Endorphin is a hormone naturally produced by the pituitary gland in the brain, and when it is released into blood circulation acts by stimulating the sense of pleasure, well -being, good humor, motivation and happiness. In addition, endorphin also acts as an opioid pain reliever, reducing physical pain and stress, and is therefore known as “endogenous opioid”, ie “Opioid of the body”.
Low endorphin levels in the body can cause irritation, sadness or irritability, and may increase the risk of developing health problems such as depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia or chronic migraine, for example.
However, there are some ways to stimulate endorphins production, such as practicing physical activities, having intimate contact, eating chocolate or being among friends, which are activities that lead to the release of endorphin in the blood, increasing the feeling of well -being and pleasure.
What endorphin is for
Endorphin is very important for various functions of the body, so it is important that its levels are at healthy concentrations. The main functions of endorphin are:
1. Improve mood
Endorphin acts in the brain regulating anxiety, increasing happiness and improving mood and, therefore, low levels of this neurotransmitter can cause anxiety and lead to depression.
2. Increase self-esteem
The release of endorphin through the body increases the feeling of well-being, happiness and pleasure, which helps increase self-confidence, improving self-esteem.
3. Reduce pain
Endorphin has analgesic action, similar to opioid remedies such as morphine, being naturally released by the body in times of pain, such as extreme physical efforts, break a bone or after surgery, for example.
Despite having similar action to opioids, endorphin does not cause dependence or addiction such as opioid drugs.
4. Reduce stress
In addition to decreasing pain sensation, endorphin also helps reduce stress as it acts by regulating the release of stress -related hormones.
In addition, endorphin increases the feeling of well -being and pleasure, which helps reduce stress.
5. Improve memory and attention
Endorphin also helps to improve memory and attention, because when released it increases the feeling of well -being, which facilitates attention to external stimuli, and allows external stimuli to be perceived more clearly.
6. Strengthen the immune system
Endorphin release helps strengthen the immune system by reducing emotional stress. This is because in situations of chronic stress or depression, the immune system may be weakened, reducing its ability to combat microorganisms and increasing the risk of disease.
7. Increase the desire for intimate contact
Endorphin influences sexuality, as it induces the synthesis and release of other hormones, such as oxytocin, for example, also known as the hormone of love, which leads to an increase in desire for intimate contact, as well as facilitating loving bond because it causes a sense of happiness and well -being. Learn more about oxytocin.
Low endorphin -related diseases
Low levels of endorphin in the body have been related to the higher risk of development of some conditions, such as:
- Depression;
- Anxiety;
- Fibromyalgia;
- Chronic migraine;
- Sleep and waking problems.
In addition, the person may still feel constantly tired, sad, irritated and be without patience easily, which may indicate that the body needs more endorphin in the bloodstream.
How to increase endorphin
Some ways to increase the release of endorphins in the bloodstream are:
1. Do physical exercise
One of the best ways to increase the release of endorphins is to make a race at least once a week. However, for people who do not like this type of exercise, you can choose to practice group classes in a gym or something more peaceful like a pilates or yoga class, for example.
In addition, one can do an activity that gives pleasure and at the same time helps exercise the body, such as riding a bike, walking, surfing or practicing a dance modality that you like, for example.
The important thing is to find some time during the week to devote to this practice. Get to know the main benefits of physical activity.
2. Comer chocolate
Chocolate encourages the release of well-being-related neurotransmitters, as it contains an endorphin called Anandamide, which makes the person feel happier and more satisfied.
To enjoy the benefits of chocolate, just eat one square a day, and the ideal is that it is black chocolate with 70% cocoa, at least, because it has less fat and sugar in the composition, thus reducing the negative impact on the scale.
Know other benefits that chocolate has for health and learn how to use it to prepare healthy recipes.
3.
Being with friends telling stories, remembering happy moments or even watching movies with fun scenes or comedian shows can guarantee moments of great joy and so they should be performed often.
Laughter is beneficial and therefore can even be used as a form of alternative therapy, called laughter therapy or risotherapy, which aims to promote mental and emotional well-being through laughter. Check out some tips for improving mood.
4. Have intimate contact
The pleasure of intimate contact releases endorphins that promote happiness and, therefore, it is important to maintain a love relationship in which intimate contact is satisfactory and regular.
To make the most of the intimate contact, the ideal is for the person to feel comfortable with the partner, and that all affective involvement contributes to the couple’s satisfaction, in order to promote happiness and strengthen the relationship.
5. Be grateful
Gratitude for life, for what you have or conquered, for the presence of friends or family also releases endorphins, making people happier, so it is always good to take time to reflect and find reasons to thank.
Thus, to keep the habit of thanking the good things in life, even the little things, you can make a list of reasons for gratitude. For this, you can try to put at least 1 item on this list every day, and meditate on it, doing this as an exercise.
6. Remember good times
The more you think of sad situations, but downcast the person can stay. On the other hand, the more frequent the good thoughts and the memory of good times, the more likely the person will be happy.
People who have a habit of spending their lives complaining, should try to identify every time they had a bad thinking or made a negative comment, and focus their attention on replacing these bad thoughts with the good. In addition, it is also very important for happiness to have the ability to see the positive side of each seemingly bad event or thought.
7. Make plans for the future
The key to success lies in the balance between dream and reality. Dreaming of what you want is a good way to help you reach it, however, your feet should be kept on the ground to avoid disappointment. Therefore, the person can dream but at the same time should build ways to make this dream come true. When this happens, there will be one more reason for gratitude, which also brings happiness.
Another way to achieve happiness is to invest in the consumption of foods that contain or stimulate serotonin production, such as tomatoes, Brazil nuts and red wine, for example.
Illicit drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and remedies such as amphetamines can apparently bring happiness, but only momentary, impairing brain function and health.
Source: www.tuasaude.com