Meet the Safety Cop of the Body
Emily Elrod, MHS
Sparking Humanity in Work and Sport ?? CEO of Workzbe ?? Key Note Speaker?
??? HOT TOPICS?
In our last newsletter, we nerded out about dopamine, aka "The Cheerleader" of the body. This week we want to introduce an equally important character -?your personal safety cop, aka serotonin.
We've given?serotonin this name because of its?critical role in helping us to feel safe. But this cop has many other jobs as well. Below are a few fun facts about serotonin?and the human body.
??? 90% of the safety cop is actually found in the gut?(not the brain), which is why we often have "gut reactions." This is the cop letting you know?and this is why gut health is so important to?overall?wellbeing. Another?8% is found in the bloodstream where it helps with clotting.
??? The Safety Cop is needed for healthy sleep. It?helps in?the production of melatonin which is necessary for healthy sleep cycles.?So if serotonin is at suboptimal levels, you may also be experiencing disrupted sleep.
???SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) are one of the most prescribed drugs in the world.?But their efficacy depends on the level of serotonin your body is already producing, aka how much of the cop you have in the body. ?The med inhibits the reuptake process; it does not help you produce more.?So if there isn't enough already available in your system, you will still have low levels.?
So?we know?we need?our safety cop to be patrolling, but not ALL the time. Not enough impacts mind and body, but so does too much.?Continue reading for tips on supporting your body's?unique balance.
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KINDLE THE FLAME??On Patrol
Our body's natural chemistry plays a?clear role in how much we need and have of?the safety cop. But?our levels are?not completely outside of our control.
Like many things,?supporting?your mind-body with things like a nutritious diet, exercise, purpose, and joy?will help in?producing the right amount for you.
But there are other things that can help as well, especially?those that?increase your sense of physical and psychological safety. We recommend the following tools to keep your safety cop ready when needed!
?? Practice HOT (humble, open, and transparent) communication. We use this term a lot because?it encompasses what we need as humans to feel secure in our relationships.?Keep people around you that you can?depend on, be vulnerable with, and ask for help?to?keep your safety cop happy.
? ??Pay attention to the basics. Things like your?home, neighborhood, food and finances have a huge impact on our sense of security?but are not something we always think about when?our safety cop isn't performing well?(like when feeling depressed or anxious.)?If we don't have our basic needs met, or feel that?they could?be threatened, serotonin drops?- contributing to that stress response.
???? Prioritize?sleep. Again, we need the safety cop to get good rest, but it's reciprocal -?good sleep will also help with adequate production! Practice good sleep hygiene, including?exposure to sunlight first thing in the morning, to help with sleep cycles.?Add?this to your list of why it is so important to sleep well.
???? Act on?your intuition. This one may seem "fluffy," but at its core, it really means to?listen to your body and give it what it needs. When you feel tired, rest. If you're craving a certain food group, investigate why.?Above all,?keep a rhythm to your day?- wake and sleep at the same time each day, exercise around the same time, and eat regular meals.
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STOKE THE FIRE????WISE Summit Spotlight:? Dr. Garland Vance
35 days until the WISE Summit! We can't believe how quickly it is coming up and want to make sure you get to know all of our amazing speakers.
So meet our next speaker, the?inspirational Dr. Garland Vance!
Dr. Garland has been helping people and teams?gain clarity about their life and leadership?for over twenty years.
He is an author, speaker, and consultant and will bring his knowledge to the?Work WISE Summit Stage on Thursday, Sept 22!
He will be talking about?Killing Busyness before it kills you.
In this session, Garland will share his story of Busyness and burnout while leading a nonprofit, having a family, and working on his doctorate in leadership and spiritual formation.
He discovered?a powerful, proven, and research-driven system that will help you shed stress, accomplish your dreams, and love life.
Session Learning Objectives:
Don't miss out on this fantastic session and more -?Register today to secure your spot!
PS We've designed the summit to be a transformative experience for leaders in ALL roles! We emphasize HR, Safety, and Operations, but anyone who interfaces with these teams will also benefit from attending. More questions? Message Emily Elrod, MHS !
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PANTS ON FIRE????Myth Busting
Myth: Eating foods high in tryptophan (like turkey and milk) will help significantly improve your mood.
Reality: Tryptophan is a precursor to the safety cop aka serotonin, but the amount produced from our diet is likely not enough to influence mood.
It is true that consuming?tryptophan - responsible for serotonin production?- is helpful for many reasons, one of which is that it is?one of the amino acids that can cross the blood-brain barrier.
Serotonin on its own cannot, which has led to the belief that foods rich in tryptophan can help to produce more serotonin in your body, thus improving mood.
The reality is that?tryptophan has to compete with all of the amino acids?to get into the brain. Science also shows us that the state of the brain is much more important to converting?tryptophan?to serotonin. So things like stress and inflammation may actually play a much more important role.
While?foods rich in this amino acid can absolutely be a healthy addition to your overall diet, we wouldn't count on it alone to have a huge impact on your mood.
That completes our time for today!?If you like what you read, please comment below or share! If you want to get this HOT Minute via email subscribe below:?https://www.workzbe.com/hot-minute