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The "D" Group
Dopamine
is the
neurotransmitter which creates the "good feelings" associated
with the enjoyment of beauty, the affection you feel for a person, the love you
feel for a family member or other loved one, and the extreme reward sensation;
sexual climax. The popularity of cocaine stems from the fact that
it causes very high levels of dopamine to be trapped in the hypothalamus
nerve endings thus giving the person a "reward" sensation
many times that of the most extreme natural one. Caffeine is another
stimulating drug that, although not as strong as cocaine, increases the dopamine
levels to excessive highs and can increase certain mental illnesses. Both
caffeine and cocaine disrupts the delicate balance of nerve transmission in your
brain’s chemistry and the momentary “high” is eventually replaced by the
sad reality that your brain has been severely damaged.
The lack of dopamine
availability can cause anhedonia (the lack of ability to feel any
pleasure or remorse in life.) It also reduces the person's attention span. For
example, a person who has taken cocaine for some time will have used up
most of his or her dopamine supply. Their attention span is often reduced
to 2 to 3 minutes instead of the usual 50 to 60 minutes. Learning,
for such a person, is nearly impossible, and requires a serious lifestyle
change.
If you have a lack
of dopamine availability for any reason, the symptoms in this test are
very likely to occur. The brain cells which "manufacture"
dopamine use l-phenylalanine as a "raw material"
(precursor.) Like most cells in the hypothalamus, they have the ability
to produce 4 or 5 times their usual output if larger quantities of the
raw materials are made available through nutritional supplementation. Such
supplementation usually takes the form of 4 to 8, 500 mg. capsules taken
daily. This can be reduced to 1 or 2 such capsules if it is taken
simultaneously with l-tryptophan (or a substitute for it) and l-glutamine.
As one will notice, the correct balance—dopamine levels not too high
nor too low-- is essential for optimum health.
Dopamine is widespread in the brain as well as the rest of the nervous system. This neurotransmitter plays a critical role in the control of movement. It has a stimulating effect on the heart, the circulation, the rate of metabolism, and is able to mobilize many of the body's energy reserves. It helps to modulate brain activity, control coordination and movement, and regulate the flow of information to different areas of the brain. Dopamine is believed to release chemicals that allow us to feel pleasure (e.g., endorphins). A massive disturbance of dopamine regulation in the brain can result in a person no longer being able to respond emotionally or express his or her feelings in an appropriate way (e.g., schizophrenia).
The main precursor for this neurotransmitter is the nonessential amino acid tyrosine. While tyrosine is contained in many foods, it is classified as a nonessential amino acids because ordinarily our bodies can create it. Still, deficiencies in the production of tyrosine can occur, and increased dietary supplementation may be necessary. Folic acid, niacin, iron, and B-6 are necessary cofactors.
Dopamine Functions in:
* Feelings of pleasure
* Feelings of attachment/love
* Sense of altruism (unselfish concern for the welfare of others)
* Integration of thoughts and feelings
Dopamine Deficiencies result in:
* Anhedonia (lack of pleasure)
* Lack of ability to feel love, sense attachment to another
* Lack of remorse about actions
* Distractibility
Supplements required:
* L-Phenylalanine
* Vitamin B6
Useful sources of building blocks for dopamine:
* Apples
* Beets
* Blue-green algae
* Celery
* Chicken
* Cucumber
* Fish
* Green leafy vegetables
* Honey
* Cheese
* Sweet peppers
* Tofu
* Watermelon
Where do I find such a supplement? Click Here to Learn More
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