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Happiness is a feeling which makes our lives worth living. It could be experienced in a simple gesture, a smile or it could be felt in a complex emotion like love. Overall happiness is a lot more than just a feeling. I’ll share the science behind happiness.
How complex could Happiness be!!!! Right??
You’ll be surprised.
Why do we get Happy?
Happiness is balanced in our brain by “Neurotransmitters” they trigger the right area of the brain and get released in just the right amount to cause happiness. The neurotransmitters that are responsible for happiness are:
Dopamine: Reward Hormone
It’s mainly responsible for pleasure-seeking or reward-driven behavior in us. An increase in dopamine is responsible for a positive mood. We could generate more dopamine by setting a goal and achieving it. Since it’s a reward-driven hormone it spikes with goal completion and gives us a feeling of pleasure.
Endorphins: Pain Relief Hormone
We all know that endorphins are released with strenuous activity and it causes inhibition of pain which in turn causes a positive mood. We should incorporate the activities in our daily life to induce endorphin production like:
- Exercise
- Love
- Music
- Chocolates
- Laughter
- Love-making & Orgasm
These would provide the necessary “Endorphin high” to the body.
Serotonin: Calming Hormone
It is responsible for Happiness, optimism & satisfaction. It is responsible for
- Increase in self-esteem
- Feeling worthy
- Reduce sensitivity to rejection
- Builds confidence
- Creates a sense of belonging
It’s a very important hormone in being happy. It is an integral component of antidepressant medication (SSRI) to combat Depression. We could achieve high serotonin levels in the body by challenging ourselves with a worthy task, pursuing something meaningful, and accomplishing something important in life.
Nor-Epinephrine: Excitability Hormone
It provides our body with the drive to do something. It constantly keeps us active and excited but with time hyper-excitable states cause tiredness, inability to sleep, lack of rest, and unhappiness. So it’s balanced by serotonin which negates its effects and brings calmness to the body.
The right balance between both hormones brings happiness to a person.
Oxytocin: Love Hormone
It’s responsible for trust and loyalty which are the main ingredients of a relationship. A good romantic attachment could bring immense happiness to our lives.
Oxytocin could increase in our body with:
- Touch
- Affection
- Hug
- Lovemaking
A few other hormones which also play a role in happiness are GABA/ Adrenaline etc.
Things to do to be Happy
We could include a few things in our routine that increases the neurotransmitter release like:
- Physical activity: Gym/ Jogging etc.
- Listen to music
- Get a pet
- Laughter therapy
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Get sunlight
- Keeping a healthy & meaningful relationship
- Join a community/ group
- Be with friends
- Be healthy
Food responsible for Happiness:
There are few known food & beverages which have an active role in the production or release of hormones so they should be included in our diet to be happy.
Serotonin-rich food:
- Spinach
- Turkey
- Banana
Dopamine rich food:
- Yogurt
- Beans
- Meat
- Almonds
Endorphins-rich food:
- Chocolate
- Cocoa beans
GABA-rich food:
- Brown rice
- Pork
- Beef
- Sesame/ sunflower seeds
At times the only thing that could bring us happiness is comfort food. It’s usually food that is associated with a happy memory or place and it brings us joy.
Read: What is comfort food?
Let’s bring joy and happiness in everyone life.
Be Happy and Be Healthy
“This post is written for SpeakEasy Blogging Challenge by Ruchi & Dipika“
Reference:
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201211/the-neurochemicals-happiness
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4449495/
- https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hacking-into-your-happy-c_b_6007660
- https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/food-happiness2.htm
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/comfort-food-psychology/
- https://www.daivamwellness.com/food-and-mood-what-you-eat-can-affect-your-happiness/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/happy-hormone#sunlight
This is such a detailed post … about the science of happiness, I agree for me good food really make me more happy !!
I really wasn’t aware of scientic reasons of happiness.
Thanks for helping understanding happiness in scientific way. Amygdala is the part of brain where all emotions reside, so if you want to be happy.. Keep your amygdala happy……
I really truly loved your posts, so much so that I pinned them on my borad so that I can get back and read anytime I am feeling low. Kudos
thanks
Science behind being happy just mesmerized me. My husband always says that working out gives him happiness. So I could relate well with it.
Though I knew dopamine and endorphins are the main reasons for happiness but was not aware of other hormones. It was a very detailed and informative post.
i’m glad you loved the post
Altogether new concept of happiness, at least for me. Got to know about the science of happiness.
Finally happiness with science. I knew some of them however your post is so much detailed. Food surely makes me happy.
Sunlight is the ultimate source of motivation to me. I loved reading about all the happiness hormones and how to increase them through different foods.
Oh my god I never knew the science behind happiness. This was a wonderful read and very informative.
Such an insightful post on happiness. Glad to learn about the science behind happiness. And yes, chocolate & exercise do make me the happiest!
That first picture brought a smile on my face. You have covered quite a lot of topics under the umbrella of happiness, from which food items to eat to things that can make us happy. I absolutely loved reading this blog.
Such an insightful post with scientific facts behind happiness, About food section i was only known that the taste and preference are the reasons to generate the happiness among, amaze to see that we do have some of specific veggies also that aids in creating happiness in mind.
Good to know about detailed science of happiness. Yes good food and exercise are my triggers of happiness on any bad day
Honestly, I was aware mostly of dopamine and oxytocin for bringing happiness. And, now I know why we are hangry when we go without food for long hours. Very informative post. 🙂
A very well researched post!
You really shared the science behind being happy, I had read different articles on this but you compiled it so well at one place.
A thorough and well researched post. Good read more about hormones and foods that trigger happiness. Reading the science behind was brilliant.
Absolutely LOVE this post!!! Such great research, such well explained, and also including foods!! Phenomenal is the word.
Oh I didnt know that Happiness is a play of so many hormones.. No doubt so many cooks sometimes spoil the broth too. Great tips for being happy.
Amazing post! Very informative! I used to think that chocolate was the only food that gives happiness, but you have put down so many more. Thank you so much for writing this post. #SpeakEasyWithRuchiNDips
Very well researched and written, loved your detailed post on happiness. I had no idea that so many factors play a role in happiness, also thanks for sharing the foods responsible to make us happy.
I knew a little about the science part but food categories? That was something new to me. Chocolate or our favorite is what make us happy-I knew only this much but we have certain food to lift up our mood this I didn’t know. Thanks for educating us.
Wow, I am astonished by the fact there is so much scientific in being happy. You have really done an extensive research and made it quite simple for us to understand the science behind staying happy. Kudos!!
I also love the fact there are so many references mentioned for us readers!
Perfect, I loved the science behind happiness buddy. Thanks a lot for sharing it with us, the read made me happy.
Such an informative post and you had explained science behind the happiness so well in this post. yes..hormones play a major role in elevating our mood and feeling. thanks for sharing wonderful list of food items that helps in increasing feel good hormones. this is something that is really needed during recent stressful situation.
Science backs up everything, isn’t it? Thank you for sharing especially about the foods.
Totally, science is behind everything.
Very nicely written, perhaps understanding the science behind it can help us move in the direction healthy for us.