March 25, 2022 – Lenstapes Med

Health blog

Feel-good hormones: their effects on our mind, mood and body

Hormones are the chemical messengers in your body. Glands release hormones into your bloodstream, which work on various organs and tissues to control everything from your body’s function to your mood. One group of hormones are nicknamed the “feel-good hormones” because of the happy and, sometimes, euphoric feelings they produce. They’re also known as neurotransmitters, which implies they transport information between nerve cells. What are the four feel-good hormones? Dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin. Simple lifestyle adjustments, such as diet, exercise, and meditation, can help you increase the levels of these hormones and possibly improve your mood in the process. Do you need a supplement? Diet, exercise, and spending time with the people you care about are all natural strategies to boost the amount of feel-good hormones in your brain. It’s tempting to go for a supplement as a fast pick-me-up in the effort to feel better and avoid depression. Supplementing these hormones isn’t necessary for most people. Supplements can also have unfavorable and even dangerous side effects in some situations. 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) tablets, for example, can aid to raise serotonin levels in the brain. However, their use has been associated to liver and brain damage, as well as eosinophilia myalgia syndrome (EMS), an uncommon but potentially fatal disorder that affects the muscles, skin, and lungs. It’s a good idea to check with your doctor before taking any supplements to make sure the product you want to buy is safe for you. Unless you’re deficient in a certain hormone, you might not even require a supplement. If you have a disorder like Parkinson’s disease, which is characterised by abnormally low levels of one of these hormones, your doctor can prescribe medication to treat it. The following are links to articles that discuss each of the four feel-good hormones and how they function: Oxytocin Serotonin Dopamine Endorphin

March 25, 2022 No Comments

Health blog

Serotonin: The natural mood booster

Serotonin can stave off depression and provide a feeling a euphoria When you’re happy and everything seems to be going well, you’re experiencing the impacts of serotonin. This hormone is responsible for a variety of actions, including mood enhancement. Where is serotonin produced? Serotonin is produced in the brainstem’s center, which then acts on many different parts of the brain to affect a variety of functions and behaviors, including: memory fear the stress response digestion addiction sexuality sleep breathing body temperature How to increase serotonin Serotonin deficiency has been linked to depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are the most often used antidepressants. They function by raising serotonin levels in the brain. It’s also possible to boost serotonin levels without resorting to medication. Working out is a natural approach to boost serotonin levels. Your body releases more tryptophan, the amino acid that your brain uses to make serotonin, when you ride a bicycle or lift weights. This boost in serotonin (along with other endorphins and other neurotransmitters) is why many people get that feeling of euphoria known as a “runner’s high” after an intense workout. Another option to naturally boost serotonin levels is to expose yourself to the sun or a bright light that mimics it. Light therapy is one of the most common therapies for seasonal affective disorder (SAD), the winter blues caused by a decline in serotonin levels. It’s a little more difficult to get more serotonin from meals. Tryptophan is abundant in protein-rich foods like turkey, but our bodies don’t convert it to serotonin very well. When you combine turkey with other high-protein foods, the protein is broken down into amino acids, which compete with tryptophan for passage through the blood-brain barrier (the border that prevents potentially harmful substances from reaching your brain). As a result, less tryptophan gets into the brain. Complex carbohydrate sources, such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains, are one way to get more tryptophan into your brain. When you eat these carbs, your body creates insulin, which helps your muscles absorb more amino acids, giving tryptophan a better chance at reaching your brain. Serotonin is just one of the four feel-good hormones. Source: Harvard Health Publishing

March 25, 2022 No Comments

Health blog

Dopamine: The pathway to pleasure

Dopamine can provide an intense feeling of reward. Dopamine is most notably involved in helping us feel pleasure as part of the brain’s reward system. Sex, shopping, and smelling pie baking in the oven can all cause dopamine release, often known as a “dopamine rush.” This feel-good neurotransmitter also plays a role in reinforcement. That is why, after tasting one of those pies, we may return for another (or two, or three). Dopamine’s darker side is the powerful sense of reward people get when they use narcotics like heroin or cocaine, which can lead to addiction. Dopamine is involved in these functions as well: learning and attention mood movement heart rate kidney function blood vessel function sleep pain processing lactation Where is dopamine produced? Dopamine is produced in a two-step process by neurons in the brain’s base. The amino acid tyrosine is first transformed into L-dopa, a different amino acid. Then L-dopa undergoes another change, as enzymes turn it into dopamine. Parkinson’s disease is characterized by stiff movements caused by a lack of dopamine. Although serotonin shortage is more commonly associated to depression, research show that a dopamine deficiency can also contribute to a down mood. People with depression, in particular, frequently lack motivation and concentration. Because tyrosine is used to make dopamine, consuming more of this amino acid through diet may help to increase dopamine levels in the brain. A diet high in tyrosine has been shown to increase memory and mental performance. Foods high in tyrosine include: chicken and other types of poultry dairy foods such as milk, cheese, and yogurt avocadoes bananas pumpkin and sesame seeds soy There is also evidence that when we meditate, the brain releases more dopamine. Its release could be triggered by a change in consciousness that occurs during meditation. Dopamine is just one of the four feel-good hormones. Source: Harvard Health Publishing

March 25, 2022 No Comments

Health blog

Endorphins: The brain’s natural pain reliever

Endorphins can also release stress and create a feeling of well-being. The body’s natural painkillers are endorphins. Endorphins are peptide hormones released by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in reaction to pain or stress. They relieve pain while also creating a general sense of well-being. The term “endogenous morphine” inspired the naming of these hormones. They’re called “endogenous” since they’re made in our bodies. Morphine is the name of the opioid painkiller that they imitate. There are around 20 different types of endorphins. The best studied of these is beta-endorphin, which is the one associated with the runner’s high. When we laugh, fall in love, have sex, or simply eat a good meal, endorphins are released. How to release endorphins These exercises will help you release more endorphins in your body: Exercise: Endorphins tend to be released best at a reasonably intense tempo, whether you’re walking fast or doing another aerobic activity. Acupuncture: Pressure points are an excellent strategy to release endorphins. Endorphins are released when fine needles are inserted into the skin at certain places on the body. Meditation: Breathing deeply and concentrating your thoughts helps to relax your mind and relieve pain. Sex: These hormones are responsible for the euphoric feeling many of us experience after having sex. Endorphins, according to experts, boost the release of other hormones involved in love sensations. Playing music: You do more than entertain others when you sing, dance, or beat a drum. You also release a burst of endorphins, which may help you tolerate pain better, according to research. Laughter: A nice belly laugh may make a huge difference in your mood. Laughter affects serotonin and dopamine levels in addition to releasing endorphins. Ultraviolet light: It’s no surprise that spending time outside in the sun makes some individuals happy. The release of beta-endorphins in the skin is stimulated by ultraviolet light. Endorphins is just one of the four feel-good hormones. Source: Harvard Health Publishing

March 25, 2022 No Comments

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Day: March 25, 2022

Feel-good hormones: their effects on our mind, mood and body

Serotonin: The natural mood booster

Dopamine: The pathway to pleasure

Endorphins: The brain’s natural pain reliever

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