Hormones… they certainly don’t get enough respect when it comes to mood and brain health. What do they have to do with happiness? Actually, hormones play a big role in positive mood states and it’s important to understand what factors play into them and what we can do to optimize them.
How Hormones Work
Hormones are special chemical messengers that control most of the body’s processes. The endocrine glands create these special messengers and our body relies on them to function properly.
How we treat our bodies and the substances we surround ourselves with make a difference in how these hormones function. By learning what they do and how we can assist them in doing their job, we will be closer to our goal of happiness and balance.
What Hormones Are Related to Happiness?
There are several hormones that play a role in feelings of happiness and mental wellbeing. A few crucial mood-related hormones include serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine.
Serotonin has become quite well known in recent times. It is a neurotransmitter, which takes messages from one part of the brain to another. Serotonin is crucial in preventing depression and other mental illness, and problems occur when you have either a shortage of this hormone or when it is unable to do its job.
Oxytocin is known as the “love hormone” and has a variety of jobs, which include helping people improve their social skills and minimizing fear.
Dopamine is another neurotransmitter and it is activated when a positive and unexpected circumstance happens – which is why it is known for its role in helping the brain learn about rewards.
Natural Ways to Balance Your Hormones
Hormones need to be finely balanced in order to allow you to function at optimal levels. Too much or too little of any hormone can cause short- and long-term problems with physical and mental health. Because our happiness and positive mood states are dependent on this, it is important to find a healthy balance for all the hormones in our body.
Some important ways to keep your hormones in optimal balance and working order are to get sufficient sleep each night, exercise regularly, eat a nutritious diet, and eliminate toxins from your daily life. It is also important to find ways to manage stress in your life as much as possible.
Foods to Balance Your Hormones
Food plays an important role in the balance of hormones. There are many foods that you should make a point of eating on a daily basis, and many you should strive to avoid.
Foods and nutrients that help your body balance hormones and keep you happy include healthy fats such as those found in coconut oil, olive oil, avocados, nuts, and wild salmon. Vitamin D is an important supplement, as is magnesium. A sufficient amount of clean proteins should be eaten, as well as plenty of vegetables.
Your hormones play an essential role in your feelings of happiness. Keeping them balanced and working properly is important in order to ensure feelings of mental wellness and to promote optimal aging. By following the guidelines above, you will be able to balance your hormones and live a life of happiness and satisfaction.
