Dopamine is a chemical messenger that is used by your brain to send feelings of pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation. This chemical helps reinforce certain behaviors and provides motivation to complete tasks.
However, low dopamine levels can cause issues like low energy, negative behavior patterns, mental health issues, addiction, and more.
Improving your dopamine levels naturally can drastically improve these issues, and particularly aids in addiction recovery.
Let’s learn more about dopamine and the 10 best ways to increase dopamine levels naturally for better overall health and well-being.
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THE 10 BEST WAYS TO INCREASE DOPAMINE LEVELS NATURALLY
Your body produces dopamine in the brain, but certain substances and factors contribute to healthy dopamine levels and production.
If you’re in addiction recovery, make sure you add these daily practices to your sober lifestyle to boost your dopamine production for a better quality of life:
1) Eat Plenty of Protein
Protein is a natural source of important amino acids your body needs for all kinds of different functions. Add these things to increase dopamine to your diet and for more protein :
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- Chicken
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- Beef
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- Turkey
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- Seafood
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- Eggs
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- Bananas
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- Almonds
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- Avocados
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- Pumpkin seeds
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- Sesame seeds
2) Reduce Your Intake of Saturated Fat
Too much saturated fat, like animal fat, butter, full-fat dairy, palm oil and coconut oil, can disrupt your production of dopamine. They are already unhealthy for other reasons, so this is just one more reason to limit your intake.
3) Get Plenty of Sunshine and Vitamin D
Sunlight is a great source of vitamin D, which is vital for healthy dopamine levels. Even a vitamin D supplement is a good option, as an estimated 50% of all people are vitamin D deficient.
4) Drink Good Coffee
While poor-quality coffee or too much coffee can be detrimental, high-quality coffee is a good source of natural caffeine, which triggers dopamine production. Enjoy a good cup of coffee each morning to start the day off right.
5) Meditate
Research shows that meditation actually increases your dopamine production. A daily period of meditation can help you relax and handle stress better, increasing dopamine levels while contributing to your overall health.
6) Stand Up
Believe it or not, the simple act of standing can trigger dopamine production. Conversely, prolonged sitting and laziness leads to chronic fatigue and increased weight gain. Try standing more at work or at home while watching television.
7) Exercise
Regular periods of exercise increase dopamine production and actually slow the use of it, making it available for prolonged periods of time. A healthy walk each day is all you need to boost dopamine production.
8) Use Probiotics
Probiotics not only improve gut health for better digestion, they help your body better process foods, including those that increase dopamine production. Better digestion and health is also a natural trigger for dopamine in the brain.
9) Get Plenty of Sleep
Dopamine is produced in large quantities in the morning and lessens throughout the day, trending down more toward bedtime. Not getting enough sleep can disrupt this natural cycle and actually reduce dopamine production.
10) Drink Green or Black Tea
Both green and black tea contain amino acids that directly contribute to the production of dopamine in the brain. They can also contain less caffeine than coffee, which can help those who get jitters from too much caffeine.
The Benefits of Dopamine
Dopamine is the primary driver of the brain’s reward system. Many people struggling with addiction have difficulty getting sober because the substances they’re using causes a quick dopamine boost in the brain, mimicking the . Making sure you have enough dopamine in your system through healthy, natural means increases your well-being in practically every way.
Blood tests can measure dopamine levels in the blood, but this is not an indicator of how your brain manufactures or responds to it. Therefore, physicians rarely test for dopamine levels, choosing rather to look for symptoms that can be attributed to low dopamine.
When dopamine levels are high, or healthy, you can recognize benefits including:
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- Increased enthusiasm
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- Higher motivation
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- Stronger drive to be productive
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- Reduced drug addiction and dependence
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- Improved cognition function
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- Faster learning
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- Better long-term memory and working memory
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- Increased focus and concentration
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- Increased creativity
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- Improved mood
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- Reduced fear
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- Increased social bonding
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- Stronger relationships
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- Increased tolerance to pain
How Can Dopamine Help With Addiction?
Dopamine plays a major role in your brain’s reward system, creating feelings of pleasure that reinforce certain behaviors.
For those who are low in dopamine, drugs and alcohol often mimic these effects, leading to “self-medication” and abuse of the substance.
Balancing your dopamine levels is essential for those in addiction recovery for these reasons:
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- Reducing Cravings: Many addictive substances cause a surge of dopamine in the brain, which reinforces the behavior and makes the substance highly rewarding. By moderating these dopamine levels, cravings for the addictive substance can be reduced, helping individuals to abstain from use.
- Restoring Brain Function: Long-term substance abuse can disrupt the normal production and regulation of dopamine. This can affect mood, motivation, and pleasure from everyday activities. Recovery processes aim to normalize these levels, helping restore balance in the brain’s chemistry and improve overall brain function.
- Enhancing Motivation and Enjoyment: Proper dopamine levels can help recovering individuals find joy and fulfillment in non-addictive activities and pursuits. This is crucial for helping individuals develop new, healthier habits and hobbies that do not involve substance use.
- Preventing Relapse: Stabilizing dopamine levels can reduce the risk of relapse. When dopamine levels are balanced, the brain is less likely to seek the dramatic surges of addictive substances.
In addiction treatment, methods such as medication-assisted treatment (MAT), behavioral therapies, and lifestyle changes can be used to help balance dopamine levels. These interventions contribute to a more stable and healthy dopamine system, supporting long-term recovery.
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction and low dopamine, call our friendly recovery team today at 844-576-0144 to start our insurance-covered treatment program.
Increased Dopamine Levels FAQs
Does meditation increase dopamine levels?
Yes, meditation is a great way to boost dopamine levels in the brain, providing a sense of well-being and relaxation as a result.
What is a low dopamine morning and how does it work?
A low-dopamine morning is a strategy for increasing dopamine levels throughout the day. It involves “fasting” from dopamine-rich activities like cell phone use and seeking natural light right when you wake up.
Can you increase dopamine with food?
Yes, eating a high-protein diet with foods like meat and eggs can help significantly stabilize dopamine levels.
How can I learn how to regulate dopamine levels?
You can develop a habit of making dopamine-inducing lifestyle changes, such as eating protein-rich foods, taking probiotics, and exercising.
Get Treatment for Addiction & Dopamine Deficiency at Gratitude Lodge
Our evidence-based program in Southern California offers treatment for both substance use disorders and mental health disorders, which are often the root cause of addiction because of dopamine deficiency.
Our programs offer customized treatment plans to help our clients correct any dopamine deficiencies, as well as provide them with new coping mechanisms outside of self-medicating with drugs & alcohol.
Our world-class treatment program offers:
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- MAT (medication-assisted treatment)
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- Motivational therapy
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- Psychotherapy
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- Individual counseling
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- Family therapy
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- Holistic interventions
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- Aftercare planning
Call Gratitude Lodge today at 844-576-0144 to begin your addiction recovery journey.
