Happy Hormones: What is this, How they affect your body

Hormones are organic chemicals produced by several glands in our body. They travel throughout the bloodstream and act as messengers for the organs and many bodily processes.

One of the major functionalities of hormones is to regulate mood. Certain hormones are known to promote positive feelings including happiness and pleasure.

These hormones are called the “Happy Hormones”

These happy hormones include:

Dopamine

Dopamine or the feel-good hormone is a neuro transmitting fluid that is part of the brain reward system. Dopamine is associated with pleasurable sensations in the body that affect learning, memory, motor system functions, and much more. 

Seratonin

Seratonin is also a neurotransmitter that helps in regulating your mood as well as improves your sleep quality, digestion, learning abilities, and memory.

Oxytocin

Oxytocin is also called the Love-hormone. The hormone is important during childbirth, breastfeeding, and strong parental bonding. The hormone helps in the development of trust, empathy, and bonding in any relationship. Moreover, the increase in the levels of oxytocin generally increases physical affection during kissing, cuddling, or sex.

Endorphine

Endorphine is the natural pain killer in the body. The hormone is produced when the body responds under severe stress or discomfort. Endorphine levels in the body also increase when engaging in reward-producing activities like eating, workout, or during sex. 
Here are some of the natural ways to boost your mood with the use of these hormones in the body:

Get Outside

If you are looking to boost your endorphins and serotonin levels in the body, spending time outside in the sunlight is one of the best ways to do so. If you spend 10-15 minutes in the sun every day, you are likely to have higher levels of happy hormones in your body. If you’re tired of the same sight every day, try exploring new neighborhoods and parks. 

Exercise

Exercise is the key to a healthy body. While it has several physical health benefits, exercise is a major contributor to all happy hormones in our bodies. Regular exercise can help improve the levels of endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin in the body boosting your metabolism efficiently. 

Laugh with a Friend

Several types of research show that humans who interact with each other have lower levels of anxiety disorders. According to research, social laughter can trigger the release of endorphins in the body. Moreover, other ways to laugh with your friends is sharing a funny video, a joke, or watch a comedy with your friends. The bonus to such activities is that you might even have oxytocin released in your body leading to better bonding with your friends. 
Cook

Food is the key to releasing all the happy hormones in the body. A proper diet or the consumption of your favorite food can boost the levels of dopamine and endorphin in your body. Moreover, if you are enjoying a meal with your loved one or bonding over meal preparation, there is a chance of the release of Oxytocin in the body.

Here is a list of foods that can impact hormone levels in your body:

1. Spicy food can trigger endorphin release
2. Yogurt, beans, egg, and almonds are linked to the release of dopamine
3. Food with high tryptophan is linked to releasing serotonin
4. Food containing probiotics are directly linked to the influence of releasing hormones in the body