What Is Serotonin?

Serotonin is a special chemical produced by an individual's nerve cells that is responsible for sending signals from one nerve cell to the next. Individuals have serotonin present in their central nervous system, digestive system, and blood platelets. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and serotonin is produced from an amino acid called tryptophan. When an individual does not consume enough of this amino acid in their diet, they can develop a deficiency of serotonin in their body. Serotonin deficiency is a condition that produces several adverse symptoms. Serotonin plays major roles in processes that control depression, anxiety, wound healing, bone health, nausea stimulation, sleep mechanisms, appetite, and mechanisms of digestion. An individual who has the right amount of serotonin in their body will feel calm, happy, focused, and emotionally stable.

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Function In The Body

Serotonin is necessary for several processes and functions in an individual's body. The highest concentration of serotonin in an individual's body is contained within their stomach and intestines. Serotonin allows nerves to communicate in these organs and the muscles around them that control bowel function and movements. Serotonin is also found in an individual's brain, where it has great influence over their mood. Serotonin is also a critical part of the system that causes an individual to feel nauseated. Serotonin levels in the blood that rise rapidly cause the stimulation of the part of an individual's brain that controls when they feel nauseated. Serotonin is an important player in the way an individual sleeps at night and wakes up in the morning because it controls parts of the brain that manage these processes. Serotonin also takes part in the ability of an individual's body to heal wounds by causing arterial constriction, which makes it easier for the body to form blood clots. Serotonin is also influential over an individual's bone health because high levels of this chemical can cause an imbalance in the bone recycling process that leads to osteoporosis.

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