Give it a thumb
the 'Big Six'
Here are your 'Big Six' neurotransmitters. When you understand their functions, you will have one more tool to unlock your intellectual power and emotional wisdom.
ACETYLCHOLINE This is the superstar of memory and thought. If you have a poor memory and/or poor ability to concentrate, you are very likely to be deficient in acetylcholine. You can easily increase the amounts of acetylcholine in your body by ingesting lecithin, the B vitamins and vitamin C. Lecithin is, by far, the most important. Acetylcholine is the most abundant neurotransmitter in the hippocampus, the memory area of the brain. It is produced within neurons by a complicated chemical process utilizing glucose, oxygen and choline (which you get from the lecithin).
NOREPINEPHRINE is a hormone, which functions as a neurotransmitter. It causes the brain to be more alert and is vital in transferring memories from short-term storage in the hippocampus to long-term storage in the neocortex. Too much, however, can interfere with rational thought and decision making. Norepinephrine also governs your sleep pattern. Too much = no sleep and regulates sex drive, too little = no sex. It also helps keep you in a positive mood; too little = depression. The nutritional building blocks are l-phenylalanine and l-tyrosine combined with vitamins C, B3, B6 and copper.
Dopamine, which I introduced yesterday controls physical movement. Too little= Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, dopamine stimulates the pituitary gland to secret growth hormone (actually pre-growth-hormone hormone, if I remember my endocrinology classes), which burns fat.
SEROTONIN is your brain's 'feel good' neurotransmitter and is second in importance only to acetylcholine. Serotonin also helps initiate sleep and control pain. The most popular drug in the US is Prozac, a SSRI, serum serotonin reuptake inhibitor. You can replace it by eating lots of dark green leafy vegetables and drinking a tissane of St John's Wort flowers. Seritonin is derived nutritionally from l-tryptophan, which is very abundant in tuna fish. So, there is Denis' prescription for depression - tuna, with green leafies, served with a tissane.
L-GLUTAMATE is of vital importance to memory, both lying down of new memories and the recall of existing memories. Low levels of l-glutamate generally indicate impaired cognitive function and increased stress response. Nutritional supplements are the easiest source.
GABA is a calming neurotransmitter ( gamma-aminobutyric acid) and is absolutely necessary for relaxation and sleep. Without GABA your mind becomes chronically over stimulated and can collapse from nervous exhaustion. People with low levels of GABA, which is caused by too much alcohol, for example, suffer from high levels of stress, for which they consume more alcohol.
Enough of this chemistry, we are going to use our tools to stimulate, control and improve the function of the above neurotransmitters. I only wanted you to know that there is something behind some of the odd things I'll have you doing.