SERTONIN SERIES Pt 5

Serotonin is a key hormone that deserves our full attention as it impacts our entire body! Most people know that this hormone stabilizes our mood, feelings of well-being, and happiness. But it doesn’t end there. Serotonin helps with sleeping, eating, and digestion. It also enables brain cells and other nervous system cells to communicate with each other.

While we cannot directly ingest serotonin from our foods, we can fill our plates with the key players in the serotonin making pathway. This blogpost is going to be #5 of a five part series – with each part focusing on a different player.  Today’s MVP is Fiber.

WHAT IT IS AND WHY WE CARE:

1. Fiber is a key nutrient that keeps our blood sugar stable and our appetite in control by regulating the way our body processes sugar.

2. It is unique as it cannot be broken down into sugar molecules like other carbohydrates can.  Instead, fiber remains undigested as it passes through our digestive tract.

3.  Even though we do not metabolize fiber, it still offers us many benefits.   For instance, fiber takes up space in our stomach which makes us feel fuller for longer.  This helps us maintain a healthy weight, because it prevents us from overeating. 

4. Diets high in fiber fuel healthy gut bacteria, which play a key role in serotonin levels through the gut-brain axis.

#highfiberfoods