Originally published August 19 2005
Endorphins help decrease stress levels
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Endorphins, which are naturally-occurring chemicals in our bodies, help to reduce stress levels. Just think back to happier days, and see your mood improve.
Known as nature's natural painkillers, these opiate-like chemicals are generally produced when the body is under extreme physical stress, hence the well-documented euphoria of the "runner's high".
After 20 to 30 minutes of hard aerobic exercise, endorphins are released and will result in a mood and energy boost for two to three hours, and a mild buzz for up to 24 hours.
Laughter is another good source of endorphins, which is why watching a good sitcom will generate enough hormones to keep you contented all evening.
And as we all know, there's nothing like a bar of chocolate to give you a lovely rush of wellbeing.
Studies have shown that when a group of overeaters was given a drug to block endorphin release, they no longer craved chocolate.
According to therapist Bodel Rikys, endorphin meditation is the answer.
Rikys holds weekly classes and one-to-one sessions, where she shows clients how to tap into the feelgood factor within.
There was only one way to find out, so I signed up for a session.
Guided by Rikys's soft tones, the more I conjured up the cool feeling of the water around me and the sun's hot rays on my back, the happier I felt, and I began to smile.
If you stack up endorphins in your body, it's like building up a reservoir of wellbeing, as opposed to a reservoir of stress."
For the rest of the day, I had a definite spring in my step, and two friends separately observed that I appeared to be on tremendously good form.
A lack of vitamin B, especially B12, vitamin C and minerals such as zinc, iron and potassium, can make you feel low.
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