Endorphins are a type of hormone that reduce the feeling of pain and stress and improve mood.
In fact, the word endorphin means morphine produced within the body (Endo = internal, morphin = morphine).
They belong to a category of over 20 substances, three of which are well-studied. They share similar properties and are secreted in various parts of the body, but mostly in the brain.
Endorphins work by binding to specific receptors in the brain and nervous system, blocking the transmission of pain signals, while also creating a sense of euphoria or pleasure.
Interestingly, the release of endorphins is always accompanied by the release of dopamine. Therefore, anything that increases endorphins increases dopamine as well.
Keep in mind that the power of hormones lies not in HAVING them, but in PRODUCING them. Here I explained this in more detail.
In addition to their pain-relieving and mood-boosting effects, endorphins also have a positive impact on other systems in the body, such as the immune and cardiovascular systems. For instance, they reduce inflammation and improve blood flow, which is beneficial for overall health.
Endorphins and Exercise
Endorphins are heavily linked to weight training, as it is well known today that physical activity stimulates the secretion of endorphins in the body.
Weight training is irreplaceable. Are you hesitating about whether to exercise? While you are hesitating, you are missing out on becoming a better version of yourself.
Of course, endorphins are not the only factor in exercise that leads to an improved mood. Exercise activates multiple mechanisms and triggers the release of other hormones that boost mood and reduce stress. In fact, if the exercise is done correctly, EVERYTHING it activates works in your favor.
True improvement happens when proper exercise becomes a standard practice. When endorphins are stimulated naturally, as is the case with exercise, they bring invaluable benefits:
- reduce anxiety and depression
- increase the feeling of self-confidence
- improve mood
- strengthen emotional resilience
- lead to calmness and relaxation,
WITHOUT HARMFUL SIDE EFFECTS.
Other Factors that Stimulate Endorphins
Besides exercise, other activities also stimulate endorphins in the body:
– Laughter: triggers the release of endorphins in the brain, which provides a sense of pleasure and reduces the feeling of pain and stress.
– Socializing: spending time with friends and loved ones stimulates endorphin release in the brain, leading to feelings of happiness and good mood, especially when working toward shared and constructive goals.
Unfortunately, social gatherings are often intertwined with alcohol, which superficially improves mood and promotes a sense of pleasure, but directly reduces the ability to experience happiness in the future. That is why some people seem superficially cheerful, jovial, and lively only in a bar, but when you see them on the street or in a supermarket, that cheerfulness is gone.
– Eating spicy food: chili peppers, black pepper, garlic, and other spicy ingredients trigger the release of endorphins, which can produce a mild relaxing effect. The main mechanism behind endorphin release from spicy food is the burning and hot sensation in the mouth, which the brain identifies as a type of pain.
– Massage: stimulates the secretion of endorphins, promoting relaxation and reducing the feeling of pain and stress.
– Sex: triggers the release of endorphins, promoting a sense of pleasure and reducing the feeling of pain and stress.
– Achieving a goal: when we work toward a goal or when we achieve one, endorphins are also released. The effect depends on the size and value of the goal. It seems as though nature left a clever mechanism to push us internally toward progress. Nature is organized around PROGRESS.
– Being present in the current moment and mindfulness exercises help stimulate the release of endorphins in the body, leading to relaxation and a reduction in stress and anxiety. Not all presence techniques are equally effective, but they definitely exist.
Unfortunately, drugs, gambling, and other harmful activities, as well as unnecessary sugar intake… can also trigger the release of endorphins. This leads in the opposite direction of progress, yet it still pulls a person “from within” to engage in these activities. In these cases, endorphins do cause a feeling of pleasure, but they become an end in themselves and result in deterioration. This is also evident in other activities that, while not as harmful as drugs, lead to minor pleasures at the expense of a lot of time and energy—which, when not allocated toward progress, get allocated in the opposite direction.
Endorphin Disruptors
Certain medications and health conditions interfere with the body’s ability to secrete endorphins, including:
- Some pain relief medications
- Antidepressants
- Alcohol
- Other drugs
- Too much coffee
- Chronic pain
- Hormonal imbalance
- High cortisol
There is no substitute for real progress. Exercise and proper nutrition provide the foundation upon which we can travel toward achieving our goals, while feeling far happier and more cheerful than we would without them. In that case, pleasure and cheerfulness serve as a wind at our back, rather than an end in themselves.
