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Category: Mental health
The Essential Role of Neurotransmitters in Mind and Body
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that act as the brain’s communication network, relaying signals between nerve cells and influencing everything from movement and mood to digestion and sleep. Their delicate balance shapes how we think, feel, and function daily. Let’s explore how these tiny molecules work, their impact on health, and how lifestyle choices can optimize their performance.
What Are Neurotransmitters?
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that enable communication between nerve cells (neurons) in the nervous system. These molecules transmit signals from one neuron to another or to other cell types, such as muscle or gland cells. By binding to specific receptors, they regulate processes ranging from movement and thought to mood and the body’s stress response.They fall into three main categories based on function
Excitatory neurotransmitters
These chemicals act like an accelerator pedal for the nervous system, increasing activity in receiving cells. Glutamate, for example, plays a critical role in learning and memory by strengthening connections between neurons.
Inhibitory neurotransmitters
These substances apply the brakes, reducing cellular activity to prevent overstimulation. GABA, known for its calming effects, helps ease anxiety, promote relaxation, and maintain healthy sleep patterns.
Modulatory neurotransmitters
Instead of directly activating or suppressing neurons, these chemicals fine-tune how other neurotransmitters operate. Dopamine, linked to motivation and reward, influences pleasure, learning, and even addiction mechanisms.The brain thrives when these three types are balanced. Imbalances—like low serotonin levels linked to depression—can disrupt physical and mental health.
How Neurotransmitters Work
Neurotransmission occurs through a four-step process:
- Electrical signal (action potential): A neuron sends an electrical impulse along its axon to the synapse—the gap between neurons.
- Release of neurotransmitters: The signal triggers vesicles at the neuron’s end to release neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.
- Receptor binding: These chemicals cross the gap and bind to receptors on the receiving cell, triggering either excitatory or inhibitory effects.
- Cleanup: After signaling, neurotransmitters are removed via: Reuptake (reabsorbed by the original neuron)
- Enzymatic breakdown
- Diffusion away from the synapse
Key Neurotransmitters and Their Roles
- Serotonin Role: Regulates mood, sleep, appetite, and digestion.
- Low levels: Linked to depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
- Natural support: Foods rich in tryptophan (salmon, eggs) and regular exercise.
- Dopamine Role: Drives motivation, reward, and motor control.
- Imbalance: Low levels associate with Parkinson’s; excess ties to schizophrenia.
- GABARole: Calms neural activity, reduces stress.
- Deficiency: May cause anxiety or epilepsy.
- Glutamate Role: Vital for learning and memory.
- Excess: Can damage neurons in conditions like Alzheimer’s.
- Noradrenaline Role: Manages alertness and stress response.
- Low levels: Lead to fatigue and poor focus.
- Acetylcholine Role: Controls muscle movement and memory.
- Decline: A hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Endorphins Role: Natural painkillers that boost mood.
- Deficiency: Increases pain sensitivity.
Neurotransmitters and Health
- Mental Health: Depression and anxiety often correlate with low serotonin or GABA.
- Bipolar disorder may involve dopamine and glutamate irregularities.
- Neurological Disorders: Parkinson’s stems from dopamine loss.
- Alzheimer’s links to acetylcholine depletion.
- Gut-Brain Connection: 90% of serotonin is produced in the gut. An unhealthy diet (high in sugar, processed foods) disrupts gut bacteria, impairing serotonin synthesis. Studies increasingly tie poor diets to higher depression rates.
Lifestyle’s Impact on Neurotransmitters
- Diet: Prioritize protein (provides amino acids for neurotransmitter production) and omega-3s (support brain structure).
- Exercise: Boosts serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins, enhancing mood and resilience.
- Sleep: Critical for neurotransmitter replenishment. Poor sleep weakens signaling efficiency.
- Stress Management: Chronic stress drains GABA and serotonin. Mindfulness, meditation, or therapy can restore balance.
Conclusion
Neurotransmitters are the body’s communication lifelines, shaping our emotions, thoughts, and physical health. By understanding how diet, exercise, and stress affect these chemicals, we can make proactive choices to support mental clarity, emotional stability, and overall well-being. Small, consistent changes—like prioritizing sleep or nutrient-rich foods—can help manage conditions like anxiety, depression, and neurodegenerative diseases, paving the way for a healthier, more balanced life.
Mental health and behavior
Mental health is one of the most searched for terms in 2024 and we at Nortropics are very curious about what mental health really is. There are so many definitions of mental health, but we look at mental health as a concept from different perspectives.
When considering mental health, we can look at one of the core ideas from coaching and in the realm of behavioral psychology. This idea is “behind every action, there is a positive intention”. It suggests that even behaviors that you feel are negative or destructive are driven by underlying positive motives. Cherishing this idea can be quite transformative, especially when combined with self-love, self-care and having good mental health.
The Positive Intention
Peter, one of the founders of Nortropics, has worked with hundreds of clients one to one and in group settings. He has found that the ones who practice the belief of positive intentions, regardless of the behavior, are also often those who manage to create changes in their private and professional life quicker. Let’s imagine a workplace conflict where two employees or departments argue about the sequence of which to lead a project. For instance, the marketing department is scheduling a campaign and the IT department has scheduled systems downtime. From their own perspective, the intentions are absolutely positive and they are both correct in the fact that the task is important, however, the outcomes may have negative consequences. The outcomes are not what’s important here, we solely focus on the intentions.
Recognizing the positive intention behind our actions allows us to approach behavioral change and conflict management with empathy and understanding. Instead of condemning ourselves or others for perceived shortcomings, we can look for and appreciate the underlying motives and work towards better suited expressions of the intentions. Doing so will help us feel better about our processes when faced with difficulties.
Foundations for mental health
Self-love and self-care are essential tools for a good mental health. They involve treating ourselves with the same compassion and kindness we extend to others. Which in turn is a double-edged sword because in order to express genuine care and love for others we need genuine care and love for ourselves.
- Self-love can be defined as the practice of accepting and valuing ourselves, including our flaws. It involves challenging our inner critic and nurturing a healthy internal dialogue.
- Self-Care can be defined as activities that nourish our mind, body and soul. From having great hobbies to setting boundaries. Self-care is about charging our batteries and preventing burnout. It is a deeply personal journey, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
A human being who works on their mental health, needs to create a supportive environment in order to grow. This environment also helps us build resilience and to combat stress. One way to begin to create such an environment is to have a specific morning routine that you can do no matter what is knocking at your door.
Nootropics in Mental health
Nootropics is also known as cognitive enhancers and they can play a supportive role when working on your mental health. After all, everyone who has faced severe challenges knows that change is very often associated with stress. Our nootropic supplements are designed to improve cognitive functions such as memory, focus and mental clarity. This can be especially beneficial in managing stress and having an overall more healthy brain activity.
Nootropics like L-theanine, found in Blue Clarity and Clarity, is known to enhance concentration and memory. While the plant Rhodiola Rosea can have especially good effects on an individual’s stress levels. Such benefits can help a person staying committed to their goals by improving their ability to focus and retain new information. Speaking from personal experience, the number one enemy for change and when achieving great things is stress.
On the other hand, nootropics like Ginkgo Bilboa and Lion’s Mane mushrooms have properties that support overall brain health. They do this by protecting neurons from oxidative damage, which in turn can enhance cognitive functions.
Nortropics and Change
It does not matter if you’re looking to performing better at work, if you are an athlete looking for that extra edge or if you’re simply an individual looking to feel better in your day. The products we provide at Nortropics are created especially to help you reach your goals and to help nourish you from your own unique starting point.
After all, every journey is unique, but our brain always requires good fuel to get going. Especially when facing changes.
Sources:
“Nootropics as Cognitive Enhancers: Types, Dosage and Side Effects of Smart Drugs”
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9415189/)
How Chronic Stress Affects Cortisol Levels and Your Health
Chronic stress is an unavoidable part of our hectic modern lives for many of us. As a personal trainer, coach, and psychotherapist, I have witnessed its consequences firsthand. Stress affects us on every level of our lives, but it is more than just a feeling. It impacts our bodies hormonally, particularly through cortisol, often known as the “stress hormone.” This hormone plays a critical role in how our bodies handle stress, but when it remains constantly elevated due to chronic stress, it can have serious health consequences.
What is Cortisol and Why is it Important
Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands and is a crucial part of the body’s “fight or flight” response (sympathetic nervous system). When we face a stressor, whether it is a physical threat or a mental burden, cortisol is released to help manage the situation. Cortisol increases blood sugar, prepares the brain’s use of glucose, and suppresses functions that are not necessary in a crisis situation, such as digestion, reflection, and reproduction. However, cortisol is not just a stress hormone. It is also responsible for regulating several vital functions, including metabolism, blood pressure, and the immune system. Therefore, the balance of this hormone is crucial for our health. When our cortisol levels are balanced, we feel better equipped to handle stress and maintain good health.
How Chronic Stress Affects Cortisol Levels
What happens when we experience chronic stress? I have seen in many of my clients, whether they come to me for physical training, weight loss, or psychotherapy, that constant stress can lead to persistently high cortisol levels. This is not just a reaction to acute stressors but an ongoing state where your body is in constant alert mode. One can imagine the body as a car engine. When your cortisol levels are constantly elevated, it’s like your car is running at high speed all the time, without a break. This, in turn, leads to a range of health problems because the body never gets a chance to “cool down” or relax. The result is that you may feel fatigued, have trouble sleeping, or even start gaining weight, especially around the waist and organs (visceral fat), which is often referred to as dangerous fat linked to cardiovascular diseases.Consequences of Elevated Cortisol Levels
Over time, elevated cortisol levels can have serious health consequences. As a personal trainer, I often see how this can lead to weight gain, particularly in the form of abdominal fat (visceral fat). This occurs because cortisol increases appetite and causes the body to store fat more efficiently and hold onto it. This was a useful mechanism in our early days when we lived in caves and were hunter-gatherers, with dangers like bears and other predators constantly around us, but it is less useful in today’s modern society. But it doesn’t stop there. Cortisol also affects your immune system. When it is constantly elevated, it can actually weaken the immune system’s ability to fight infections. I have had several clients who frequently feel sick or experience pain without injury and cannot recover from these symptoms. A common denominator is often chronic stress. Furthermore, high cortisol levels dramatically affect your sleep, which in turn leads you into a vicious cycle where poor sleep leads to further stress and hinders recovery, leading to increased cortisol levels. In extreme cases, this can lead to sleep disorders.
On the psychological side, elevated cortisol levels can lead to or worsen anxiety and depression, which can again lead into a vicious cycle where one exacerbates the other. This is something I often see as a psychotherapist. Clients with constantly high stress levels often report feeling overwhelmed or burned out. Over time, this can lead to serious psychological consequences that can be difficult to recover from.
How to Reduce Chronic Stress and Lower Cortisol Levels
Fortunately, there are many ways to reduce chronic stress and thereby lower cortisol levels. As a personal trainer, I always recommend physical activity as one of the best methods to lower these levels. Regular exercise, especially heavy strength training, not only helps burn excess energy, including fat, but also releases endorphins, the body’s natural “happiness hormones,” which help balance cortisol levels. I also coach most of my clients who fall into the categories of high cortisol levels and/or overweight to make significant lifestyle changes. We address training, diet, activity level, and mental health.
As a psychotherapist, I often suggest stress management techniques. We focus on being present in the moment and letting go of worries. Even simple breathing exercises can work wonders in calming the body’s stress response. Meditation exercises have also proven to be effective. Furthermore, I often resolve many of these issues with various forms of therapy.
Diet also plays a role in regulating cortisol. I always recommend my clients eat a balanced diet rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, fiber, and protein. Avoiding sugar, fast carbohydrates, and too much omega-6 helps regulate blood sugar levels, which in turn can keep cortisol levels in check. Avoiding caffeine and alcohol can also help reduce cortisol levels.
Supplements and nootropics can lower cortisol levels. I will address some of these supplements. The first is a well-known contributor to reducing stress and cortisol levels. Rhodiola Rosea is known for its stress-reducing properties. This herb has been shown to reduce mental fatigue and stress. Another powerful component and supplement is L-Theanine, which is naturally found in green tea. L-Theanine is an amino acid and neurotransmitter that has been shown to enhance alpha brain waves, resulting in a relaxing state in the brain and body. It is known to reduce anxiety and stress.
Chronic stress is more than just a mental burden. It affects your entire body, especially when it comes to hormones like cortisol. But when you understand how stress affects us, you can take steps to reduce it and thereby improve both your physical and mental health. Whether you struggle with stress at work, in your personal life, or both, it’s important to take action. By starting with recognition and small changes, you can solve a lot. Health is ultimately the most important thing we have. I encourage everyone to implement physical training, diet, and potentially therapy and coaching, and not least supplements/nootropics, to take control of stress before it takes control of you.From anxiety to balance – Hear from our customers
Life consists of ups and downs and this is my story on how I went from anxiety to balance. You have your everyday normal challenges like work and family life, while trying to balance a healthy lifestyle. But throughout life, you will experience life altering events.
A life altering event can be highly positive – like having a child. It can also be highly negative – like experiencing a serious trauma. But no matter which end of the scale you are balancing on, it will change your life forever. What if I told you, there is a product that can take you from anxiety to balance?
About the Author
This article is written by me – a 35-year-old woman, a registered nurse in Norway. The trio from Nortropics has developed a product called ‘Clarity’ and I have been using it since mid-March 2024.
That means I’m now nearly 6 months into this new life I’m living, thanks to their product! There is only need for one sentence for me to describe what I mean by living a new life;
– I didn’t know I could live a life without severe anxiety.
But is it that simple? Yes and no, of course – as everything else in life. What I actually can promise you though, is that I feel different and exclusively for the better since I introduced ‘Clarity’ as a daily routine. I have noticed a remarkable difference both in my physical and mental health since I started to consume this product every single day – even though the nurse in me was highly skeptical. I mean, that skepticism is literally part of my job. But no matter what curve ball life throws my way, this change is here to stay. I found something that took me from anxiety to balance.
If this made you curious, but not yet convinced – let me give this article more depth. I would like to tell you the reason why my life mostly has consisted of severe anxiety and depression.
Trauma and mental illness
As an adult woman, I was diagnosed complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD), in my late 20’s.
In reality, I have most likely had the diagnose since early teen-age years, because that’s when the symptoms first occurred. But as a lot of traumatized people in this world – I suppressed it all. cPTSD can be developed by many different kinds of trauma, but mine in particular was developed after years of mental abuse – alongside with violently sexual abuse as a child. The reason why I have decided to include this part of my life in this article, is because sadly – a lot of people all over the world experience the same kind of trauma as me. An experience like this in life will make a huge impact, but no matter how big of an impact – I am here to tell you that there is hope to regain your freedom.
To heal.
And again, I feel the urge to mention ‘Clarity’ and tell you that this product has positive effects on my mental state. It really helped me go from anxiety to balance. I don’t remember much of my life before the trauma occurred, so I would have to say that I only remember a life existing of severe anxiety and depression – a consequence from cPTSD.
I can’t remember a life without planning every single minute of my whole day, weeks ahead – medicated on maximum dosage of antidepressants. And even then, my everyday life consisted of me barely existing between my home and my job.
I purposely write ‘existed’, because that’s exactly what I did. I haven’t been living for 35 years. No excitement, not thriving – just simply surviving each day.
Until now.
Heading for disability benefit
It takes three years to get a bachelor’s degree as a registered nurse. Because of my mental health – I used almost 5 years. And because of cPTSD my whole life has been like this. Over time, I have never functioned both at home and at work at the same time, leading up to needing sick leave at least once a year. To be honest, I was heading for disability benefit.
Then I came across one of the co-founders of Nortropics – Stian Sandåker.
Until this point, I was convinced that my mental health was at a dead end. After three rounds of trauma-specific therapy, I had been told several times that I would never function better.
Then I was introduced to hypnotic therapy and the product I highly recommend; Clarity.
Hypnotherapy and Clarity
As mentioned, Stian Sandåker introduced me to the product Clarity, but he also introduced me to hypnotic therapy. The nurse in me didn’t really believe that any of it would make a difference in my life. The little girl in me was scared, and the woman in me was exhausted, grasping at the last straw of hope.
And all three versions of me mentioned, is extremely thankful for and still trying to comprehend this lifechanging product. The hypnotic therapy has been used to access my subconscious mind, altering how my conscious mind experience life – experiencing the world as most people do.
However, Clarity has really upped the game on this one.
At first, I didn’t really notice any difference, but I didn’t know what I was supposed to notice. I had no idea what to expect. And suddenly it hit me. What I would describe as brain fog, suddenly felt lifted. Like a layer of ‘mush’, just washed away. Like i slowly began going from anxiety to balance.
My everyday life has been exhausting up to this point, not because I live a busy high-intensity life, because I am absolutely not. It has simply been exhausting because my brain hasn’t been functioning at the right level, consumed with anxiety.
You know when you are reading a book, and all of a sudden you have read the same sentence, ten times for the past twenty minutes? Well, that’s one way to describe how my brain normally has been functioning throughout the day. And then of course, the anxiety came on top of that.
Little by little, both me and the people around me noticed the change. I stopped being constantly alert, scanning each room ten times before feeling somewhat safe, stopped giving out cold vibes. I used to feel terrified and hoped people would leave me alone and now i felt balanced.
Little by little, I stopped being scared of being alive.
mental Clarity
At first, I used Clarity twice a day to balance my mental health. I could still experience panic-attacks and anxiety, because let us be honest – nothing is ever done in a day. Change takes time and effort, but Clarity has really made it easier. Clarity helped me go from anxiety to balance.
Now, 6 months later – I use Clarity once a day, and that’s it. I have been followed up by my doctor, and I can proudly say that for the first time in my life since I was a young teenager, I am not using any medicine. From maximum dosage of antidepressant to nothing but Clarity.
After six months of using Clarity, I notice the difference within an hour after consuming it. I feel calm, I feel focused and more energized. And all of those effects mentioned, complement each other.
Brain fog
To explain further – when I don’t have brain fog, I can focus. When I focus, I don’t use a lot of energy thinking negative thoughts about myself or my capability, and my thoughts doesn’t wander. When I don’t use a lot of energy thinking negative thoughts, I of course feel more energized and overall satisfied. On top of that, I haven’t even mentioned the ingredients in Clarity which itself gives you more energy.
The biggest single impact of Clarity’s function I have experienced, happened when I was going on vacation. I can’t express it clearly enough – I am scared to death by riding on a plane. This time I had a better mental health than ever, using Clarity on a daily basis. In the late evening before the plane ride, I started feeling anxious.
Not anxiety, not deeply scared, but really uncomfortable. Trying to distract myself with reading, watching TV and doing crossword puzzles. Nothing worked and I decided to give Clarity a chance – knowing its function. And still, it took me by surprise! Only ten minutes after consuming, the anxiousness was completely gone and it was like an immediate transformation from anxiety to balance.
100% gone. I relaxed doing crosswords puzzles, not giving the upcoming plane ride one single thought.
How about that kind of focus, right?
physical Clarity
We all know that physical pain can make it more difficult to grow and begin this journey from anxiety to balance. And alongside with better mental health and capacity, Clarity will also make a difference in your physical health. I would especially like to mention my psoriasis, a skin condition resulting in itching, stinging and bleeding dry patches all over the body. I have had especially five patches on my body, giving be grief for at least two decades. The most exposed patch of psoriasis has been placed over the knuckles on top of my hand. It’s exposed for a lot of water and moist throughout a work shift as a nurse. This has resulted in a huge cracked patch of constantly irritated and infected skin. I have tried several types of medicine treatments, but nothing has ever worked more than a couple of weeks straight.
My psoriasis patches are gone. All you see is where it used to be, because the scarred tissue has a different color than the rest of the skin.
Other changes that Clarity can provide you with, that I have experienced myself, is painful joints and severe pain in scars. I have even been so lucky to have experienced the absence of a kind of pain only some people with a uterus can relate to – the pain of adenomyosis.
Woman health is still kind of a mystery in this world, because the research has been less prioritized. I just cannot express enough how thrilled I am to live a life without the severe pain that you can getfrom having adenomyosis.
When life gives you Clarity
I can still experience days when I struggle to comprehend the huge impact Clarity has had in my life.
But trust me, I am a 100% sure that this product works and this is why.
I have had a couple of days this past 6 months where I have forgotten my daily doses of Clarity and I immediately notice a difference. Only a week ago, I forgot it for three straight days and I didn’t really understand why I felt so different. I didn’t feel depressed or anything, but I just didn’t feel like the best version of me anymore. Tired and kind of awkward, less energy and just weirded out. Luckily all I needed to do was starting consuming Clarity again, and the same day I was back as the best version of me.
Do you still wonder if Clarity is a product for you?
How could it not? Let me break it down for you and perhaps you also can begin your journey from anxiety to balance.
Clarity for life
I have shared with you about my trauma, singlehandedly because I want to tell the tale of hope. If
you are holding on to hope, this product might be what you need for your journey.
- If you are going to therapy, using Clarity can help you to focus on the conversation and keeping a clear mind throughout the day. It can help you keep calm and prevent the fatigue a lot of people experience after a tough session.
- But those effects can transition to every aspect of life, no matter what your job is, no matter how a normal day looks like for you.
- If you are a parent and long for more energy after work to follow up on your children’s after-school activities, Clarity may help you with that. Or if you have to help your child with homework, which is way more demanding after a long day.
- If your job demands a lot of energy from you, staying alert and on the top of your game, Clarity would give you that extra boost. Delivering like never before.
- Is your talent your job or hobby – writer, musician or some other kind of artist.
- Does a day filled with anxiety that steals all of your energy sound familiar? I am living proof that Clarity helps you to stay calm. Helps you focus on the healthy thoughts and believe what the logical part of your brain is telling you – not what your anxiety is shouting at you.
- Are you an athlete, looking for something excelling your restitution? Helping you ace your game in your sport genre?
- Have your own anxiety to balance journey.
Do you see where I am going with this? Clarity can boost your life for the better, no matter what it
looks like. You can even experience all of the versions of life I just mentioned. I know I have.
I have experienced the benefit of using Clarity as a parent, as a nurse, for my therapy sessions and in
my hobbies which are combat sport and drawing.
Summary
Let me just remind you, we are all human. There is no miracle cure for the perfect life. No matter how
well you are doing in your life, you will have days that is just not for you. My traumatic past cannot be undone. Life altering events cannot be undone, but it all can be changed for the better.
If you are ready to change the way you live your life, the products from Nortropics are there to help
you excel in life.
I am no longer the old version of me, the one broken to pieces – both mentally and physically. I am
not even the original version of who I turned out to be, free from anxiety.
I am the very best version of who I can possibly be.
So can you.
Sincerely,
Anne Marlene Lauli
Nortropics disclaimer: This is solely a user generated review of our product Clarity. No supplements should ever be taken instead of medicine, nor should this article be considered as health advice. All statements in this article is a subjective experience from one happy customer.