The feeling of happiness is the result of four neurochemicals and hormones in the brain: dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins. Also known as happy hormones, these four chemicals play an important role in improving mood and creating a feeling of happiness. Join us to learn about these four hormones and how to utilize their power to live every day to the fullest!

1. Endorphin

A combination of the words “endogenous” and “morphine”, the name of a pain reliever, endorphins are considered the body’s natural pain reliever. Endorphins help reduce stress and relieve pain, thereby helping you feel happy and comfortable. To stimulate the brain to release endorphins, try the following:

– Exercise: Increasing your heart rate can help increase endorphins levels. When you want to improve your mood, go out for a walk or do light exercise to increase this happy hormone.

– Eat dark chocolate: Research shows that eating chocolate causes the brain to release endorphins, thereby also making you feel happier.

– Spend leisure time: Laughter is the best medicine for your mind and body. So, give yourself moments of comfortable laughter, watch funny videos, and funny entertainment programs that you love.

– Use essential oils and scented candles: Essential oils have many special benefits in relieving stress. According to a 2012 study, lavender essential oil has the ability to stimulate the brain to release endorphins, helping to calm our minds when stressed.

2. Serotonin

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that relays messages between nerve cells in the brain and throughout our bodies. Serotonin helps us improve mood, sleep better and digest better. Lack of serotonin can lead to depression, anxiety and many other health problems. You can increase serotonin levels with the following simple ways.

– Enjoy sunlight: In addition to supplementing vitamin D to help increase resistance, sunlight can stimulate the brain’s serotonin release process. When you feel in a bad mood, spend more time outdoors, especially in the early morning to do light exercise and mingle with nature. You will feel your mood is greatly soothed. much.

– Eat foods containing tryptophan: Because serotonin does not exist directly in food, you can choose foods containing tryptophan, an amino acid that can be converted into serotonin in your brain. Tryptophan is found in protein-rich foods such as chicken, salmon, fresh milk, pineapple or tofu.

– Participate in therapy sessions: Prolonged stress can reduce serotonin levels in the brain. Therefore, if you want to improve your mood, create a habit of writing a diary, practicing yoga, therapy with Tibetan rotating bells, scented candles… to relieve stress and stimulate the brain to produce serotonin. Besides, massage can help you reduce cortisol and increase serotonin in the body, helping the body relax, soothe pain and negative emotions. You can try a professional relaxing massage or do it yourself at home.

3. Dopamine

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter produced in the brain that serves as your “reward center,” coordinating your memory, movement, mood, and attention. When you experience the feeling of satisfaction from completing work, eating delicious food, or being close to someone you love, your brain automatically releases large amounts of dopamine, creating a feeling of pleasure. You can do the following familiar activities to release dopamine:

– Volunteer: When you spend your time volunteering, you will feel like you are bringing positive values ​​to life, from there the brain will secrete dopamine to help you feel better. so many. Spend a weekend visiting loving homes and animal rescue camps to feel the positive energy from giving love.

– Load lots of protein: Dopamine is produced from the amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine. Studies show that supplementing these substances can increase dopamine levels in the brain. These two types of compounds are found in protein-rich foods such as chicken, beef, eggs and seafood.

– Get enough sleep: When your mood is low, it can be a consequence of not getting enough sleep. A quality sleep helps regulate the process of releasing dopamine in the body, helping you stay alert and work all day long. Therefore, establish a healthy sleeping habit, combine exercise during the day and keep the bedroom space cool and comfortable.

– Meditation: Research has shown that meditation brings positive benefits to physical and mental health thanks to increasing dopamine levels in the brain. When you want to improve your mood, start with meditation for at least 1 hour to stabilize your mind. This will help your brain produce dopamine, making you feel more positive.

– Learn new things: New experiences also prompt the brain to produce dopamine, which in turn leads to the creation of new neurons and nerve connections. You can start by choosing a new route to walk, learning a new hobby or reading a new novel.

4. Oxytocin

Also known as the love hormone, oxytocin plays an important role in making people feel connected. Oxytocin is released during the mother’s birth, creating a bond between mother and baby. When we love, cuddle, or are close to our lover, the brain is also stimulated to produce more oxytocin, thereby positively affecting our mood and emotions. Therefore, when you want to improve your mood, take time to be with the people you love, this can help increase oxytocin in your body.

– Stay with loved ones: Loved ones are always a strong spiritual support for us. Spending time with loved ones will help you feel the strong connection around you, making you feel empowered.

– Listen to music: We listen to music to lift our spirits and promote concentration, so listening to music can help release oxytocin in the brain. Give yourself moments to relax and immerse yourself in music, you will feel much more relaxed.

– Play with pets: Pets can be very sensitive to your emotional changes. Therefore, when you feel sad, you should spend time cuddling and playing gently with your pet. Pets will become a great source of encouragement and comfort for your spirit, helping to increase oxytocin levels in the brain.

– Hug more: Warm hugs and holding hands will help increase love hormones, making you feel happier.

– Eating with friends: Enjoying delicious food with friends helps you create bonds between yourself and others, promoting the release of oxytocin in the brain. Invite friends to your house, cook and eat together, and feel the joy around you!