Our bodies are beautifully designed to thrive. With the right circumstances, this can happen naturally but sometimes, it requires a little assistance to rediscover balance.
Let’s explore one secret worth sharing: a simple shift that can enhance our moods, reduce cravings, and reignite our energy.
Not long ago, a dear friend sat across from me, her head in her hands.
“I’m trying so hard,” she whispered. “I’m exercising. I’m eating healthier. But somehow… I still can’t stop these late-night cravings. I feel exhausted and defeated.”
As I listened to her story, I sensed something deeper at play. I often notice this among women who are “doing everything right” yet still can’t seem to make progress in their weight loss journey.
The missing piece isn’t willpower.
It isn’t discipline.
It’s serotonin.
Serotonin: More Than Just the “Happiness Hormone.”
Many know serotonin as the chemical responsible for good moods, optimism, and emotional resilience. But what’s less commonly known is that serotonin also plays a major role in managing cravings, boosting energy, and promoting healthy fat metabolism.
When our serotonin levels are balanced, we feel positive, motivated, and in control. We’re less likely to crave sugary snacks or overeat when stress arises. Serotonin acts as a natural appetite suppressant. With sufficient serotonin in the brain, we feel full faster making it easier to eat less without feeling deprived (Yabut et al., 2019).
However, when serotonin levels drop too low, cravings intensify, energy declines, and emotional eating can take over making it much harder to stay on track with your health goals.
One Often-Overlooked Key to Healthy Serotonin Levels: Vitamin D.
Research by Patrick and Ames (2014) revealed that vitamin D is critical for the brain’s production of serotonin. Without enough vitamin D from sunlight, certain foods, or supplements, our bodies struggle to produce the serotonin needed to support mood, energy, and appetite control.
This also explains why many people experience fatigue, low energy, and stronger cravings during the darker winter months, when sunlight and therefore vitamin D is limited.
The Tryptophan Connection: Feeding Your Brain for Success.
Serotonin is produced from tryptophan, an essential amino acid obtained from food.
But here’s the catch:
After a high-protein meal, tryptophan competes with other amino acids to cross into the brain and it doesn’t always win the race.
So even if we’re eating protein-rich foods, our bodies may still struggle to produce enough serotonin if the conditions aren’t right.
The good news? There are simple, natural ways to support serotonin production from choosing the right foods (like oats, oat bran, whole wheat, buckwheat, and brown rice) to spending time in the sunlight, moving our bodies regularly, and nurturing your emotional well-being through prayer, meditation, or quiet time.
The Serotonin Shift: A Message of Hope.
We are created for wholeness, joy, and vitality.
If you’ve been feeling stuck in your weight loss journey, struggling with cravings, running low on energy, or riding emotional ups and downs please know this isn’t a sign of weakness.
It’s a signal.
Your body may simply need extra support to restore its natural balance.
A shift in your serotonin levels might just be the key to the lasting change you’ve been seeking.
Love,
Lisette
References
Patrick RP, Ames BN. Vitamin D hormone regulates serotonin synthesis. Part 1: relevance for autism. FASEB J. 2014 Jun;28(6):2398-413. doi: 10.1096/fj.13-246546. Epub 2014 Feb 20. PMID: 24558199.
Yabut JM, Crane JD, Green AE, Keating DJ, Khan WI, Steinberg GR. Emerging Roles for Serotonin in Regulating Metabolism: New Implications for an Ancient Molecule. Endocr Rev. 2019 Aug 1;40(4):1092-1107. doi: 10.1210/er.2018-00283. PMID: 30901029; PMCID: PMC6624793.