What Are Endorphins?
Endorphins are hormones released by your body when it is in pain or stress. They are also produced during certain pleasant activities as well such as exercise, eating, laughing sex, etc. Their production is stimulated by the brain mainly the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Other parts of the body are also capable of their production. Endorphins are also known as the body’s natural pain reliever. They help you to relieve pain, and stress and boost your mood. There are 20 different types of endorphins in your body.
Why Do We Want Endorphins?
Endorphins block the pain-causing nerves within your body. They help you stay functional even in a state of pain or stress. If you want to overcome anxiety or depression, then you need endorphins to surge inside your body. They produce a calming effect on your body. Endorphins help in producing feelings of joy and happiness. They boost your mood and improve self-love and self-esteem.
Studies have suggested that endorphins are quite useful in decreasing inflammation and improving the strength of your immune system. So, you will want them for some therapeutic reasons as well. Researches are ongoing on finding its role in maintaining and improving memory and cognitive abilities.
How to Boost Endorphins Levels?
Endorphin release can be achieved via therapy and naturally. 14 Alternative Therapies For An Endorphin Release. You can increase the levels of endorphins in your body in many ways. Some of them are mentioned below:
- Exercise:
Many studies emphasize exercise’s role in improving our mood and decreasing unwanted feelings of sadness and anxiety. It is suggested that moderate to vigorous exercise mainly aerobic and strength training plays a vital role in increasing the production of endorphins. In addition to endorphin, it also stimulates the production of other happy hormones like dopamine and serotonin.
- Laugh Therapy:
It is commonly said that laughter is the best medicine. Laughing increases the production of endorphins while reducing the release of stress hormones. It then helps improve mood, reduce pain, lower blood pressure, and improve immune system functioning.
Go out with friends who give you good laughs and enjoy any funny movie to boost your endorphins levels.
- Have Acupuncture:
Acupuncture is a traditional method used for ages as an effective method in treating pain and other health conditions. Although the mechanism of its functioning is not properly understood, it causes the release of certain chemicals in the body including endorphins.
- Dark Chocolate:
Some studies suggest that dark chocolate increases the release of some feel-good hormones like dopamine as well as endorphins. The polyphenolic compounds present in dark chocolate stimulate the brain to produce endorphins.
- Meditation:
Meditation helps you become more mindful of the present. It reduces the stress response of the body and improves the “rest and digest” response by activating the parasympathetic system. It is thought that it may increase endorphin levels as meditators have increased pain threshold levels.
- Having Sex:
Many studies have suggested that sex increases the production of endorphins along with other hormones like oxytocin, dopamine, etc.
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