Those Feel-Good Hormones

When you cuddle, cozy up, or snag a good hug, your brain releases something called oxytocin. Known as the “love” and “cuddle” hormone, it can lower stress and make you feel closer to someone. No one around to hug? You can get a big mood boost by petting your dog or cat, too. 

When you laugh, chemicals called endorphins flow through your brain. They not only lift your spirits, but they also help your body ward off illness and ease pain. So go ahead: Giggle your way to better health.

Heard of runner’s high? People are happier and have more energy after pounding the pavement. You don’t need to log miles to get in better spirits, though. Any kind of regular exercise will help. When you run, swim, bike, or walk quickly, your brain releases endorphins, one of your body’s own happy drugs.  

It gives you a rush like a good workout or a long hug because it releases dopamine, your body’s “reward” hormone. That’s because the love you feel from social media affects the reward centers of your brain. Likes, shares, and retweets make us feel good -- and make us want to keep sharing. That helps explain why we spend too much time on our phones.

Bananas do have one of those uplifting hormones: serotonin. (It’s commonly used in medications to treat depression.) But when it’s in food, it can’t get into your brain and won’t affect your mood. You might feel better about yourself for choosing a healthy snack, though! 

It leads to less tension and stress. Why? During a massage, your body makes more serotonin and dopamine and less of the stress hormone cortisol. That combo may help with depression, lessen your pain, and help you sleep. 

Here’s the sweet truth about this favored treat: Chocolate not only tastes good, but it also can give your mood a boost. This may be because dark chocolate ups your endorphin levels. Limit yourself to two small squares of dark chocolate a day, though. Extra weight could be a buzzkill.

Your brain is wired to remember things that feel good. When you eat or have sex, your body releases dopamine in the areas that control pleasure, movement, and emotions. Some drugs release up to 10 times the amount of dopamine that eating and sex do.

During childbirth, this can be given to a woman to move contractions along. But it should be used carefully because it can make them too strong and come too close together.

People with this disorder, which affects your nervous system, don’t make enough dopamine. That’s why it’s hard for them to control their movements and emotions.