Can food really boost serotonin? Here's what the science says

You might have heard serotonin referred to as the 'happy hormone' – but it does far more for us than support our mood.

Serotonin is a chemical messenger (or neurotransmitter, to use its proper name) found in the gut, brain and other parts of the body.

It plays a role in our, external:

Sleep quality

Appetite

Memory

Emotions and mood

"Serotonin has a protective effect to give us resilience and reduce stress," explains David Nutt, professor of neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London.

But – and it's a big but – it's hard to measure what levels of serotonin are linked to positive mental health, he says.