Serotonin plays a key role in body functions, such as mood, sleep, wound healing and bone health. Inappropriate serotonin levels can cause physical and mental health problems.
Many medications used to treat anxiety, depression and other mood disorders often target ways to increase the level of serotonin in your brain. You can try to increase your serotonin level by eating foods that contain tryptophan, the amino acid that makes up serotonin. The body does not produce enough serotonin and this can happen if you don't have enough serotonin receptors or if the receptors aren't working as they should.