Endorphins

Endorphins are a group of hormones produced naturally by the pituitary gland in the brain, and when they are released into the bloodstream they act by stimulating the sensation of pleasure, well-being, motivation and happiness. In addition, endorphins also act as an opioid analgesic, reducing physical pain and stress, which is why they are known as “endogenous opioids”, that is, “the body’s own opioid”.

Low levels of endorphins in the body can cause irritation, sadness or irritability, and can increase the risk of developing health problems such as depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia or chronic migraine, for example.

However, there are some ways to stimulate the production of endorphins, such as practicing physical activity, having intimate contact, eating chocolate or being with friends, which are activities that lead to the release of endorphins in the blood, increasing the feeling of well-being and pleasure. .

Functions of endorphins

The functions of endorphins are:

1. Improve mood

Endorphins act in the brain regulating anxiety, increasing feelings of happiness and improving mood, so low levels of this neurotransmitter can cause anxiety and cause depression.

2. Increase self-esteem

The release of endorphins by the body increases the feeling of well-being, happiness and pleasure, which helps to increase self-confidence, improving self-esteem.

3. Reduce pain

Endorphins have an analgesic action, similar to opioid drugs, such as morphine, being naturally released by the body in situations of pain, such as when extreme exercise is performed, in a fracture or after surgery, for example;

4. Reduce stress

In addition to reducing the sensation of pain, endorphins also help reduce stress, since they act by regulating the release of stress-related hormones.

In addition, endorphins increase the feeling of well-being and pleasure, which help reduce stress.

5. Improve memory and attention

Endorphins also help improve memory and attention, since when they are released, they increase the feeling of well-being, which facilitates attention to external stimuli, as well as allowing them to be perceived more clearly.

6. Strengthen the immune system

The release of endorphins helps strengthen the immune system, because it reduces emotional stress, since in situations of chronic stress or depression, the immune system weakens, decreasing the ability to fight microorganisms, increasing the risk of diseases.

7. Increase sexual desire

Endorphins have an influence on sexuality, since they induce the synthesis and release of other hormones, such as oxytocin, for example, also known as the love hormone, which leads to an increase in sexual desire, in addition to facilitating the love bond, due to that causes a feeling of happiness and well-being.

since it induces the synthesis and release of other hormones, such as oxytocin, for example, which increases the desire for intimate contact, as well as facilitating the love bond, because it produces a feeling of happiness and well-being.

Diseases related to low endorphins

Low levels of endorphins in the body have been linked to an increased risk of developing some conditions, such as:

• Depression;
• Anxiety;
• fibromyalgia;
• Chronic migraine;
• Sleep and wake problems.

In addition, the person may feel constantly tired, sad, irritated and easily lose patience, which may indicate that the body requires more endorphins in the bloodstream.

How to increase endorphins

Some ways to increase the release of endorphins into the bloodstream are:

1. Exercise

One of the best ways to increase the release of endorphins is to run or jog, at least once a week. But, if you don’t like to do these types of exercises, you can also choose to practice others like going to group classes in a gym or something calmer like a Pilates or Yoga class, for example.

In addition, the person can choose to practice an activity that gives them pleasure and at the same time helps them to exercise their body, such as riding a bicycle, hiking, surfing or practicing a type of dance that they like.

The important thing is to find some time during the week to dedicate yourself to this activity. Learn about the main benefits of physical activity.

2. Eat chocolate

Chocolate stimulates the release of neurotransmitters related to well-being, it contains an endorphin called anandamide, which makes the person feel happier and more satisfied after eating chocolate.

To enjoy the benefits of chocolate, it is enough to eat one square a day, and ideally it should be dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa, because it has less fat and sugar in its composition, thus reducing the negative impact on health. balance.

3. Laugh out loud

Sharing with friends telling stories, remembering happy moments, or even watching movies with funny scenes or comedy shows, can provide moments of great joy, and should be done frequently.

Laughter has immense health benefits, which is why it can even be used as a form of treatment, called laughter therapy, which aims to promote mental and emotional well-being through laughter.

4. Have intimate contact

Sexual pleasure releases endorphins that promote happiness, so it is important to maintain a good love relationship in which sexual contact is satisfactory and regular.

To fully enjoy intimate contact, the ideal is for the person to feel comfortable with their partner, and for the entire affective relationship to contribute to their satisfaction, in order to promote happiness and strengthen the relationship.

5. Be grateful

Gratitude for life, for the presence of friends or family also releases endorphins making us happier, for this it is always good to take time to reflect and find reasons to be grateful.

To create and maintain this habit of being grateful for the good things in life, even the smallest, the person can make a list of reasons why they should feel grateful. For this you can try to put at least 1 item on that list every day and meditate on it, doing this as an exercise.

6. Remember good times

The more we think about sad situations, the more sorry we can be. While when you have positive thoughts and beautiful memories, there are more chances of being happy.

People who have the habit of demanding everything in life should identify all the times they had a bad thought or made a negative comment, and try to focus their attention on replacing these bad thoughts with good ones. In addition to this, to achieve happiness it is very important to have the ability to see the positive side of things.

7. Make plans for the future

The key to success is in maintaining a balance between dreams and reality. Dreaming about the things you want is excellent to help you achieve them, however, you must keep your feet on the ground to avoid disappointment. For this, the person must forge the path at the same time as the dream, so that it can become a reality. When this happens there will be one more reason for gratitude, causing more happiness.

Another way to achieve happiness is to increase the consumption of foods that stimulate the production of serotonin such as tomatoes, nuts and red wine, for example.

Illegal drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and medications such as amphetamines can cause happiness and euphoria, but it is a momentary effect that impairs brain function and health.