All addiction whether it be cocaine, sex, pornography, sugar or food is a direct manifestation of chemical imbalance in the brain. All of the vices mentioned above are extreme dopamine blasters that make us feel alive, euphoric, energetic, focused and in the moment. The developed human brain connects 86 billion neurons, through a network of neurotransmitters, influenced by chemically enhanced messages that generally make you feel good or bad. Dopamine is a major neurotransmitter that essentially rules our mood; anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, lack of motivation and a sluggish attitude are all signs of low dopamine levels.
Our relationship with dopamine shapes our reality! Nicotine the active ingredient in cigarettes boosts dopamine by 200%, cocaine by 400%, meth by 1000%, imagine that! These extreme rushes of dopamine are readily available in our communities at affordable prices! So the desire to attain dopamine naturally like going for a run, earning money, achieving goals or even having sex, which boost dopamine up to 100% seem less satisfying. The negative inclination of high dopamine levels are apparent for all to see. The life of rockstars in Hollywood is on a graph parallel with the rise of dopamine they have access to, compared to the everyday person. These icons have the ability to experience unlimited amounts of dopamine, sometimes in the most bizarre and unimaginable ways; most of which we don't see. But oh, the great crashes that we've all witnessed without mentioning any names. The truth is, the parallel fits right into our lives as well if we pay attention to the patterns pertaining to our dopamine enhancers.
Foods such as fruits, nuts, fish, meat, omega oils, bananas, and watermelon are a few of the many who have positive and balanced natural dopamine enhancing characteristics. Phenylalanine the chemical necessary to make tyrosine which in turn produces dopamine is a component of these foods. Cutting out foods that are high in saturated fats and sugar are essential; for these things have a negative effect on dopamine. People who are obese are a clear sign of dopamine dysfunction for the chemistry in there bodies does not get the satisfaction in their brain from nutritious food, making them want more. This is due to the high intake of carbohydrates which are high in saturated fat and sugar.
But just because you are out of shape doesn't mean those who are in shape have a better relationship with dopamine. In most cases professional athletes and body builders suffer from the constant demand of high dopamine, leading to negative effects in testosterone for men and estrogen for women. Putting the body through physical activity whether it be through focused stretching, known as yoga or tuning a harmony with your mind, known as meditation have scientifically proven in thousands of studies to have a healthy dopamine boost to the person participating. High intensity training which is becoming a mainstream form of exercise has also proven to be a great tool for natural boosts of dopamine.
Our relationship with dopamine is a cornerstone to all self-help and understanding; its impact on our behavior should be motivation enough to find new ways to cultivate its balance in our lives. A life with just the right amount of dopamine is one of continuous optimism towards a heaven on earth!