by Ashley Schaeffer

Created on: April 04, 2008

Believe it or not, but happy people aren't always just blessed with a naturally sunny disposition. Happiness comes through making certain choices about habits, and there are plenty of very easy things you can do to boost your mood. Just like your physical health and mental acuity, your mood is something that requires a certain amount of maintenance in order to stay in good shape. Boosting your serotonin and endorphin levels is an efficient way to stay positive and far away from the doldrums.

Serotonin is a good thing to have a lot of. When serotonin levels are high, you enjoy elevated moods, more restful sleep, and higher pain tolerance. On the flip side, low levels of serotonin are associated with depression, disturbed sleep, and decreased tolerance for pain. Endorphins are equally helpful in keeping the spirits high. They are the body's natural painkiller and produce feelings of well-being and euphoria. In addition, they release sex hormones and boost the body's immune response. Here are some ways to keep these levels nice and high:

Supplements are probably the most effortless route that you can choose. St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a widely used herb that comes in capsule or tablet form and is useful in treating mild depression. While scientists aren't exactly sure why it's so effective, it is generally believed that it inhibits the reuptake of serotonin, therefore making more of it readily available for stimulation. It's usually well-tolerated, but there are a few instances in which it may not be the supplement for you. In rare cases in can cause photosensitivity, and it might not be a good idea for individuals suffering from bipolar disorder, since it's known to instigate mania in these folks. Also, women using oral contraceptives should beware, since this does lower the effectiveness of the birth control pill.

5-HTP, the natural precursor to serotonin, is also sold in capsule form. When the brain registers that there is a high supply of 5-HTP, serotonin production kicks into gear. While there is not an abundance of research and literature on this relatively new supplement, there does not appear to be any serious side effects associated with it as of now.

Next on the list are things you can eat. Why do you think women become bottomless pits for an endless supply of chocolate when it's that time of the month? Because chocolate is essentially a legitimate drug that combats the symptoms of PMS. Chocolate releases serotonin into the brain, thus neutralizing

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