The Basics Of Happy Hormones | Divya Toshniwal |
Hormones are chemical messengers that are transported through the blood to various tissues and organs to help them perform the task designated to them. There are many types of hormones that are responsible for growth and development, for various bodily functions and also for ways we feel. We have heard a lot about hormonal disbalance resulting in PCOD, PCOS, Thyroid, and many more health issues. We have also heard about hormones like cortisol that makes us stressed and adrenaline that makes us excited. But today we are here to talk about hormones that make us feel happy.
What are the happy hormones ?
Our whole lives we search for things and people which make us happy. We all strive for a stress-free life and we adapt so many different pathways to lead us to a stress-free happy life. We understand that happiness is a feeling but what creates that feeling? In recent years there has been phenomenal development in understanding why we feel the way we do and we have come to know that our hormones play the most important role in it.
Happiness is not merely the absence of unhappiness. We have circuits in our brain for positive feelings and chemical messengers or neurotransmitters that are responsible for happiness are serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins.
Serotonin
The scientific name for serotonin is 5-hydroxytryptamine. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate learning, mood, social behavior, sleep, sexuality, and appetite. Serotonin is majorly found in the digestive system. It is the precursor to melatonin and hence maintains the sleep-wake cycle. Imbalance in serotonin levels can cause sleep disorders. There are various researches that show a low level of serotonin to affect mood and cause depression but there also have been researches that show depression causes a low level of serotonin. The serotonin levels are more sensitive to diet than any other happiness hormones.
How to balance Serotonin levels naturally?
Other than taking dietary supplements there are also natural ways to help you balance your serotonin level and the most important is the food you eat. Foods that boost serotonin levels are salmon, soy products, eggs, spinach, nuts, milk, turkey, pineapple, cheese, and seeds. Other than food aerobic exercise is also reported to have fantastic effects on the serotonin levels. Some researches also suggest that seasons affect serotonin levels too. In winter people tend to have low serotonin levels and in summers the serotonin levels rise. The reason behind this is said to be a bright light. Spending time in the sun helps boost serotonin levels.
Dopamine
Dopamine is the reward hormone or pleasure hormone. It is the hormone that makes you feel good. Dopamine affects the motivation levels, attention span, memory and also body movements. Dopamine motivates us to achieve our goals and targets and also it is responsible for the pleasure we feel in achieving those targets and goals. The procrastinators are said to have low levels of dopamine. When there is a low level of dopamine in your body it may result in low confidence, self-doubt, and lack of enthusiasm.
What are the happy hormones ?
Our whole lives we search for things and people which make us happy. We all strive for a stress-free life and we adapt so many different pathways to lead us to a stress-free happy life. We understand that happiness is a feeling but what creates that feeling? In recent years there has been phenomenal development in understanding why we feel the way we do and we have come to know that our hormones play the most important role in it.
Happiness is not merely the absence of unhappiness. We have circuits in our brain for positive feelings and chemical messengers or neurotransmitters that are responsible for happiness are serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins.
Happy Hormones and How To Boost Them Naturally
The scientific name for serotonin is 5-hydroxytryptamine. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate learning, mood, social behavior, sleep, sexuality, and appetite. Serotonin is majorly found in the digestive system. It is the precursor to melatonin and hence maintains the sleep-wake cycle. Imbalance in serotonin levels can cause sleep disorders. There are various researches that show a low level of serotonin to affect mood and cause depression but there also have been researches that show depression causes a low level of serotonin. The serotonin levels are more sensitive to diet than any other happiness hormones.
How to balance Serotonin levels naturally?
Other than taking dietary supplements there are also natural ways to help you balance your serotonin level and the most important is the food you eat. Foods that boost serotonin levels are salmon, soy products, eggs, spinach, nuts, milk, turkey, pineapple, cheese, and seeds. Other than food aerobic exercise is also reported to have fantastic effects on the serotonin levels. Some researches also suggest that seasons affect serotonin levels too. In winter people tend to have low serotonin levels and in summers the serotonin levels rise. The reason behind this is said to be a bright light. Spending time in the sun helps boost serotonin levels.
Dopamine
Dopamine is the reward hormone or pleasure hormone. It is the hormone that makes you feel good. Dopamine affects the motivation levels, attention span, memory and also body movements. Dopamine motivates us to achieve our goals and targets and also it is responsible for the pleasure we feel in achieving those targets and goals. The procrastinators are said to have low levels of dopamine. When there is a low level of dopamine in your body it may result in low confidence, self-doubt, and lack of enthusiasm.
How to boost dopamine levels naturally?
Other than taking dietary supplements there are also a few natural ways to boost your dopamine levels. Eating food that is rich in protein like soy, dairy products, turkey, legumes can help boost your dopamine levels. Adding fruits like prunes, bananas, and apples to your diet and reducing consumption of saturated fat is also important. Physical activity is an essential part of maintaining a hormonal balance. At least a 30-minute exercise routine is recommended for higher levels of dopamine in our system. Getting proper sleep, listening to good music, and meditation are a few more things that can help you balance your dopamine levels.
Endorphins
Have you ever got runners high? The reason behind it is Endorphins. Endorphins make you feel good after a great workout session and this is the reason why most doctors suggest physical activity sessions when a person is stressed or depressed. The general human tendency is to avoid pain and feel good. Endorphins are natural pain and stress relievers in our bodies. They produce the feelings of euphoria just like the class of drugs named opioids. They are also sedatives and prescribed for a short period of time after major surgeries for their pain-relieving abilities. Not all the roles of endorphins in our body are known but they are of great importance when it comes to reducing pain, reducing anxiety levels and also cutting down on extra body weight.
How to increase endorphins levels naturally?
The best way to increase endorphins level in your body is by engaging in physical activities like running, aerobics, dancing, swimming, playing a sport, etc. Other than that having dark chocolate, a glass of wine and spicy food have also been reported to bring an elevation in endorphins level. Other options are acupuncture therapy, taking massages and sauna.
Oxytocin
Oxytocin or the 'love hormone' as it is popularly known is produced in the hypothalamus and females tend to have higher levels of oxytocin than males. The release of oxytocin works on a positive feedback mechanism. Oxytocin in the system stimulates the release of more oxytocin. Oxytocin impacts social behaviors like bonding, trust, relaxation, and affection.
Endorphins
Have you ever got runners high? The reason behind it is Endorphins. Endorphins make you feel good after a great workout session and this is the reason why most doctors suggest physical activity sessions when a person is stressed or depressed. The general human tendency is to avoid pain and feel good. Endorphins are natural pain and stress relievers in our bodies. They produce the feelings of euphoria just like the class of drugs named opioids. They are also sedatives and prescribed for a short period of time after major surgeries for their pain-relieving abilities. Not all the roles of endorphins in our body are known but they are of great importance when it comes to reducing pain, reducing anxiety levels and also cutting down on extra body weight.
How to increase endorphins levels naturally?
The best way to increase endorphins level in your body is by engaging in physical activities like running, aerobics, dancing, swimming, playing a sport, etc. Other than that having dark chocolate, a glass of wine and spicy food have also been reported to bring an elevation in endorphins level. Other options are acupuncture therapy, taking massages and sauna.
Oxytocin
Oxytocin or the 'love hormone' as it is popularly known is produced in the hypothalamus and females tend to have higher levels of oxytocin than males. The release of oxytocin works on a positive feedback mechanism. Oxytocin in the system stimulates the release of more oxytocin. Oxytocin impacts social behaviors like bonding, trust, relaxation, and affection.
Increasing oxytocin in body is not related to a diet but oxytocin releases are maximum at the time of labor and while breast feeding . Self love is one way to instigate the release of oxytocin. Practice self love and self care routines.
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