I’m not talking about new cartoon superheroes here, but endorphins are great when it comes to being a natural pain reliever and stress killer. I am going to talk about the endorphin rush in this article and how it helps with pain and stress.

What are endorphins?

Endorphins function to transmit electrical signals to the nervous system. There are at least 20 types of endorphins demonstrated in humans, but I’m not going to go into an explanation of all of them.

In the pituitary gland, or “master” gland, as it is often called, hormones are secreted from the front and back, and those hormones control various other hormonal glands in the human body. Thus the glans master title. Hormones carry signals or messages throughout the body in the bloodstream.

In the human body, distributed throughout the nervous system you will find endorphins. They are just waiting to be released and display their great power.

So what are the two most common negative triggers for endorphin release and that endorphin rush?

1. Stress
2. Bread

And guess what happens when they break free?

They reduce our perception of pain and cause an effect similar to that of opiate drugs such as morphine and codeine. But here is the excellent part, the activation of endorphins yes NO lead to addiction or dependency. The endorphins are interacting with the opiate receptors in the brain, just like an opiate drug would, but without the side effects!

These are the benefits of releasing endorphins:

• Decreased sensation of pain
• feelings of euphoria
• appetite modulation
• Release of sex hormones.
• Improved immune response

High levels of endorphins equate to less pain and also fewer adverse effects of stress.

Release of endorphins through exercise…

Have you ever heard of “high runners”? It is a direct result of the release of endorphins due to prolonged exercise. It is a fact that the body produces endorphins during prolonged or continuous physical activity.

The release of endorphins is not the same for everyone. It will vary between individuals. Endorphin production levels can be different even if two people experience the same level of pain or exercise at the same level.

Some foods can enhance the release of endorphins, and my favorite is at the top of the list!

1. Chocolate – Have you ever had that comfortable feeling from eating chocolate? Did you crave it during a time of stress?
2. Hot peppers: the hotter the better

Here is a shortened list of activities that can help increase your endorphin levels:

1. Regular exercise does not have to be strenuous, a simple walk will suffice.
2. Acupuncture or massage therapy have been shown to stimulate the secretion of endorphins.
3. Sex is also a powerful trigger for the release of endorphins.
4. Meditation can increase the amount of endorphins released in your body
5. Spend time outdoors! Being outdoors enjoying nature in all its splendor and soaking up some rays of sunshine will do wonders for you!

We know that two negative triggers for the release of that rush of endorphins are stress and pain. We also know that there are positive stressors that can increase or enhance the amount of feel-good hormones in our bodies. Follow some or
EVERYBODY of the activities listed above and get out there and feel that rush of endorphins today!