Serotonin

Jenny Smiechowski

The best feel-good foods by age group

Have you ever woken up feeling irritable or down for no apparent reason? Scientists are learning that some foods can set you up for a happy, positive mood, while others leave you feeling depressed, anxious and irritable. And these foods and feelings change with age…

Carolyn Gretton

Matcha tea: Nature’s antidepressant in a cup

It’s not uncommon to feel down on occasion. But persistent feelings of sadness that impact daily life could indicate depression. Even with treatment, up to a third feel left out in the cold. With those odds, it’s helpful to know a warm cup of the right tea could help.

Joyce Hollman

The serotonin diet: Putting nature’s appetite suppressant to work

Serotonin is best known for improving mood, reducing anxiety and promoting energy. But did you know it’s also nature’s appetite suppressant? It helps curb appetite and food cravings, and makes you feel satisfied. Here’s how to put it to use…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The snack your heart loves that boosts your ‘happy’ hormone

When you reach for sweets or salty chips, your waistline and your health suffer. Don’t worry. If you need a little something to hold you over, there’s one snack that hits so many health marks — if you’re not enjoying it daily, you’re doing yourself a disservice…

Carolyn Gretton

The mood switch in our brains activated by daylight

There’s no denying the seasons influence our state of mind. It’s easier to be in a good mood when the days are long and warm, but much harder during the short, dark days of winter, when some of us face seasonal affective disorder. Why does the light affect our moods and can we overcome it?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Unraveling: The serotonin connection to depression

Millions of people turn to antidepressants to help them weather their darkest days. But despite their popularity, what if the mechanism by which the most popularly prescribed were designed to work — correcting a serotonin “imbalance” — turned out to be a myth?