Natural pain relief!

You’ve

likely heard a lot about the mood-boosting effects of serotonin—but did you know this hormone is just as effective at quashing pain? In fact, it relaxes muscles and speeds tissue healing so effectively, just ensuring your serotonin production stays steady can cut your risk of chronic pain 50% or more! The keys: Enjoy a carb-rich breakfast Even if most of your meals are low-carb, enjoying whole-grain toast, cereal, or other healthy grains in the morning will rev your serotonin production 20% in 72 hours. New Zealand research shows that carbs eaten early in the day switch on the enzymes needed to produce serotonin. Have a bowl of berries You only need to include 1/2 cup of berries in your daily diet to up your serotonin level 25% in one week, reports the journal Phar

macological Research. Berries are rich in anthocyanins, pigments that prod the cells lining your digestive tract to increase their serotonin production. Snack on seeds Pumpkin, sunflower and chia seeds all contain lots of copper and vitamins E and B-6— a trio of nutrients that helps your brain and body absorb and use the serotonin in your bloodstream. In fact, Stanford University researchers found that snacking on 1/3 cup of seeds daily can cut your aches and pains 18% in 14 days! Supplement with 5-HTP The key building block of serotonin is 5-HTP— a compound that’s sometimes hard for your body to produce since you need a precise blend of amino acids and B vitamins to do it, says Michael Murray, N.D., author of The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. Luckily, taking 100 mg. of 5-HTP at bedtime is shown to help your brain produce enough serotonin nightly to make your pain level plummet 33% in one week. Turn in earlier Cozying up in bed by 11 p.m. can cut your risk of a serotonin shortfall in half or more, Brazilian scientists say. Staying up until the wee hours disrupts your biological clock, drastically reducing the ability of your brain and digestive tract to produce this essential hormone, the study authors say.