine time for the body to secrete serotonin. Some studies have also found that exercise also helps to increase the amount of tryptophan in the brain, which can eventually help to increase serotonin secretion.
Carbohydrate is also helpful to improve the body's serotonin level. Foods with high carbohydrate content such as eggs, bananas and walnuts can increase serotonin levels.
Banana peel nutritional supplement, the content of serotonin in banana peel is higher than that in banana itself and some other carbohydrates, which can play a better role in supplementing serotonin.
In extreme cases, serotonin reuptake inhibitors can be used to help the brain get enough serotonin.
III. What are the functions of serotonin
Serotonin is an element needed by human body, which plays a communication role between nerve cells and transmits nerve impulses between cells. When the communication between nerve cells can be carried out smoothly, the human body will feel relaxed or self-conscious.