New research shows that dopamine is not just the reward chemical, it is the pursuit chemical!
The simplest way to use the availability of the 86 million neurons is by evaluating whether what you are doing is good for you, and then acknowledging that what you are doing is on the right track toward your goal or desire.
If that is so, then randomly, intermittently give yourself little internal rewards, to keep the production of dopamine going. Don’t just wait until the great big goal is met.
Dopamine plays an important role in attention, mood, learning, sleep, movement, and anticipatory pleasure. (the pursuit of something, not just getting what you want.) In other words it is the journey not the destination only.
Increase dopamine with dopamine boosting foods: potatoes, tomatoes, avocados, broccoli, oranges, spinach, bananas and brussels sprouts.The drawback is they don’t cross the blood-brain barrier.
The precursor of dopamine is L-Tyrosine an amino acid found in protein rich foods. The list is too long to publish here. Fava bean contains L-dopa. Natural probiotics increase dopamine production, like yogurt, kefir, and raw sauerkraut.
Supplements that help are L-Tyrosine, Mucuna Pruriens (l-dopa), Curcumin, Ginkgo Biloba, L-Theanine and Phosphatidylserine which helps clean out waste and can increase dopamine levels to improve memory, concentration, learning and symptoms of ADHD.
Dopamine deficiency removes joy, energy, motivation, fatigue, apathy, procrastination, low libido, sleep problems, mood swings, hopelessness, memory loss, loss of concentration, incompletion, and especially self- destructive behavior like addiction.
A healthy lifestyle with EXERCISE which helps grow new brain cell receptors is helpful. Sunlight may increase receptors also and produce Vitamin D-releasing dopamine by activating the genes.
Miscellaneous ways are music or the anticipation of music, touch, such as hugs, massage, and stroking a pet. It also plays a role in sleep regulation. In weight loss the on-track system/reward randomness can be helpful. Cold showers 14C/57F give a blast and supposedly improve the mood.
Meditation as part of a healthy lifestyle is another benefit.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2077351/
For more information on how to best use dopamine in your life, book a 15 minute Discovery Chat to see if we are a good fit to work together to improve your quality of life.