Harvard University
is
one of the most prestigious in the world, and in addition to educating it has a research area that seeks answers to health issues.
And an example is
how to activate happiness hormones.
"Hormones are the body's chemical messengers. They travel through the bloodstream to tissues and organs. They take effect slowly and, over time, affect many different processes," summarizes
Medline Plus
, the US National Library of Medicine. Joined.
And list some that include:
Growth and development
Metabolism: how the body gets energy from the food you eat
sexual function
Reproduction
mood
Social life and friends activate happiness hormones.
Happiness.
And there is a group that is responsible for helping us generate feelings of well-being, which are colloquially called
happiness hormones,
since they are responsible for experiencing this emotional state.
What are the hormones of happiness
Stephanie Watson
, former executive editor of Harvard Women's Health Watch, specified in a publication by the prestigious American university what these four happiness hormones are:
Serotonin.
It is the most closely linked to our mood and the control of emotions.
After an argument, anger levels decrease and our ideas begin to clear up.
This is the action of serotonin, responsible for restoring emotional balance.
Low levels of this hormone are associated with depression.
Dopamine.
This chemical substance is related to motivation and the reward system.
It makes us be competitive, defend ourselves against danger and drives us to meet objectives.
Our brain releases dopamine when we encounter an unexpected reward.
Endorphins.
Up to twenty different types are known and they are the protagonists of well-being.
With a chemical structure very similar to morphine, they are capable of mitigating pain, being considered more powerful than analgesics.
Serotonin is linked to our mood and the control of emotions.
Photo Shutterstock.
Oxytocin.
Being close to other people with whom there is a bond increases their levels, generating greater trust in them.
There are studies that claim that hugging other people or petting pets increases the natural generation of oxytocin.
How to activate happiness hormones
"It is possible to increase the levels of these hormones with some simple lifestyle changes, such as
diet, exercise and meditation
, and possibly improve your mood in the process," says a Harvard study.
Precisely through
Harvard Health publications
, very simple ways to activate happiness hormones
emerge
as a conclusion to a
a project.
This study has been
following 724 men since they were teenagers in 1938
(there are still approximately 60 men, who are now 90 years old).
Exercising releases mood-enhancing hormones that can reduce stress.
The group was made up of men from diverse economic and social backgrounds, from the poorest neighborhoods of Boston to Harvard undergraduates.
What are those simple habits that are ideal to put into practice during 2024:
Get physical exercise:
Fresh air and exercise are a powerful combination that improves your mood.
Walking, biking, running and other aerobic activities help release mood-enhancing hormones that can reduce stress and confer a feeling of well-being.
Let go, let go.
As people got older, they tended to focus more on what was important to them and didn't sweat the small stuff as much, according to project director Dr. Robert Waldinger.
Ultimately, they tend to realize that life is short and it is better to pay attention to what makes them happy now.
Give hugs.
It is a simple gesture that increases levels of oxytocin, called the love hormone, according to science.
This helps us strengthen our relationships, connects us, comforts and relieves us.
Bonds with people and hugs, keys to the hormones of happiness.
Photo: Shutterstock.
Personal ties.
Along the same lines, the Harvard study found a strong association between happiness and close relationships such as spouses, family, friends and social circles.
“Personal connection creates mental and emotional stimulation, which automatically improves mood, while isolation destroys mood,” they point out.