Chocolate. Chocolate releases endorphins like anandamide, the chemical that copies the relaxing effects of marijuana. Maybe that's why some people have equated the feeling from eating chocolate to feeling like they are in love. Peppers. Spicy foods release endorphins, especially those containing capsaicin, like chilis. Protein.
Some researchers have learned that strenuous exercise releases endorphins into the blood stream. Others have found that endorphins are released during orgasm, as well as during laughter. Endorphin release may occur with frequent sex and masturbation.
Yet music has always been sort of a mystery, especially since it's not typically considered "necessary" for survival. That is reserved for the trifecta of food, sex, and sleep. A study came out this month that adds another important piece of information as we continue to figure out how our brain processes music.
Sniff some vanilla or lavender Alena Ozerov/Shutterstock. Certain aromas can lift your mood by influencing the production of endorphins — the brain’s “feel-good” chemicals. For example, the scent of vanilla helps reduce anxiety, which is often associated with depression.
Laughter is sometimes described as ‘inner jogging’. Research has shown that it can help to: • Lower blood pressure. • Reduce stress hormones. • Boost immune function by raising levels of infection-fighting cells. • Trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. • Produce a general sense of wellbeing.
Sniff some vanilla or lavender Alena Ozerov/Shutterstock. Certain aromas can lift your mood by influencing the production of endorphins — the brain’s “feel-good” chemicals. For example, the scent of vanilla helps reduce anxiety, which is often associated with depression.
Ginseng may benefit people who are feeling fatigued and over-stressed and those recovering from a long illness. The herb has been shown to balance the release of stress hormones in the body and support the organs that produce these hormones. It may also enhance the production of endorphins, ‘feel-good’ chemicals produced by the brain.