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Lead Stories: Monday, December 1, 2008

ASK LARA: Serotonin- Effects, sources, and suggestions for a healthy, active lifestyle

Posted September 8th, 2007 at 5:30 PM by Lara Johnson

Section: Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Columns, Ask Lara

Need advice? Injured? Confused? Overwhelmed? Bored? ASK LARA!
ASK LARA is a free advice column to help you with all of your running, fitness and nutrition inquiries. To ASK LARA — simply fill out the form at the conclusion of the column.

Q. I know that there are specific foods that help serotonin in the brain. What are they? Chocolate is one. Thanks.
~Michelle from Georgia

A. Interesting question. Since I am not a serotonin expert, I turned to some other sources for help in answering this one. Serotonin is defined as:

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, or 5-HT) is a monoamine neurotransmitter synthesized in serotonergic neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) and enterochromaffin cells in the gastrointestinal tract of animals including humans. Serotonin is also found in many mushrooms and plants, including fruits and vegetables.

Basically, serotonin is a chemical in the CNS that carries signals from one nerve cell to the next (hence, a neurotransmitter), thus allowing the brain to communicate. It is also one type of neurotransmitter that is highly sensitive to what we eat and influential in affecting mood. Other “moody” chemicals are dopamine and norepinephrine (source: the Mood-Food Connection).
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Indulge in chocolate for your sweet tooth and your health

Posted January 20th, 2007 at 9:30 AM by Valerie Cerami

Section: Nutrition, Healthy Eating

Hersheys, Godiva, Lindt – dark, milk, white…

Guilt free, hedonistic (yet healthy) pleasure - dig into your holiday goodie stash (while it lasts).

Improve your mood, heart health, brain functioning – and even your skin!

Chocolate. Chocolate. Chocolate. The aroma, taste, texture and tantalizing effects (and affects) are truly addictive – and verifiably good for you, as well.

Discover chocolate in all its glory - indulge in all of its forms – hot, bars, cake or baths! For cocoa enthusiasts and the like - read on …

When it comes to cravings – good news – it isn’t just your imagination – or lack of willpower … In fact, it’s a documented fact that: Chocolate is the No. 1 most craved food, and women are the ones most likely to crave it. There, we know it’s true – but the reasons why we crave chocolate are complex and far reaching (but maybe these cravings aren’t such a bad thing after all!).
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