logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2023
30m 30s

Increasing Dopamine: The Key to Focus, M...

NURSE DOZA
About this episode

The episode focuses on increasing dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in focus, motivation, reward, pleasure, and happiness. Nurse Doza recommends taking vitamin B9, particularly the methylated form called 5MTHF, to support dopamine production. He explains that many people are deficient in B9 and warns against using the inferior form called folic acid. The host also mentions his personal experience with methylation difficulties and the importance of methylation for dopamine production.

 

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 START

02:30 Increasing dopamine.

03:42 Vitamin B9 and dopamine production.

07:21 Vitamin B9 and focus.

11:17 Boost for natural energy.

15:28 Increasing healthy dopamine.

18:49 The role of SAMe in depression.

21:33 Increase dopamine for productivity.

25:12 Supporting the COMT Gene.

27:38 Supporting genetics and mental health.

 

---

Today's podcast episode is sponsored by BLISS, the newest tart lemon flavored sublingual supplement in the wellness market.

Designed to give your serotonin and dopamine levels a healthy boost, BLISS not only supports your mood but also enhances your overall well-being.

Just a quick drop under your tongue for 30 seconds, and you'll experience the difference.

Click the link in our description to get your hands on BLISS. 

https://www.mswnutrition.com/collections/best/products/bliss/?ref=baldo

use CODE: NURSEDOZA for a discount

---

Show Notes

Today, we're sharing scientifically-backed tips to naturally enhance your dopamine levels. Get ready to take notes! 

Tip 1: B9 Vitamin Intake^1,2^

Vitamin B9 plays a crucial role in the synthesis of serotonin and dopamine, the neurotransmitters that regulate mood^1^. It's associated with psychiatric symptoms, and its neuroprotective benefits are lost when patients lack a specific genetic enzyme, which converts folate/folic acid to its most usable form, L-methylfolate. This allows for the synthesis of the three major neurochemicals-serotonin, nor-epinephrine, and dopamine-across the blood-brain barrier^2^. 

Studies: 
1. [Vitamins and Minerals for Energy, Fatigue and Cognition: A Narrative Review of the Biochemical and Clinical Evidence](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7019700/) 
2. [Vitamin B Supplementation: What's the Right Choice for Your Patients?](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28671236/)

Tip 2: Vitamin B6 Intake^1,2^

Vitamin B6-dependent enzyme in the brain, the aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase, catalyzes the synthesis of dopamine from phenylalanine^1^. Evidence suggests that B6 undernutrition can lead to a loss of dopamine in the brain^2^.

Studies:
1. [Vitamins and Minerals for Energy, Fatigue and Cognition: A Narrative Review of the Biochemical and Clinical Evidence](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7019700/)
2. [Effect of vitamin B-6 nutrition on the levels of dopamine, dopamine metabolites, dopa decarboxylase activity, tyrosine, and GABA in the developing rat corpus striatum](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2761676/)

Tip 3: Take SAMe^1,2,3,4^

SAMe is an endogenous amino acid metabolite and enzyme co-substrate involved in multiple biochemical pathways, including biosynthesis of hormones and neurotransmitters. Studies suggest that SAMe may increase the dopaminergic tone in the brain^2,3,4^.

Studies:
1. [THE ADRENAL GLANDS PART I: THE ADRENAL MEDULLA](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780702033728000057)
2. [S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) for Neuropsychiatric Disorders: A Clinician-Oriented Review of Research](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5501081/)
3. [Oral S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) Administration Increases Whole Brain Concentrations of Dopamine and Norepinephrine in Rats](https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.134.3)
4. [Neuroendocrine effects of S-adenosyl-L-methionine, a novel putative antidepressant](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2120432/)

Tip 4: Copper Intake^1^

Dietary copper deficiency is associated with a reduction in dopamine^1^. 

Studies: 
1. [Copper: from neurotransmission to neuroproteostasis](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4080678/)

Tip 5: Support the COMT Gene - Quercetin^1,2,3,4,5,6,7^

The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene, involved in dopamine metabolism, and the MTHFR gene, affecting COMT methylation and function, are critical in maintaining dopamine levels. Quercetin, through its COMT-inhibiting properties, might potentiate dopamine effects^6^.

Studies: 
1. [Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Genotype and Dopamine Regulation in the Human Brain](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6742018/)
2. [Quantitative role of COMT in dopamine clearance in the prefrontal cortex of freely moving mice](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.06889.x)
3. [Role of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT)-dependent processes in Parkinson's disease and L-DOPA treatment](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22483291/)
4. [Tyrosine Hydroxylase and Regulation of Dopamine Synthesis](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3065393/)
5. [A potential interaction between COMT and MTHFR genetic variants in Han Chinese patients with bipolar II disorder](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4351536/)
6. [Quercetin potentiates L-Dopa reversal of drug-induced catalepsy in rats: possible COMT/MAO inhibition](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12711835/)
7. [Quercetin increased bioavailability and decreased methylation of green tea polyphenols in vitro and in vivo](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3590855/)

---

Before we sign off, don't forget about our sponsor BLISS.

Just drop under the tongue and you're paving the way to healthier levels of serotonin and dopamine.

This tart lemon sublingual supplement is a game-changer, bringing a blissful transformation to your day-to-day life.

Don't miss out on this wellness opportunity! Click the link in our description to purchase BLISS now. Remember, a healthier, happier you is just a drop away!

https://www.mswnutrition.com/collections/best/products/bliss/?ref=bliss

---

Up next
Aug 21
Bliss + Mitochondriac: The Stack for Energy, Mood, and Longevity
Bliss + Mitochondriac by MSW Nutrition This is your stack for high performance and long-term health. Mitochondriac delivers two powerful forms of resveratrol, quercetin, and methylated support for cellular energy and aging. Bliss fuels mood, neurotransmitters, and MTHFR gene supp ... Show More
1m 42s
Aug 18
This Gene’s a Real MTHFR—Here’s What It’s Doing to Your Body
This Gene’s a Real MTHFR—Here’s What It’s Doing to Your Body This episode unpacks the powerful effects of the MTHFR gene mutation—on your heart, liver, brain, and mood. Learn how this tiny genetic hiccup can impact energy, detox pathways, mental health, and longevity—and what to ... Show More
33m 25s
Aug 11
5 Ways to Settle an Autoimmune Flare Before It Spirals
💩 Join the Good Poops Challenge – Starts August 11th: https://www.goodpoops.org This 8-week challenge is designed to reset your gut, support liver function, and help you feel lighter, clearer, and more energized—naturally. Liver health is the most overlooked key to fat loss—and ... Show More
30m 29s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 14
Essentials: Controlling Your Dopamine for Motivation, Focus & Satisfaction
In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, I explain how dopamine regulates motivation and provide science-based tools to help improve focus, discipline and overall drive. I explore how particular activities affect dopamine levels and discuss how the highs, lows and baseline levels ... Show More
38m 37s
Oct 2024
From Wellness to Personality: The Power of Supplements Explained | Ep 54
What if the right supplements could do more than just support your body—they could actually shift your mood and energy in ways you didn’t expect? This episode peels back the curtain on how certain nutrients can dramatically impact your mood, energy, and even your confidence. Feat ... Show More
1h 9m
Jan 2025
Essentials: How to Increase Motivation & Drive
In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, I explain the biological mechanism behind motivation and drive, as well as discuss practical tools for overcoming procrastination. I discuss the key role dopamine plays in driving cravings and motivating action. I explain how dopamine regu ... Show More
39m 28s
Jan 2025
Brain Expert: 6 Habits to Boost Focus & Concentration By 48 Percent (Hack Your Dopamine!) with TJ Power
How long can you stay focused on one task? What distracts you the most when you’re trying to focus? Today, Jay chats with neuroscientist and author TJ Power to uncover the science behind our brain’s chemistry and how it shapes our emotions, habits, and overall well-being. TJ, kno ... Show More
1h 12m
Jun 2
Dopamine & Lasting Motivation: Keys to Success
Episode Description: Discover the secrets to staying motivated long-term by understanding the role of dopamine in success. Learn practical tips and strategies to boost your dopamine levels, increase focus, and achieve your goals in this enlightening episode of The Dopamine Detox: ... Show More
4m 18s
Jun 2024
#091 Andrew Huberman, PhD: How to Improve Motivation & Focus By Leveraging Dopamine
Download the 12-Page "Omega-3 Supplementation Guide" Discover my premium podcast, The Aliquot Join over 300,000 people and sign up for my newsletter Become a FoundMyFitness premium member to get access to exclusive episodes, emails, live Q+A’s with Rhonda and more Dr. Andrew Hube ... Show More
3h 32m
Nov 2021
#392 - Anna Lembke - How To Reset Your Brain's Dopamine Balance
Anna Lembke is a psychiatrist who is Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic at Stanford University and an author.Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter in our reward pathway. It tells us when to feel pleasure and pain, it can cause depression and anxiety, and ... Show More
1h 3m
Aug 18
Michael Long on Taming Dopamine: Regain Focus and Productivity
Michael Long is a bestselling author and speechwriter who co-wrote Taming the Molecule of More, the follow-up to the hit book The Molecule of More. In this conversation, we dive into how dopamine—the brain’s “molecule of more”—drives distraction, craving, creativity, and producti ... Show More
40m 46s
Mar 2025
Neuroscientist: How To Hack Your Dopamine To Boost Your Mood, Energy, and Focus
I'm going on tour! Come see The School of Greatness LIVE in person!Get my new book Make Money Easy here!Prepare to completely rethink your relationship with technology as neuroscientist TJ Power reveals the shocking truth about what's happening to our brains in the digital age. D ... Show More
1h 4m
Jun 19
Dopamine Detox: Rewiring Brain Focus
Episode Description: Discover the science behind dopamine detox and learn practical tips to reduce distractions, increase focus, and boost productivity in todays digitally-driven world. This enlightening podcast episode delves into the benefits of a dopamine detox, shedding light ... Show More
4m 50s