Hack Your Hormones: The Number One Sunday Times Bestseller

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Serotonin is a chemical messenger that’s believed to elevate your mood. Here are 7 serotonin-boosting foods, including turkey and cheese. Learn more… READ MORE Phase 3 - The Luteal Phase (around days 15-21): the luteal phase comes next, and is when progesterone dominates. You will feel a sense of calm, low anxiety, and slowing of pace. You may have lower motivation, but high brain function so it's the perfect time to complete your 'to do list". "In terms of exercise, in this phase you can increase endurance as your body prefers to burn fat as its fuel source. This phase slows digestion so eat complex carbs, healthy fats and proteins. You may find you have a lower libido."

Serotonin, dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin help promote happiness and pleasure while reducing depression and anxiety. You can give these feel-good hormones a natural boost with some simple activities. It’s normal to experience some stress from time to time. But living with regular stress or dealing with highly stressful life events can cause drops in dopamine and serotonin production. This can negatively affect your health and mood, making it harder to deal with stress. Endorphins: These hormones are your body’s natural pain reliever, which your body produces in response to stress or discomfort. Levels may also increase when you engage in reward-producing activities such as eating, working out, or having sex. If you’re familiar with meditation, you might already know of its many wellness benefits — from improving sleep to reducing stress. Simply put, hormones are like little chemical messengers created in the Endocrine System; a system of glands and organs that are responsible for creating and distributing hormones into the bloodstream. They are the way our body communicates with itself. The Pituitary gland, Thyroid gland, Adrenal gland, Ovaries and Testes are all parts of this system along with many other lesser-known organs too. Endocrinology (the study of this system) still has much to learn and uncover about our hormones and the glands that produce them.

Setting aside 7 to 9 hours each night for sleep can help restore the balance of hormones in your body, which will likely help you feel better.

If you enjoy a massage, here’s one more reason to get one: massage can boost all four of your happy hormones.According to studies, massage boosts endorphins and oxytocin. Older research found that massage also increases serotonin and dopamine. Serotonin: This hormone and neurotransmitter helps regulate your mood as well as your sleep, appetite, digestion, learning ability, and memory. Oxytocin: Often called the “ love hormone,” oxytocin is essential for childbirth, breastfeeding, and strong parent-child bonding. It can also help promote trust, empathy, and bonding in relationships. Levels generally increase with physical affection. Even if you don’t own a dog, you might also experience an oxytocin boost when you see a dog you know and like. If you’re a dog lover, this might happen when you get a chance to pet any dog at all. Supplements may be helpful, but some aren’t recommended for people with certain health conditions. They can also interact with certain medications, so talk to a healthcare provider before you try them.

But if you enjoy music, simply listening to any music you enjoy may help put you in a good mood. This positive change in your mood can increase serotonin production. If you really want to feel those happy hormones, note that dancing and sex both lead to endorphin release, while orgasm triggers dopamine release. Of course, laughter won’t treat ongoing health issues. But it can help relieve feelings of anxiety or stress, and improve a low mood by boosting dopamine and endorphin levels.Looking to boost your serotonin level? Spending time outdoors, in sunlight, is a great way to do this.