Dopamine and Your Metabolism - By Eric Braverman MD

Dopamine and Your Metabolism – By Eric Braverman MD

As you get older, your metabolism naturally slows down. Your metabolism isdetermined by a massive genetic equation, which takes into account your age andyour current health. This equation looks like this: Rate of Metabolism = Your hormones [growth hormones, estrogen, testosterone] XYour bone strength, muscle strength, and active neurons [working brain chemistry] ÷ The number of diseases you currently haveAs you age, your hormones drop, muscle is lost, bone density is lost, and your braincells fizzle. At the same time you accumulate illnesses. All of these factor into yourmetabolic rate. However, by reversing these individual health issues, you canincrease your metabolism, feel younger, and lose weight.When you were young, the food you ate supported your growing brain and body.Yet once you reached your final adult height, you may have experienced weightgain even when you were eating the exact same foods in the same quantities. Theproblem: Your metabolism weakened over time. To compensate, you needmore voltage, or Dopamine, to jump-start your fat-burning furnace. Without it,you'll just continue to accumulate body fat.

The good news is that you can jump-start your fat-burning furnace by concentratingon foods and nutrients that naturally increase your metabolism and boost yourdopamine. Your metabolism works as an automatic system that is set by the fuel youthrow at it. If you've been eating junk, your metabolism is working like a low-burningfire. However, when you provide it with lots of dopamine, this brain chemical actslike a pile of coal, and ignites your metabolism to burn off your calories.

Remove Foods That Deplete DopamineMany common foods actually can deplete your levels of dopamine. Forexample, sugar and its many hidden forms (high fructose corn syrup, fructose,dextrose, sucralose, molasses, syrup, and others) should be avoided. Betteralternatives would be pure honey, or maple syrup because they containadditional vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that may benefit yourhealth. Stevia is another natural sugar substitute. It's 200 to 300 times sweeterthan sugar, so just a tiny amount will do the trick, and it contains 0 calories. Also avoid simple carbohydrates and high glycemic foods which are foods you crave if you are dealing with a dopamine deficiency, because they give you the feeling of increased energy in the short term. These are generally the \"white\" foods such as cakes, crackers, chips, potatoes, white breads and rice, processed foods, etc.

Which Foods Should You Eat?Instead of sugar-laden and \"white\" foods, choose more colorful versionsthat have more nutrients. Whole grain, colorful carbs (such as sweetpotatoes, and brown rice) provide lots of energy without being instantlyconverted into body fat. Although they don't create more dopamine, theywon't feed into the food addiction cycle.Dopamine enhancing foods are by nature calorie dense, so eating inmoderation will be key in not consuming more calories than your bodyneeds. Foods high in the amino acid, phenylalanine, will boost yourmetabolism. These include such proteins as lean beef, chicken, cottagecheese, eggs, oat flakes, yogurt, turkey, etc.The amino acid, tyrosine, is another precursor to dopamine. Tyrosine-richfoods include: beef, chicken, cottage cheese, duck, granola, pork, wheatgerm, wild game, yogurt, etc.

By increasing your consumption ofphenylalanine and tyrosine, you canreverse your dopamine deficiency. Besure to add spices to your meals -they are nutrient-dense and providebetween 20 to 80 different nutrients.Try to include hot or cold tea to yourday - they are metabolic enhancersthat can help you burn calories andbody fat. Colorful vegetables andsalads should be included in yourmeals as a low-calorie, antioxidant-rich, and nutrient-dense benefit. Call to schedule an appointment for a full exam. We can help you to reverse the affects of aging so you can be a Younger, Thinner, Healthier You.

Author Bio:Eric Braverman MDDr. Braverman is a Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate ofBrandeis University and NYU Medical School, did brain research atHarvard Medical School, and trained at an affiliate of Yale MedicalSchool. He is acknowledged worldwide as an expert in brain-baseddiagnosis and treatment, and he lectures to and trains doctors in anti-aging medicine.Conact us:Path Medical304 Park Avenue SouthNew York, NY 10010