What is serotonin?
Serotonin is a chemical messenger that helps regulate mood, sleep, appetite and digestion. About 90 percent of the body's serotonin is made in the gut, not the brain.
In the brain, serotonin works as a neurotransmitter, sending signals between nerve cells. It is linked to feelings of well-being and emotional stability, and it helps control sleep cycles, appetite and memory. The body makes serotonin from tryptophan, an amino acid found in foods like eggs, cheese, turkey and nuts.
Most serotonin is produced by cells in the lining of the intestines, where it helps control the movement of food through the gut. In the blood, it helps platelets form clots. Serotonin cannot easily cross from the blood into the brain, so the brain makes its own supply.
Serotonin and mood
Some common antidepressants, called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, increase serotonin activity in the brain. However, scientists now think depression is more complex than simply low serotonin. Sleep, sunlight, exercise and social connection all affect mood.
Did You Know?
Serotonin is also used by the body to make melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate sleep.
This answer is general information, not medical advice. For a personal health question, talk to a doctor.