(3) Serotonin:
The third hormone Serotonin is released when we act in a way that benefits others.
Serotonin is a compound present in blood platelets and serum, which constricts the blood vessels and acts as a neurotransmitter.
Serotonin is a chemical that carries messages between nerve cells in the brain and throughout your body. Serotonin plays a key role in such body functions as mood, sleep, digestion, nausea, wound healing, bone health, blood clotting and sexual desire.
Typically, nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord produce serotonin that helps regulate attention, behavior and body temperature. Other nerve cells in the body, primarily in the intestines, also produce serotonin. Serotonin plays a role in regulating the digestive process, blood flow and breathing.
Serotonin plays a role in many of your body's functions.Increasing serotonin levels can be done naturally.The best ways to increase Serotonin are eating well, getting out in the sun or supplementing with vitamin D, exercising, taking adaptogens, and managing stress. Serotonin can also be increased synthetically with antidepressants.
Here are the four ways to boost serotonin activity are sunlight, massage, exercise, and remembering happy events.
Love:
Love affects serotonin, a neurotransmitter primarily responsible for regulating behavior and mood. Interestingly, love's impact on serotonin largely depends on gender. For men, serotonin levels decrease in response to a romantic relationship, while women experience a significant increase in serotonin.Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in emotional and mood regulation.
Mood: Serotonin in your brain regulates your mood. It's often called your body's natural “feel good” chemical. When serotonin is at normal levels, you feel more focused, emotionally stable, happier and calmer.
Exercise:
Exercise increases levels of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, just like medications can. Exercise improves and helps regulate neurotransmitter levels, which ultimately helps us feel mentally healthy.
Regular exercise has many benefits for your general health. It can have mood-boosting effects, and it may trigger the release of serotonin. One natural way to increase serotonin is by working out. When you pedal your bicycle or lift weights, your body releases more tryptophan, the amino acid your brain uses to make serotonin.
Health-promoting diet: Following a balanced diet lowers the risk of many health conditions.
It's also possible to increase serotonin levels without taking medicine.
Ashwagandha boosts serotonin levels in the brain.
Low level of Serotonin:
Low serotonin levels are linked to depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
Certain drugs and substances such as caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, NutraSweet, antidepressants, and some cholesterol lowering medications deplete serotonin and other neurotransmitter levels. Hormone changes cause low levels of serotonin and neurotransmitter imbalances.
(4) Oxytocin (Love hormone): The fourth happiness hormone is Oxytocin,
is released when we become close to other human beings.
When we hug our friends or family Oxytocin is released.
The "Jadoo Ki Jhappi" from Munnabhai does really work.
Similarly, when we shake hands or put our arms around someone's shoulders, various amounts of Oxytocin is released.
Oxytocin is a natural hormone that manages key aspects of the female and male reproductive systems, including labor and delivery and lactation, as well as aspects of human behavior. Your hypothalamus makes oxytocin, but your posterior pituitary gland stores and releases it into your bloodstream.
Oxytocin is a hormone and a neurotransmitter that is involved in childbirth and breast-feeding. It is also associated with empathy, trust, sexual activity, and relationship-building. It is sometimes referred to as the “love hormone,” because levels of oxytocin increase during hugging and orgasm.
In the brain, oxytocin acts as a chemical messenger and has an important role in many human behaviours including sexual arousal, recognition, trust, romantic attachment and mother infant bonding.
Oxytocin is released in response to activation of sensory nerves during labor, breastfeeding and sexual activity. In addition oxytocin is released in response to low intensity stimulation of the skin, e.g., in response to touch, stroking, warm temperature, etc.
Oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin are often referred to as our “happy hormones.” When you're attracted to another person, your brain releases dopamine, your serotonin levels increase, and oxytocin is produced. This causes you to feel a surge of positive emotion.
Kissing causes a chemical reaction in your brain, including a burst of the hormone oxytocin. It's often referred to as the “love hormone,” because it stirs up feelings of affection and attachment. According to a 2013 study, oxytocin is particularly important in helping men bond with a partner and stay monogamous.
The hormone makes men fall in love:
According to love biologist Dawn Maslar, the chemicals dopamine and vasopressin are vital for a man to start falling in love, whereas it's oxytocin and dopamine for women. Oxytocin, often nicknamed the love or cuddle hormone, also plays an important role in men but at a later stage.
Dopamine: Supports feelings of reward and motivation.
Serotonin: Helps maintain emotions.
Oxytocin: The “love” hormone, gives you a rush of pleasure from affection and connection.
Oxytocin is a hormone responsible for love in male:
Testosterone, a male sex hormone, tends to make men more competitive. Oxytocin has various social and physiological functions in the brain and the body, but is sometimes referred to as the “love hormone” due to its role in social bonding.
So, it is simple, we have to exercise every day to get Endorphins,
we have to accomplish little goals and get Dopamine,
we need to be nice to others to get Serotonin and
finally hug our kids,
friends, and families to get Oxytocin and we will be happy.
When we are happy, we can deal with our challenges and problems better.
Now, we can understand why we need to hug a child who has a bad mood.
So in order to feel more and more happy day by day.
(1) Motivate ourselves to play and have some fun
-Endorphins
(2) Appreciate others for any small or big achievements
-Dopamine
(3) Inculcate sharing habit through you to others
-Serotonin
(4)Hug your family, friends.
-Oxytocin
Stay healthy and happy.
Information compiled by:
Dr. Bhairavsinh Raol
