Best Foods that Increase Dopamine Synthesis + Foods to Avoid

Consuming foods that increase dopamine (C8H11NO2) instead of those that deplete it can help you to feel happier and more focused. Dopamine is a catecholamine hormone and neurotransmitter. It accommodates neuronal signaling in several brain areas.

Dopamine is a chemical produced primarily in the central and peripheral nervous systems. It has an excitatory effect in the brain and is linked to feelings of pleasure, goal-directed behavior and mental focus.

Increasing dopamine levels can have a positive effect on mood, balancing stress and anxiety, improving learning and memory and promoting enhanced concentration. Dopamine also plays a role in controlling bodily movement, signalling the reward cycle and enjoyment of sex.

If you have low dopamine levels and are experiencing symptoms like poor motivation, fatigue and stress, then changing your diet may help. Foods that boost dopamine levels in the brain can help to naturally balance neurotransmitter levels and improve mood and energy.

Dopamine Boosters

Mood Supplements

Mood

Focus

Motivation

How It Works:

• Supports energy & motivation
• Promotes focus & mental clarity
• Improves mood & stress response

Dosage:

Varies depending on supplement

Safety:

Varies depending on supplement

Top Dopamine Boosters* ❯

View User Ratings* ❯

List of Foods that Increase Dopamine

The following foods contain phytonutrients and amino acids which are used to synthesize dopamine.

Increasing your daily intake of these and other similar foods can help to consistently maintain optimal dopamine levels.

• Green leafy vegetables;
• Lean meat cuts;
• Wheat germ;
• Bananas;
• Almonds;
• Cherries;
• Eggs;
• Fish;

There are numerous other foods that increase dopamine as well. Consider adding cheese, turkey, artichokes, avocados, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), broccoli, cauliflower, lentils, black beans, prunes, watermelon, strawberries and blueberries to your diet as well.

Ways to Boost Dopamine Synthesis

Dopamine is synthesized from the precursor L-DOPA. In humans and some animals, it is derived from tyrosine via the actions of tyrosine hydroxylase.

This is the rate limiting step in dopamine synthesis. Subsequently, DOPA decarboxylase removed carbon dioxide (CO2) molecules from L-DOPA, leaving free-form dopamine.

The best foods for increasing dopamine will help to naturally maintain optimal levels of magnesium (Mg), Iron (Fe), oxygen (O2) and the amino acids L-phenylalanine and L-tyrosine.

It is also important to eat foods that provide Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) as this is an important cofactor for the production of dopamine.

It is difficult for many to consistently consume enough foods that increase dopamine to induce therapeutic effects. Vegetarians and vegans are sometimes at risk for dopamine deficiency if they do not get enough sources of protein in their diet.

Many people use amino acid supplements, herbal extract as well as multivitamin and multimineral products to assist in alleviating low dopamine level, in addition to eating protein-rich foods.

Signs & Symptoms of Low Dopamine

If you are not getting enough dopamine food sources in your diet, you may experience adverse effects related to your mood, mental performance and physical movement.

Commonly, those deficient in dopamine may feel hopeless and unmotivated. They may be unable to enjoy life events which most other find meaning in.

Other low dopamine symptoms can involve impaired motor functioning. Low dopamine levels in the basal ganglia can cause uncoordinated, slowed movements.

High dopamine levels in this brain area can cause excitatory involuntary responses – like repetitive spasms, jerks or tics.

Including foods that increase dopamine in your diet, along with quality dietary supplements which encourage dopamine production can help to uplift moods, improve outlook, inspire creativity and support general health and well-being.

Supplements that Boost Dopamine Safely

Even with dietary modifications, you may not see a significant improvement in mood right away. There are rate-limiting factors that can inhibit the production and release of this neurotransmitter.

In these cases, using a supplement can help to immediately raise dopaminergic activity in the brain. The dopamine precursors L-phenylalanine and L-tyrosine can both be used in supplement form to achieve this.

Another option is Mucuna Pruriens seed extract, also known as Velvet Bean, This tropical plant has been used in traditional medicine systems for centuries for its high content of protein (23 to 35%) and healthy fatty acids.

M. pruriens also contains phytonutrients which demonstrate antioxidant, anti-Parkinson’s and neuroprotective effects. It is used to treat male infertility, nervous system disorders and dermatologic disorders. It is also used as an aphrodisiac.

Mucuna pruriens contains roughly 5% L-DOPA and can be taken to effectively increase dopamine. However, because it is not rate-limited like other dopamine food sources in the diet, it is possible to overuse this supplement.

Mucuna pills should not be used with MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors), antihypertensive medications, narrow-eye glaucoma medications – or in those who have undiagnosable skin disorders and/or histories of melanoma.

If you cook velvet beans, the L-DOPA content may be significantly destroyed. However, cooking is necessary to degrade trypsin inhibitors which suppress protein metabolism.

For use as a food to increase dopamine production, Mucuna pruriens is best taken in dry powder form. 5-gram daily doses have been shown to improve male infertility, mood and Parkinson’s disease symptoms.

Conclusions

Many foods in the Western diet can deplete healthy levels of dopamine. Sugars, caffeine, chocolate and other foods elicit dopamine release and cause feelings of pleasure.

However, after you eat these foods, your dopamine stores can become depleted. A short-term spike in levels of this mood-boosting neurotransmitter may be followed by an energy “crash.” Dopamine plays a critical role in regulating hunger signals as well.

The brain is naturally wired to seek the continuance of pleasurable experiences. This desire can cause food addictions. Some people continue eating more and more in order to sustain dopamine release and continue feeling pleasure.

The combined effects of the brain desiring more nutrients and more pleasure often cause the cycle of overeating to continue. As eating these addictive foods continues, weight gain can occur and dopamine levels can begin to decline.

Dopamine receptors may also become less sensitive to the effects of this neurotransmitter. This can cause a chronic deficiency of dopamine and lead to the onset of various adverse health effects.

By choosing water-rich, high-protein foods that increase dopamine naturally, you can achieve better balance in your mood without the unnatural spikes that can deplete levels of this hormone in the long term.

Look for foods that contain phenylalanine and tyrosine before considering supplements. If you decide to use dopamine-boosting pills, check with a doctor first to determine their safety for you.

Note that it is also very important to get daily exercise and manage stress effectively. Dopamine levels are affected positively by routinely engaging in healthy lifestyle habits.

Rate This Article

(6 votes, average: 3.83 out of 5, rated)