We all know what hormones are, and you’ve probably heard that there are a few happy hormones that can actually make you feel better. These hormones are serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins. And the good news is that you can boost all of these hormones naturally, which can help you feel a little bit better. In this blog post, I’m going to explain what these four hormones actually do, and I’ll give you a few examples of how you can boost them.
Serotonin
Serotonin plays an important role in mood, emotional well-being, sleep, appetite, and digestion. A healthy serotonin system helps regulate many processes in your body and brain. Serotonin is often associated with feelings of calmness, stability, and contentment. It isn’t as simple as saying “more serotonin = more happiness,” because the relationship between serotonin and mood is much more complicated.
Interestingly, most of the body’s serotonin is actually found in the gut, where it plays an important role in regulating digestion. So boosting your serotonin starts in your gut. Eat the right foods, get enough daily sunlight and move your body.
Dopamine
This is the most known hormone at this point. Dopamine is strongly connected to motivation, reward, pleasure, and learning. It helps your brain recognise when something feels rewarding and encourages you to repeat behaviours that you find satisfying.
For example, when you accomplish a goal, eat something you enjoy, receive a compliment, or complete something you’ve been working toward, your brain can release dopamine. It can give you that feeling of “Yes, I did it!” and motivate you to keep going.
Dopamine isn’t simply the chemical that makes you happy. It’s also heavily involved in anticipation and motivation, the feeling of wanting to achieve or experience something. But make sure you get the right dopamine: Setting goals and achieving them, massage, Learn something new, listen to your favourite music.
Oxytocin
Oxytocin is often called the “love hormone” or “bonding hormone” because it’s strongly involved in social connection and bonding. Your body can release oxytocin during experiences such as hugging, cuddling, physical affection, childbirth, breastfeeding, and positive social interactions. It can help strengthen feelings of trust, closeness, and connection with other people.
Oxytocin isn’t only about romantic relationships, either. It can also play a role in friendships, family bonds, and social connection.
Endorphins
Endorphins are chemicals produced by your body that act as natural pain relievers. They can be released in response to things like exercise, laughter, excitement, and physical stress.
This is one reason you might feel amazing after a good workout. Your body releases endorphins in response to physical activity, which can help reduce your perception of pain and create feelings of pleasure or even euphoria.
That post-workout feeling people sometimes call a “runner’s high” is partly associated with changes in endorphins and other brain chemicals.
And these are your four happy hormones. If you start naturally boost them, you will feel a different.