More than once, either you or the people near you have used terms such as boosting dopamine levels in their bodies. However, this is usually meant by repairing the receptors involved in the dopamine reward pathway. For more on how to repair dopamine receptors, read on.
THE SCIENCE OF DOPAMINE AND ADDICTION
Dopamine is commonly known as the molecule of addiction. Its main role is to motivate you to do things that increase your chance of survival.
According to a piece on Pub Med, it is associated with reward, motivation, memory, attention and even regulation of body movements.
It is the chemical that drives you to pursue activities with potential rewards. According to an article published in the Journal of Neuroscience, highly motivated people have recorded higher dopamine levels while low motivation is associated with lack of motivation, ADHD and anhedonia.
If dopamine spiking activities are repeated over time, they will decrease sensitivity and number of dopamine receptors, especially those that keep dopamine levels elevated persistently.
Your receptors tend to become sensitized to that stimulus, and you become tolerant to it.
Also, some people are naturally born with few dopamine D2 receptors. In 1990, Blum et al. found a connection between a specific strand of dopamine D2 receptor and the susceptibility to develop alcoholism.
Building more sense to the above finding, they found out that people with this specific gene were found to have problems with their mesolimbic reward system, leading to a state that predisposed them to addiction and impulsivity of behaviour.
REWARD DEFICIENCY SYNDROME
The above deficiency is what we now call the Reward Deficiency Syndrome, popularly known as RDS.
It was later discovered that people with RDS had an average of 30- 40% fewer dopamine D2 receptors.
Thankfully, with the knowledge on dopamine activities’ neuroscientific concepts, people have now chosen to quit the dopamine spiking activities like eating junk to fix their dopamine receptors.
Below, we will look at ways to repair your dopamine receptors, leading to a healthier pleasure pathway.
As you take note of the ways, kindly remember that the most essential part of the healing process is simply to stay away from the stimulating factor, that is the dopamine spiking activity such as eating sweets.
10 TIPS ON HOW TO REPAIR DOPAMINE RECEPTORS
The following will help you on how to repair dopamine receptors.
INCREASE YOUR URIDINE
Uridine is a compound found naturally in your blood.
It helps improve dopamine levels through the repair of striatal D2 receptor, which is also known to affect one’s mental health.
Funny as it may sound, you can boost uridine through beer. Yes. Taking beer will help to boost its levels, as it is also found in beer.
FORSKOLIN
An article on ScienceDirect suggests that forskolin can repair your dopamine receptors through increasing cAMP levels.
Forskolin is the primary bioactive ingredient found in the herb Coleus forskohlii
SULBUTIAMINE
Sulbutiamine is responsible for increasing thiamine levels in your brain. It is a supplement that can also be used as a stimulant in athletes.
It is a more bioavailable form of thiamine and crosses your blood-brain barrier easier than thiamine.
Sulbutiamine repairs and regulates both D1 and D2 dopamine receptors.
BOOST YOUR INOSITOL
This a natural form of B- Vitamin that is involved with communication between your neurotransmitters.
Normally, it is used in high doses alongside medications to lessen symptoms of depression, OCD and even panic attacks.
On how to repair your dopamine receptors, it repairs both serotonin and dopamine receptors.
It also exists as a supplement in powdered form.
CITICOLINE
Choline occurs naturally in your body. It is the precursor to acetylcholine and is essential for proper brain function.
Usually, its levels are supplemented to prevent memory impairment that comes with age.
It has been associated with the increase of D2 receptor density.
ALCAR
This is a more neuroactive acetylated form of amino acid Carnitine.
It is often used as a workout supplement, but it has been found to have neuroprotective, neuromodulator, and neurodegenerating effects.
It upregulates D2 dopamine receptors.
CORDYCEPS
Cordyceps mushrooms have been found to exert anti-fatigue and anti-depressant effects through the upregulation of D2 dopamine receptors and enhance conversions of various enzymes into dopamine.
CONSIDER MEDITATION
Meditation will motivate your dopamine receptors’ sensitivity. This will lead to an increase in dopamine levels in your body.
It also helps to lessen symptoms of low dopamine levels such as anhedonia.
EXERCISE
It is considered to modulate the dopaminergic system through increasing levels of dopamine.
Its effects will be more pronounced in cases of drug withdrawal and addiction recovery.
SUNLIGHT
Exposure to sunlight is another strategy on how to repair dopamine receptors.
The exposure will increase the synthesis of dopamine in your body. It also helps in improving therapeutic benefits for those suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
CAN DOPAMINE RECEPTORS REPAIR THEMSELVES?
Experts have discovered that after long periods of abstaining from dopamine striking activities such as taking alcohol, your brain physiology begins to return to normal. This will lead to a reduction of dopamine levels in your brain. Your dopamine receptors will start returning to higher levels as a result.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR DOPAMINE TO REGENERATE?
Approximately, it may take your dopamine close to 90 days to regenerate. However, take note that damages caused by drug addiction will take your dopamine levels longer to regenerate.
This is because some drugs gravely damage the dopamine receptors, preventing the receptors from recovering quickly.
DOES EXERCISE INCREASE DOPAMINE RECEPTORS?
Over time, regular exercise will remodel your reward system. This will lead to better circulation of dopamine in your body.
The better circulation of dopamine will be made possible from the more available dopamine receptors.
WHAT IF DOPAMINE RECEPTORS ARE BLOCKED?
If your dopamine receptors are blocked, the blockage will induce parkinsonism, dystonia and tremor from infancy through teenage years.
The blockage may also induce drug-induced movement disorders.
HOW TO INCREASE DOPAMINE
Alternatively, below are some natural ways to boost your dopamine levels.
IMPROVE YOUR PROTEIN INTAKE
Some amino acids, such as tyrosine, take a major role in synthesising dopamine in your body.
You can find tyrosine in foods like turkey, beef, eggs and legumes.
REDUCE YOUR FAT INTAKE
Researchers have found that diets with saturated fats may increase inflammation in your body. This will lead to negative changes in the dopamine system. You should therefore avoid saturated fats in your diet.
CONSUME MORE PROBIOTICS
Researchers have come to link the gut and the dopamine system.
Apparently, some helpful bacteria in your gut will help keep your dopamine system healthy.
Keeping your gut healthy will help promote the well-being of these bacteria and keep your dopamine system healthy.
One way to keep your gut healthy is by increasing your probiotic intake.
GET ENOUGH SLEEP
Dopamine levels are said to be high in the morning when you have had an ample sleep.
By not getting enough sleep, you will disrupt your dopamine production schedules. It will lead to low dopamine levels.
BOTTOMLINE
As you try out the above- mentioned tips on how to repair dopamine receptors, remember that the main way to do this is reducing your exposure to the dopamine striking activities. If it is junk food, consider reducing your exposure to it.
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