Tap into Your Natural Stress and Pain Reducer

You’re probably familiar with endorphins; I tend to think of them as something you experience when eating a chocolate cup cake, feeling overwhelming love and affection for someone or while doing some rigorous exercise. Like most things in life, it turns out that endorphins are multifaceted, so read on to find out the whys and how’s of this interesting phenomenon.

Did you know that endorphins are really morphine like opiates naturally produced by our bodies? These chemicals can temporarily block pain receptors and dull our sensitivity to pain. Exercise causes us to release endorphins (this feeling is sometimes referred to as a ‘runners high’) to the point that they can sometimes mask injury. Always pay close attention to any soreness or aches you feel during exercise, especially if they hurt in the beginning of your session and ‘go away’ as you continue your workout. That could be endorphins hiding your injury and you don’t want to make it worse by continuing to exercise. It has also been discovered that people with chronic pain disorders tend to have high levels of endorphins. Who knew?

Research has also concluded that eating chocolate produces endorphins, and I am always glad to learn yet another reason why chocolate is a good idea! You knew you felt happy when indulging in a lovely chocolate treat, now didn’t you? Chili peppers are another food that brings on the release of endorphins. The more spicy the pepper, the more endorphins are secreted. I recommend eating chocolate and chilies around that time of the month, as endorphins can help relieve those pesky PMS symptoms.

When we experience emotional stress, endorphins are released in the limbic system causing euphoria, lessening feelings of anxiety. The relationship between endorphins and the pleasure center in the brain is very important. The release of endorphins into our system can lessen depression and boost self esteem.

It’s great to know that meditation, message therapy and deep breathing also produce those awe inspiring endorphins. These activities calm you and help you feel centered and give you a sense of well being, much like endorphins themselves. Unfortunately our ability to produce endorphins is said to diminish as we age, so do all you can to get those gleeful juices flowing for as long as you can. Endorphins are free and give you a natural high, the safest and best kind life has to offer!

Photo Credit © Absolut_photos | Dreamstime.com