What are Endorphins?
Endorphins are a type of hormone produced by the brain and nervous system to relieve stress and pain. They work similarly to a class of drugs called opioids.
According to Jeffrey M. Cohen, PsyD, Instructor of Medical Psychology at Columbia University Medical Center, Opioid receptors are part of a system that controls pain and reward. By activating the opioid receptors, endorphins can temporarily affect aspects of both physical and mental health.
The feel-good hormone
Endorphins are also known as the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals because endorphins stimulate feelings of pleasure, well-being, and pain relief. They are released during activities like exercise, meditation, eating certain kinds of food, and having sex.
Although endorphins are commonly associated with the well-known “runner’s high” that is felt after lengthy, vigorous exercise resulting in an increase in endorphin levels. The endorphin glow is a result of the positive mood shifts which don’t necessarily require strenuous physical activity.
Overall getting an endorphin boost leaves you with a sense of elation and well-being making them an essential component in a balanced, happy life.
How to get this feel-good hormone flowing
1. Get your Body Moving
Exercise increases your overall health and your sense of well-being.
Moving your body and increasing your heart rate with exercise, can stimulate the production of endorphins in the bloodstream.
As soon as your heart starts pumping the rush of feel-good chemicals kicks in to reduce the brain’s perception of pain.
2. Massage- the Power of Touch
Physical touch increases endorphins which leaves you with a feeling of being relaxed and revived.
Certain massage and acupuncture techniques such as chiropractic adjustments and hydrotherapy are known to stimulate endorphin release.
3. The Sensations of Sex
Engaging in regular sexual activity feels good, relieves stress, and releases endorphins. Endorphins produced during sexual arousal and shared affection stimulate the production of Oxytocin, known as the love hormone.
When “Endorphins and Oxytocin are released during sex, and these feel-good hormones activate pleasure centers in the brain that create feelings of intimacy and relaxation helps stave off anxiety and depression”, – according to WH advisor Laura Berman, Ph.D., assistant clinical professor of ob-gyn and psychiatry at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University and author of “It’s Not Him, It’s You!”
4. The Peace of Meditation
Do you know that simply relaxing and focusing on the silence of the mind triggers the release of endorphins and also helps increase dopamine, serotonin, and melatonin?
This cocktail of chemicals flooding through the bloodstream leaves you a feeling of being calm, happy, and content.
5. Affirmations
Research shows that up to 80 percent of the thoughts we produce in a day are negative, and you can’t live a positive life with a negative mind.
Affirmations are proven methods of self-improvement because they make you consciously aware of your thoughts.
Affirmations are short and focused positive statements that you autosuggest to yourself to achieve a desired outcome or goal. By repeating them, we re-wire our brains and change neural pathways and synapses to open up a new state of positive thinking and increase the level of endorphins released into the body.
6. Laughter is the Best Medicine
Laughing lifts the spirits and relieves tension. Endorphins are the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. It promotes an overall sense of well-being and temporarily relieves pain. Did you know that part of the reason laughing feels so good is because of the endorphins streaming through your system?
7. The Sunshine Vitamin
Vitamin D is popularly known as the sunshine vitamin it naturally occurs in the body when ultraviolet B (UVB) light hits the skin and converts specialized cholesterol to pre-vitamin D3.
When human skin is exposed to sunlight it produces several hormones and peptides that contribute to systemic health and wellness. One of them is Beta Endorphin (BE) which increases relaxation, acts as a natural painkiller, and promotes a feeling of well-being.
Vitamin D can also be found naturally in a few foods – including some fish, fish liver oils, egg yolks, and in fortified dairy and grain products.
8. Indulge in Chocolate
Eating chocolate is often associated with happiness and is celebrated as a pleasurable indulgence. A 2013 study in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that consuming chocolate may help improve your mood, making you feel calmer and more content.
Chocolate (a derivative of cocoa beans) contains plant nutrients called flavonoids that may provide health benefits and a source of antioxidants. Dark chocolate stimulates the production of endorphins, to create feelings of pleasure.
9. Spice up your Life
If you can stand the heat, chili peppers are another edible endorphin releaser. According to researchers, chili peppers contain a chemical called capsaicin that triggers the pain-relieving, feel-good effect in response to this fiery food’s heat—the hotter the pepper, the better (Carollo, 2012).
“The chemical found in most spicy foods called capsaicin, is effective in boosting endorphins,” says Dr Sturnham.
10. Wine
According to research published in the Journal of Neuroscience, enjoying a small amount of alcohol, especially wine, at the end of the day can boost endorphins (Ireland, 2014).
Both red and white wine contain antioxidants, and red wine contains resveratrol, which has been shown to reduce inflammation, slow the aging process, and protect against arterial damage (Hendrick, 2010; Mayo Clinic, 2011).
The Endorphin Glow
Need more proof? Have you noticed that your skin gives off a certain natural glow after a workout? It’s true; when you work out, your blood circulation increases and delivers oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells.
Oxygen and nutrients repair damaged skin, increase collagen production, and produce natural oils. When we exercise, the oils produced by our skin acts as a natural moisturizer. Thus, your skin ends up feeling moist, and hydrated.
Another benefit is that when we release endorphins we are rewarded with decreased levels of stress and anxiety, improved sleep, and a boost to our self-esteem.
Signs of Endorphine Deficiency
If your endorphin levels are deficient, it can wreak havoc on your health. The list below are some of the signs of endorphin deficiency:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Muscle aches and pains
- Chronic headaches
- Insomnia
- Addictive behaviors
Endorphins are chemicals produced naturally by the nervous system. It is free and easy to acquire. So if you are experiencing some of the signs above try to increase your endorphin levels. Leverage the power of endorphins and achieve the “Endorphin high and Beauty E-glow” (endorphin glow). It’s natural and beneficial to your overall well-being.
To get started on your journey you might want to check out my post on START YOUR DAY RIGHT WITH THE MIRACLE MORNING ROUTINE
SHARING IS CARING
29 comments on “Ready to Get that Endorphin High? Follow these 10 proven steps”
Mae Alexis
These are great tips for boosting endorphins! Isn’t it amazing how we are already naturally drawn to do the things that help us feel happy inside and out??
Lani
Hi Mae,
I totally agree with you. Endorphins are natural chemicals within our bodies that we can always choose to avail of in order to live a more blissful life. Life is good indeed. If you enjoyed this post, do check out my other inspiring posts. Looking forward to hearing more from you.
Aditi Jain
Such great tips! Endorphins make you happy! Love the article
Kimberlie
I knew about most of the endorphin types on this list, but not chocolate or wine. I may wish I can unknow that fact when it becomes my excuse to overindulge with them, lol.
Lani
Hi Kimberly,
Isn’t it exciting that our much-loved wine and chocolates can actually help release endorphins? I feel the same as you- I hope I don’t overindulge. If you enjoyed this post, do check out my other inspiring posts. I Look forward to hearing from you soon.
Tonya
I love these suggestions! Thank you for publishing this! You have such a beautiful website. : )
Lani
Hi Tonya,
Thank you so much for reading this article. I’m glad you got something out of it. If you enjoyed this post, do check out my other inspiring posts. I Look forward to hearing from you soon.
Hannah
I stumbled upon this post at the right time! I can’t wait to implement some of these methods today.
Zoe Garden
such great advice, thank you!
Lani
Hi Zoe,
I’m glad you enjoyed my post. I hope you use these tips to pump in more endorphins and enjoy a more blissful life. If you enjoyed this post, do check out my other inspiring posts. I’m Looking forward to hearing more from you.
Marnie
These sound great! Such easy ways to pump the endorphins and feel good 🙂 thank you!! xx
Lani
Hi Marnie,
Thanks for your comment. I hope you follow these tips and start adding more of this feel-good chemical into your life. If you enjoyed this post, do check out my other inspiring posts. I’m Looking forward to hearing more from you.
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