Well-being Hormones: What They Are And How They Affect Us
Happiness, well-being and tranquility are states that the common bulk of mortals want to have. Many things can produce these sensations in us, whether they are material like a car or immaterial like having a good relationship. They are subjective emotions and subjective is also what generates them.
However, at the brain level it is possible to see certain biochemical processes that are activated when a person says they are happy and feel good. These are the biological foundation of something as subjective as well-being, caused by the activation and secretion of different types of hormones.
Next we are going to discover what they are the main well-being hormones what problems does having them at unregulated levels bring and how they can increase.
Feel-good hormones (and their effects on the human mind)
Everyone craves happiness and well-being. It is normal, we could well describe it as a human instinct. For some, well-being and happiness are achieved materially, through the accumulation of goods. For others, true happiness is found in immaterial and priceless things, such as family, finding love or enjoying an afternoon with friends. For the vast majority, it is a combination of both.
There is nothing in this world that gives happiness and well-being to absolutely all people because, as we see, each one has their own idea of where they are. However, we can say which substances They are what cause us these emotions These are neurochemicals that affect each human brain more or less equally, regardless of what or who activated them. They are the chemicals that induce subjective emotions of well-being in us: the well-being hormones.
The hormones They are substances that are released by our body that induce physiological changes in it Certain types of these hormones, many of them neurotransmitters, influence our mood and behavior.
The main well-being hormones are the following.
1. Serotonin
If serotonin is known for something, it is for being the hormone of happiness. In fact, it is this title that has led many drugs, especially antidepressants, to be designed to act on serotonin receptors in the brain. Adequate serotonin levels are associated with relaxation, satisfaction, greater concentration and self-esteem.
Serotonin is not only related to happiness, but also to appetite This hormone’s functions include creating a feeling of satiety and regulating bowel movements. For this reason, if it is at levels far below optimal levels, the desire to eat increases.
To produce this substance the body needs a key substance: tryptophan This amino acid is obtained through the diet, eating foods that are rich in tryptophan such as chicken, turkey, fish, nuts, cereals, legumes, rice, milk and derivatives such as cheese.
Practicing sports increases serotonin production so it is highly recommended to do frequent physical activity to stay not only in shape but also mentally well.
According to biological hypotheses about mental health, many disorders would be related to an alteration in serotonin levels. Having too little serotonin at the brain level is related to depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and irritability.
However, it is also worth mentioning that an excess of serotonin is dangerous. An abrupt increase in its production, caused for example by the abuse of antidepressants, can cause it to accumulate in the brain, with very negative consequences for health.
Too much serotonin causes serotonin syndrome an extremely dangerous condition whose symptoms are as follows.
2. Dopamine
If we had a podium of feel-good hormones, gold would be for serotonin, while silver would be for dopamine. Better known as the reward hormone, dopamine produces pleasure and makes us feel good, and it plays an important role in memory. The production of this hormone motivates us to repeat behaviors that we like.
Low levels of the hormone dopamine have been linked to some health problems, the best known being Parkinson’s disease, a medical condition in which dopaminergic neurons die. Other problems associated with low levels of dopamine are depression, social anxiety, problems with attention, memory and problem solving.
Dopamine levels can be increased through diet, mostly by eating fruits and vegetables. Any food that has antioxidants is a good ally to have adequate levels of dopamine since this substance is very susceptible to free radicals, elements that antioxidants combat. Foods such as eggs, chocolate and nuts also help to have optimal levels of dopamine.
But as with everything, it is not advisable to overdo it with dopamine. Having high concentrations of this substance has been related to problems in various areas of the brain, in addition to being associated with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.
3. Oxytocin
Known as the love hormone, oxytocin is related to greater security, social skills and the creation of social bonds. When we fall in love, the levels of two hormones, dopamine and oxytocin, increase Love makes dopamine rise through the roof, while oxytocin makes that love last for many years, helping to create emotional bonds that are strengthened by being in contact with others.
What oxytocin is well known for is that it plays a strong role in establishing the mother-child bond, in addition to promoting empathy, sociability and the feeling of belonging to a social group. Produces tranquility, reduces anxiety and stress and generates a feeling of confidence
Some research has suggested that the effects of oxytocin on the brain are similar to those produced by alcohol. Both substances affect several regions of the brain and share the ability to increase sociability, loss of fear of failure, greater confidence and alterations in appetite. Additionally, high levels of alcohol and oxytocin lead to violent behavior.
Oxytocin can be stimulated mostly by physical contact It can also be increased by hearing words of encouragement, listening to others, practicing meditation, exercising, and even crying, as emotions are released. Oxytocin is also related to orgasm, in both men and women.
Low levels of oxytocin have been linked to depression. It has also been seen that, in women, a deficiency of oxytocin could cause lactation problems, while in men, high levels of this substance could cause benign prostatic hyperplasia, an enlargement of this part of the male body that causes urinary problems.
4. Endorphins
Endorphins are well known for their analgesic effect. Its name means “endogenous morphine” or “self-produced morphine” and it is a substance released by the brain capable of modulating and reducing physical pain. They are hormones that produce euphoria, happiness, well-being and carelessness
In highly stressful situations, endorphins are capable of completely eliminating pain for a certain period of time. For example, in an extreme survival situation such as suffering an accident and breaking several bones, if we saw that we had to help someone around us, our brain would release endorphins to cancel out the pain and be able to help others.
Endorphins are especially produced when we exercise such as running, cycling and, in general, cardiovascular training activities.
5. Other feel-good hormones
The main well-being hormones are serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphins as we have just seen. However, there are also other substances that, although not so directly, provide us with well-being and happiness, either because they are present at low levels or because their alteration harms our mood.
5.1. Cortisol
Cortisol is known to be the stress hormone, so it may be surprising to see it on this list. At optimal levels, that is, low, it keeps our stress and anxiety levels under control, giving us the necessary and sufficient energy to stay active throughout the day. If it increases, it will cause us a lot of stress increasing the risk of suffering from mental health problems such as anxiety disorders, including social phobia and panic attacks.
5.2. Melatonin
Melatonin is a substance that regulates sleep and wake cycles, stops premature aging of cells and protects the nervous system. This substance, obtained through solar radiation, if found at low levels in our body, will cause insomnia and fatigue, which will reduce our well-being.
5.3. Adrenalin
While not a feel-good hormone in and of itself, adrenaline It serves to receive the necessary motivation to overcome any obstacle and adversity that we may encounter, enjoy human relationships and be more productive. Presenting this substance at very low levels has been associated with depression and lack of motivation.
