95% of serotonin in our bodies is made in the digestive tract. The serotonin made in the gut is structurally identical to that made in the brain.

What we eat matters! and that's why probiotics found in Tibico drinks can help.

That's why antibiotics, TUMS, omeprazole and other medications that alter the bacteria in the digestive tract can cause: Depression.

Mood issues

Poor digestion

Sleep depravity

Blood clotting

Bone density weakness

Poor sex function

What Is Serotonin?

Serotonin is a naturally occurring substance that functions as a neurotransmitter to carry signals between nerve cells (called neurons) throughout your body.

In the brain, serotonin helps with mood regulation and memory, but the neurotransmitter also has important jobs in other parts of the body. In fact, most of the serotonin in your body is found in your gut, not your brain. Not only do the intestines produce almost all of the body's serotonin supply, but serotonin is required there to promote healthy digestion.

Elsewhere in the body, serotonin also helps with sleep, sexual function, bone health, and blood clotting. Here's a closer look at serotonin's many functions, what happens if you have too little (or too much), and a few ways to balance your levels for optimum health.

What Does Serotonin Regulate?

Serotonin is known to be involved in many bodily functions, ranging from regulating mood to digesting food.

Mood

Serotonin's effects in the brain could be considered its “starring role” in the body. As it helps regulate your mood, serotonin is often called the body's natural "feel-good" chemical. Serotonin's influence on mood makes it one of several brain chemicals that are integral to your overall sense of well-being.

The neurotransmitter's effect on mood is also why it's often a target of medications that are used to treat depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. For example, increasing serotonin levels is the purpose of the class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Digestion

Serotonin contributes to normal bowel function and reduces your appetite as you eat to help you know when you're full. The neurotransmitter also plays a protective role in the gut.

For example, if you eat something irritating or toxic, your gut responds by producing more serotonin. The extra "dose" of the chemical moves the unwanted food along, expelling it from your body more quickly.

The response is also why increased levels of serotonin can make you nauseated, and why drugs that target specific serotonin receptors can be used to alleviate nausea and vomiting.

Sleep

The exact nature of serotonin's role in sleep has been debated by researchers, but it's believed to influence when, how much, and how well you sleep. Serotonin does not regulate these tasks alone; other neurotransmitters like dopamine also play a key role.

A hormone called melatonin is also critical to the prop