Showing posts with label ways to be healthy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ways to be healthy. Show all posts

Wednesday, 3 February 2016

11 Ways To Charge Up Your Dopamine Levels In The Brain


Dopamine is a chemical messenger in the body, also referred to as a neurotransmitter that helps relay pleasure to the body. It is dopamine that helps pleasure be relayed as a signal and thus the emotional response that is seen. If you desire to feel good continuously, it is recommend that you work towards charging up dopamine levels. In most people, dopamine levels are low and that is the reason as to why they are ever gloomy day in, day out. Below are several ways through which you can boost this hormone levels which will ultimately lead to increased pleasure and satisfaction in life.

First off, never get addicted to something. A lot of people tend to get addicted to something that delivers some sort of instant gratification. Be it sex, alcohol, porn, drugs, shopping or whatever else, never get addicted to it. The reason behind this is the addiction has a turnaround effect on dopamine levels in the long term. When addiction kicks in, the reward center in the brain is at a heightened level as one craves for quick gratification. This pushes dopamine production to above natural levels and thus hinders the production of the hormone naturally. Addiction leads to low levels of dopamine production, thus the feeling of gloominess most times.

There is an increase of dopamine in the body when one accomplishes small tasks as opposed to when one accomplishes a big goal. To this end, it is quite important that you checklist the small stuff when they are accomplished as it leads to an overall feeling of satisfaction and what one is doing really matters. If you are working on a big project, segment it into smaller tasks which have ends to them so that you can get this repeated sense of satisfaction and hence feel satisfied once each small task is done.

If you are engaged in handiwork, creating something has been shown to be a brain enhancing supplement which increases dopamine levels. If you work on something and deliver, your focus is increased and thus you get into a flow, where creating something is second to nature. Dopamine allows people to achieve flow, be it in the arts, crafts, photography, drawing, painting, auto repair or any other handy work. Working on the creative centers to come up with a model is a sure way to boost dopamine levels and have fun while at it.

Exercise is also another brain enhancing supplement which boosts dopamine levels. When the muscles of the body are exercised, stress is relieved, achieving higher dopamine levels. Besides dopamine, other neurotransmitters are released by the body and this leads to the production of serotonin and endorphins which ensure you feel awesome after a workout. If you are not an exercise person, you need not worry about strenuous exercise. A simple walk or going up the stairs should help do you good. This exercise should preferably go hand in hand with a modest lifestyle that cuts on the excesses of daily life if the highest levels of dopamine are to be achieved.

It is ideal if you can work towards having high dopamine levels, record your successes. This is a simple yet effective way of boosting dopamine levels. When you feel down, it is recommended that you check on your streak and see of the successes of the past. This is a simple yet effective way of feeling much better almost instantly.

It is also recommended that you try the brain enhancing supplement tyrosine. This is an essential amino acid which is contained in foods such as banana, avocado, and almond. Chicken, beef, eggs, coffee, watermelon and yoghurt. Eating this food helps boost production of dopamine. 

Ever been in a vehicle and some jam you like started paying over the radio and you naturally found yourself jamming to the beat? Well, this is an indication that dopamine has been released and thus causes you to feel good while listening to the music. Music helps stimulate the feel good centers in the brain and that is the reason as to why a lot of people will listen to music to boost their spirits.

Meditation is also a way to naturally produce brain enhancing supplements. Most people tend to overthink on issues and hence stress. Meditation allows the mind be freed of the stress and back to normal where one feels good, meaning dopamine has been released into the system. Brain enhancing supplements are also a sure way to boost brain function. Natural supplements are recommended to achieve this. Some of these supplements include Ginkgo Biloba, curcumin found in turmeric, L-theanine found in green tea among others.

Finally, detoxing the body can be used as a way to get the dopamine levels high. Detoxing also allows the body to have a heightened immune system from bacteria and toxins. To cleanse the body, fermented food such as yoghurt or even fermented porridge is recommended. Sleeping the recommended hours and cutting on fatty and sugary foods is a big plus.

References:

https://www.glozine.com/lifestyle/health/best-brain-supplements.html

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/brain-exercises-follow-these-tips-to-increase-your-brain-stamina

Wednesday, 30 January 2013

4 Celebrity Examples Of Successful Addiction Recovery

When you think of Hollywood, there are many things that instantly come to mind. And I bet that drugs and alcohol are one of the first things that you think of. Our magazines and entertainment news shows are always headlined by stories of celebrities who have gotten yet another DUI, or landed themselves in mandatory rehab programs. When we think of celebrities, sure we think of the glitz and glamour that come along with their lifestyles. But we also think about the downsides that drug and alcohol abuse has brought into many of their lives.

But when we look to celebrities and addictive substances, all of the stories aren't as distressing as Lindsay Lohan's, or as tragic as Amy Winehouse's. In fact, there are many celebrities who have shown us great examples of overcoming addictions to drugs and alcohol. There are dozens of celebrities who have battled addictions... but have found their roads to recovery.

Let's talk about just a few of those examples. Here are 4 celebrity examples of successful addiction recovery:

 1. Betty Ford

Years clean/sober: 33
You might be surprised to see a former First Lady of the United States on this list. But yes, Betty Ford, the wife of President Gerald Ford, struggled with alcoholism and opioid addiction. Her addiction began as an addiction to pain medicines she was taking to treat a pinched nerve. That pain medication addiction turned into an addiction to opioids and alcohol, until her family staged an intervention. This happened in 1978, and after struggling through the physical and mental pain of recovery, she stayed sober until her death until 2011.
Betty founded the Betty Ford Center for substance abuse and addiction in 1982.

2. Bob Forrest

Years clean/sober: 17
Bob Forrest was the lead singer of the band Thelonious Monster, a popular band in the 1990's. Bob was known for his crazy, drug-driven antics both on and off the stage. He had numerous drug-related arrests, serving jail time numerous times. He was in and out of drug rehab. He overdosed several times.
Many people, including Dr. Drew Pinsky, thought that he wouldn't survive his level of heroin use and addiction. But he surprised everyone by eventually finding recovery. He said that he finally accepted that it was the drugs that were causing his problems. He went to rehab again, taking it seriously this time. He finally found full recovery, and has since helped many other celebrities find recovery also.
Since his recovery in 1996, Bob has become a drug counselor, he was the Chemical Dependency Program Director as Las Encinas Hospital, and he is the cofounder of Hollywood Recovery Services.

3. Drew Barrymore

Years clean/sober: 20+
I think we all know Drew's story: child star turned drug addict turned successful (sober) Hollywood A-lister. Drew is known to have one of the youngest drug addictions of all of the celebrity addiction stories. But she also has one of the most successful.
There were years of drug addiction in Drew's family, including her parents and grandfather. Drew began struggling with drug addiction when she was very young. She reportedly started drinking and smoking cigarettes when she was just 9 years old. She began using marijuana at age 10. At age 12, she started with cocaine use. Drew first entered drug rehab when she was just 13 years old, then again when she was 15. After a failed suicide attempt at age 15, she turned her life around, completely staying off of drugs. She has been completely clean ever since, and she has been able to move on to a very successful movie career.

4. Robert Downey, Jr.

Years clean/sober: 12
Just like Drew Barrymore's, Robert Downey, Jr's story is another well-known story of success, addiction, and redemption. And just like Drew, Robert's addictions began at a very, very young age. Robert's father was also a drug addict. Robert Downey Jr was first given marijuana when he was only 6 years old... by his own father. He has said that his addictions to drugs began when he was just 8 years old.
Robert Downey, Jr was one of the most popular actors in the 80's. That was, until his addictions took over. He had numerous drug-related arrests, and went through rehab several times. Directors stopped hiring him for roles.
It was in 2001 that Robert "realized that he couldn't continue this lifestyle of drug abuse." It was then that he joined rehab one more time, and was finally able to drop his addictions for good. He has since regained his movie career, becoming even more successful than he was before, starring in some of the most popular blockbusters of the 2000's, including Tropic Thunder, Iron Man, Sherlock Holmes, and The Avengers.

www.freedomdrugrehab.com/, is the most successful treatment center in the nation. Click here to find out how they can help you with your addiction.