The two “happy hormones,” namely serotonin and dopamine, are neurotransmitters, the nervous system’s messengers who carry out the task of regulating our bodily functions. These hormones play a great role in affecting our moods and emotions.
Serotonin is the neurotransmitter mainly involved in digestion, but is also known to affect the sleep-wake cycle, moods and emotions, brain function, blood clotting, etc. Like serotonin, dopamine is also involved in digestion, but is also involved in controlling body coordination, sleep, blood flow, mood and urine excretion.
Contrary to popular belief, serotonin does not only promote satisfaction and contentment. It is also a regulator that keeps feelings stable and prevents extreme mood swings from happening. Dopamine, on the other hand, is well-known for a sudden spike in its appearance when engaging in certain activities or eating certain foods. It is the control tower of desire, pleasure, and motivation.
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