Weight Loss

5 Things To Know About Happiness Hormones: How To Make Your Happy Hormones Work For You

We all want to be happy, but sometimes life can get a little heavy and it’s hard to be consistently happy. 

But when you are happy, it’s such a wonderful feeling, and many people may wonder “How do I keep feeling like this?” or “What does it take to feel happy?”

The best way to keep feeling happy is to boost your “happiness hormones”!

5 Things To Know About The “Happiness Hormones” 

Your body is full of hormones and chemicals, each one with a different job to do involving helping your body function, such as digestion and heart rate, and also your mood and feelings. 

Dopamine

This is a hormone that is made in your brain; it’s known as the “feel-good” hormone. (1) Dopamine controls mental and emotional responses, motor reactions and is responsible for you experiencing happiness and for feeling pleasure. (2) This hormone is released when we do something pleasurable like eating a good meal. It activates the “reward center” of the brain which motivates us and inspires us so that we can experience the reward.
To  boost dopamine, try getting some exercise. Not only does exercise help you lose weight, but it also helps your brain. Exercising regularly increases your level of dopamine which puts you in a better mood. (7) Exercise has also been shown to increase your levels of serotonin. (8) 

Serotonin

Another “happiness hormone” is serotonin. Serotonin regulates your mood and gives you feelings of happiness and well-being. When you have normal levels of serotonin, you’ll feel more focused, emotionally stable, happier, and calmer. (3) Serotonin also impacts the rest of your body, helping with sleeping, eating, and digestion.
Just like boosting dopamine, you can boost your levels of serotonin with exercise. Higher levels of serotonin are associated with being in a better mood. One study found that regular exercise is beneficial for those who are clinically depressed. (9) Being out in the sunshine can also increase serotonin. Conversely, not enough sun exposure can make your serotonin levels dip, which can lead to a depressive disorder. (10)

Endorphins

Endorphins are what is felt when we get that “runner’s high”. Large amounts of endorphins are released when the heart rate increases, leading to a positive mental state. Endorphins are also released when the body is in stress or pain. This helps us experience less pain and fewer effects of stress. (4)
Pro tip: Eat a small amount of dark chocolate to not only help increase endorphins but serotonin too.

Oxytocin

Oxytocin is the “happiness hormone” that has a reputation for playing “cupid”. This is because oxytocin is released when people snuggle, have sex, or just bond on a social scale. (5) In fact, even petting a dog can release this hormone. (6)
Increasing oxytocin is simple; just cuddle! Hug and kiss on the people that you love, cuddle with your pets. This hormone spikes with any type of intimate touch such as holding hands. (11)

Happy Hormones

When it comes to making yourself happy, there’s really no right answer to boost these “happy hormones”. Whether you enjoy eating a good meal, hanging out with your dog, or even simply taking a nap, tune into your body and do whatever it is that it’s asking for.

Do you feel like you need to do something to improve your “happiness hormones”? Click here to learn how to boost those hormones so you can start feeling your best! 

Sources

1. https://www.healthline.com/health/dopamine-effects#definition
2. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160831085320.htm
3. https://www.hormone.org/your-health-and-hormones/glands-and-hormones-a-to-z/hormones/serotonin
4. https://www.medicinenet.com/endorphins_natural_pain_and_stress_fighters/views.htm
5. https://www.psycom.net/oxytocin
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6826447/
7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12758062/
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4061837/
9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC474733/
10. https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/benefits-sunlight#_noHeaderPrefixedContent
11. https://www.henryford.com/blog/2021/05/how-to-boost-feel-good-hormones-naturally