Nov 20, 2023, 07:25 AM IST

6 foods to naturally boost dopamine to feel happy 

Jaisal Kaur

Dopamine acts as both—a hormone and chemical neurotransmitter in your body, which causes feelings of pleasure and reward and helps you stay happy. Here are the foods which can naturally and immediately boost dopamine production.

To produce dopamine, the body needs to break down an amino acid known as tyrosine, which is enormously present in nuts such as almonds and walnuts, and seeds such as flax seeds. Thus, eating them can lift your dopamine levels instantly.

1. Nuts and seeds

Non-vegetarian food including chicken, eggs, meat, fish and prawns—all are rich in protein and tyrosine, thus, they increase your dopamine levels.

2. Non-vegetarian food

If you’re a vegetarian, you can consume foods like soya, legumes, and beans to boost tyrosine and dopamine production.

3. Vegetarian protein

Cheese, milk, yoghurt—all dairy products are rich in tyrosine and a perfectly natural way of boosting dopamine in the brain.

4. Milk and dairy

Sweet like Chocolates produce the feel-good hormone, serotonin in the body. Secondly, they also comprise a compound called phenylethylamine, which causes brain cells to release dopamine.

5. Chocolates

The caffeine in coffee makes the brain alert and increases dopamine production, which also makes you feel more wakeful and concentrated.

6. Coffee