Because the body needs tyrosine to produce dopamine, some experts believe eating a diet high in the amino acid could have an effect on our dopamine levels. “While the body regulates dopamine production through complex processes, certain foods can influence its levels indirectly,” says Ludlam-Raine.

Protein-rich foods like chicken, turkey, fish and eggs all provide ample levels of tyrosine, as do plant-based protein sources like soya, lentils, beans, bananas, nuts and seeds. So you don’t need to search far and wide to find foods that can deliver a much-appreciated tyrosine boost.

Gut-friendly foods may also have a positive impact on dopamine levels, adds Ludlam-Raine. “Fermented foods like yoghurt, kefir and sauerkraut contain probiotics, which may support gut health and indirectly influence dopamine production,” she says. “This is because the gut-brain axis plays a key role in neurotransmitter regulation (of which dopamine is one).”

How to increase dopamine naturally: can the foods we eat boost our levels of the hormone?