Neurotransmitters
The brain's chemical language. Neurotransmitters carry signals between neurons, controlling everything from mood and motivation to sleep and pain. They're made from amino acids, with B vitamins and minerals as essential cofactors. Balance—not excess—is the goal. The gut makes many of them.
Major Neurotransmitters
Dopamine
Motivation, reward, focus. Made from tyrosine. Needs B6, iron, folate.
Serotonin
Mood, sleep, appetite. Made from tryptophan. 95% in gut. Needs B6, zinc.
GABA
Calming, inhibitory. Made from glutamate. Needs B6. Anti-anxiety.
Norepinephrine
Alertness, attention. Made from dopamine. Needs copper, vitamin C.
Acetylcholine
Memory, learning, muscle control. Needs choline. Declines with age.
Glutamate
Excitatory, learning. Most abundant. Balance with GABA important.
Epinephrine
Fight or flight. Stress response. Made from norepinephrine.
Histamine
Wakefulness, allergic response. Made from histidine. Can be excitatory.
Endorphins
Pain relief, pleasure. Exercise releases them. Natural opioids.
What Neurotransmitters Need
Amino Acid Precursors
Tyrosine, tryptophan, glutamine. Protein provides these. Essential substrate.
B Vitamins
B6 especially critical. Also B12, folate. Cofactors for synthesis enzymes.
Minerals
Iron, zinc, magnesium, copper. Each pathway needs specific minerals.
Healthy Gut
Gut bacteria make neurotransmitters. Gut-brain axis. Microbiome matters.
Adequate Sleep
Neurotransmitter recycling happens during sleep. Depletion without rest.
Balanced Blood Sugar
Brain needs stable glucose. Crashes affect mood, cognition.
Signs of Imbalance
Low Dopamine
Low motivation, anhedonia, fatigue, poor focus, addiction tendency.
Low Serotonin
Depression, anxiety, poor sleep, carb cravings, irritability.
Low GABA
Anxiety, panic, insomnia, racing thoughts, difficulty relaxing.
Low Acetylcholine
Memory issues, brain fog, slow processing, muscle weakness.
Excess Glutamate
Anxiety, overstimulation, seizures, neurotoxicity risk.
Excess Histamine
Insomnia, anxiety, allergies, headaches, racing thoughts.