If you are you feeling stressed, not sleeping well, and experiencing mood swings, your level of serotonin, your “happy hormone,” may be low. Serotonin, an important neurotransmitter required for healthy nerve and brain function, is closely linked to mood and relaxation. You may feel overwhelmed by life’s pressures: work and deadlines, financial worries, family responsibilities, your health, or just never having enough time. Too much stress, a sedentary lifestyle, and poor diet can cause serotonin to become depleted, leading to depression, anxiety, and sleeping disorders, which can lead to the negative coping patterns of overeating and addictions. Stress can’t be avoided, but there are things you can do to better cope with it. Physical exercise, especially yoga, and relaxation exercises such as deep breathing can go a long way to protecting you from the ill effects of stress. Also essential is a whole-food diet, with little or no caffeine, alcohol, or sugar. Foods such as turkey, chicken, pork, and cheese are also helpful because they contain the amino acid L-tryptophan, from which your body makes 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a precursor to serotonin. You can also take Mood Balance 5-HTP to help reestablish normal serotonin levels and calm your nervous system.