Are Alcohol and Serotonin Levels Something to Worry About?
Alcohol definitely gives us a lot
to worry about, and that is before you even get to the effects it has on your
health. It can lead to aggressive behavior, affect our mental health, screw our
dopamine levels, bring about suicidal thoughts, to name but a few, and the
long-term effects can be devastating. Our brain functions are very intricate
and complicated. Even to this day, there are unanswered questions. Do you know
the effects that alcohol has on serotonin levels? Do you even know what
serotonin levels are? If your answer is no to both of those questions, then
continue reading to find out if it is something to worry about.
What Are Serotonin Levels?
Serotonin levels refer to the
generally accepted measurement of “the feel-good chemical (serotonin) that is
produced by the human nerve cell.” Just like every other substance that is
required, produced and used by the human body, serotonin has an ideal, exact
measurement or range that must be in the blood at every given time. The acceptable
measurement or range of serotonin that is needed for optimal functioning in the
human body is 101 to around 283 nano-grams per every milliliter (ng/ml). It is,
however, important to note that the measurement as stated above could slightly
differ or vary according to the size and or sample that is tested. It is,
therefore, advisable that you speak to a physician regarding specific test and
or result.
High and low levels of serotonin refer to any measurement that is
either higher or lower than the acceptable range (101 to around 283 nanograms
per every milliliter) of serotonin in the human blood. A high serotonin level
in the human blood could be an early or advance sign of carcinoid. Carcinoid is
a cancerous tumor with the potential to grow in multiple places within the
human body. Again, it is advisable to get a physician to further analyze every
test and results that reveal a high level of serotonin.
How Does Alcohol Affect Serotonin Levels?
Alcohol can cause spikes and
fluctuations in the body’s serotonin levels. This isn’t really great and can
get severely worse with excessive and consistent alcohol consumption.
Everybody’s serotonin levels are different and depending on whether they are
generally higher, lower, or level. Various foods and beverages interact with
people differently. Caffeine, for example, has been shown to lower serotonin
levels. So, when people have a generally lower level of serotonin, then coffee
and sodas will likely have the opposite effect than the typical buzz that most
people have from caffeine.
The consumption of alcohol generally can and, in
most cases will trigger a tremendous release of the substance serotonin from
the neurons within the human body. This enormous release of serotonin usually
results in a temporary high euphoric mood, but as soon as the temporary
euphoria feelings reduce, a more than the corresponding reduction (that is
lower than the initial level) of the serotonin takes place within the human
body. A direct fallout of this outcome is the desire of the victim to consume
more alcohol in the futile bid to attain their initial or unusually heightened
level of serotonin. This process of heightening and lowering of the serotonin
level contained within the human body through the excessive consumption of
alcohol will usually (eventually) leads to addiction
Is Alcohol and Serotonin Levels Something to Worry About?
Umm…yes, 100%, absolutely! The
concern for serotonin levels come when drinking alcohol is a regular and
excessive occurrence. When a person abuses alcohol, the serotonin levels
fluctuate so much that they eventually deplete. The worst result in this is that
the body then struggles to metabolize serotonin meaning that levels are rarely
balanced and can often remain very low a majority of the time.
This then causes
severe depression and anxiety. So, yes, a night out drinking will affect your
serotonin levels in a similar way to how candy impacts your sugar levels. It
spikes dramatically then it drops significantly. However, the danger is that
when alcohol abuse is discontinued the damage may already be done. It’s not
just going to regulate itself within a day or two. The heavy feelings of
depression that stems from these irregular and low serotonin levels can then
cause an addict to relapse.
Treatment Options for Depleted Serotonin Levels
Don’t be fooled by the subheading
here. When you begin to research treatment for serotonin depletion you often
find the SSRI drugs pop up. Now there is a lot of controversy surrounding these
drugs, so we aren’t even going to go into it. That decision is up to you.
However, there are other ways that you can assist with serotonin levels. First,
you would need to speak to a doctor to find out what your levels are. Serotonin
cannot be eaten via foods in the same way that vitamins and minerals can;
however, foods that are a rich source of the amino acid Tryptophan can
encourage the production of serotonin. Which can be beneficial for those that
have low levels. Other than that—and perhaps some medicinal alternatives—it
pretty much comes down to preventative measures.
The Effects of CBD on Serotonin Levels
Much research into the sheer extent
of CBDs effect on the neuroreceptors is yet to be completed, and so at this
current point in time, we can only go from the results and potentials that we
have seen so far. One of the leading reasons behind the struggle of depression
is when the body is unable—or struggles to—metabolize serotonin.
Unsurprisingly, many people are often skeptical about taking prescription
anti-depressants due to the allegations that they are addictive, can make you
feel spaced out, and can be extremely hard to wean off.
There are some
anti-depressants on the market that increases serotonin levels which were
originally thought to be beneficial in combating depression. Yet, with more
studies, it seems as though these particular antidepressants are actually
causing more harm than good. The research into CBD that we have currently seen
has shown that it can actually regulate serotonin levels.
It is expected that much more
research and studies into CBD and its neurological effects will be underway
very soon, if not already. Experts are hopeful that CBD will soon be introduced
as a powerful treatment for many ailments.
This article by Madeleine Taylor
is originally published at SundayScaries.