 |
 |
On Sat, 18 Jan 1997, Ron Reiner wrote: > Hi: ... > >... Well, just out of curiosity I picked up a copy of "Smart Drugs & Nutrients." > I was curious because it describes a lot of the "folklore" drugs used to > treat PD. I thought that some of you might be interested in seeing the > glossary entry for dopamine: > > --------------------- --------------------- > > "A neurotransmitter critical to fine motor coordination, immune function, > motivation, insulin regulation, physical energy, thinking, short term > memory, emotions such as sexual desire, and autonomic nervous system balance." > --------------------- --------------------- > > Incidentally, the book has an appendix devoted to the laws concerning > importation of "orphan drugs" (i.e., drugs approved for use by regulatory > agencies in other countries but not in the USA." Most of these smart drugs > are orphan drugs because their developers could not prove that they are > effective against any specific medical malady. I found the following brief reference to dopamine in a book by Earl Mindell, Food as Medicine, Bookman Press, Melbourne, 1994, pp. 272-73. While the emphasis is on sex and not dopamine, I thought my fellow warm-blooded PWP may appreciate the context in full. Earl Mindell's Super Sexy Diet Good nutrition and great sex go handin hand. Here's some advice on what to eat to feel healthy and sexy. * Eat lots of green, yellow and orange vegetableeeees and fruits rich in beta-carotene. The body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A according to your needs. Vitamin A is essential in the production of all sex hormones. (In women, vitamin A counteracts the negative effect of esetrogen, which, if supplied in excess, reduces your sexual desire.) * Nuts, whole grains (7-10 servings of grains, breads, cereals daily), dried beans, peas, and beets are a must because they contain manganese, a mineral that assists in the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter (sends impulses from the blood to the brain)that tendds to heighten or "turn on" your sexual arousal. * Bone up on B6 (found in whole grains, liver, kidney, fish, yeast, avocados, soybeans, cantaloupe, blackstrap molasses, unmilled rice, eggs, oats, peanuts and walnuts). B6 decreases prolactin, a hormone that can diminish a woman's sexual desire. It also increasesthe hormone in men that regulates testosterone, which maintains male sexual characteristics. * Swing with zinc (found in oysters, wheat germ, cashews, lean beef, lamb, lean pork, green beans, lima beans, pumpkin seeds, nonfat milk, and ground mustard). These zinc-rich foods stimulate the formation of testosterone, therefore aiding a man's ability for erections and ejaculation. * E is for everybody. Chow down on green vegetablees, whole grains, wheat germ, nuts, seeds, soybeans, Brussels sprouts, and spinach. Add unrefined vegetable oils and whole grain cereals to your daily diet. Vitamin E, an anticoagulant (blood thinner), improves circulation throughout your body, including to your sexual organs. It also aids in the production of prostaglandins, fatty acids that cause contractions of the uterus during intercourse. * If all else fails, look for yohimbe, an herb that is the only known aphrodisiac. It's available in prescription strength from your physician and should only be used under a doctor's supervision. (He discusses this herb in another book, Earl Mindell's Herb Bible.) And, on Dopamine ... the chemical of bliss ... The following are extracts from very sketchy notes I took from David Suzuki's TV doco "The Brain: The Universe Within" made in 1994. Neurotransmitters, eg. seratonin, dopamine, modify/shape human behaviour ... form the biological basis of sadness, joy, love, one's view of the world. Dopamine ... plays a significant role in mental illness. Whether one is overly suspicious, or inhibited in social interaction can be attributed to shortage of dopamine in frontal lobes. Affects memory. ... Dopamine is the pleasure chemical - the chemical of bliss - helps regulate feelings of pain in the body. Endorphins affect the dopamine pathways. The more endorphins the more dopamine. Dopamine is associated with pleasure like the high after endurance, eg. long distance running. Dopamine and love - dopamine is the biochemical basis of love. Love is a drug. Or two. One is dopamine. The other is noradrenaline. Love is/sends a surge rushing through the brain. Dopamine makes us feel good, makes us smile at strangers. Noradrenaline stimulates adrenaline, gives us the flushed cheeks of new love. Phenylalanine, a chemical found in chocolate, is also part of the mix that equals bliss. But the love potion can soon dry up. Love then moves to the cortex, the thinking part of the brain. Dopamine plays a role in both infatuation and true love (associated with attachment, love of family, kinship love). Oxytocin (the chemical responsible for uterine contractions) is the 'glue' that binds us, keeps us monogamous, strengthens bonds between parents and children. It is the 'cuddle chemical'. For what it's worth. Beth Leslie