Happy thoughts for Happy Hormones

Believe it or not, we have real happy hormones. There is actually a paramount study conducted in Psychological Science in 2008 which showed that inherited genes seem to account for 50% of our happiness.

Now, even if you consider yourself 'happy' most of the time, there are still conscious choices you can make will help you experience a brighter, happier life.

So let's talk hormones.

Hormones and neurotransmitters help moderate our feelings of well-being and lifestyle factors affect their production. Let's explore five of these hormones and ways to boost them.  

There are certain foods that will help the 'happy' chemicals in your brain to keep flowing. Two key players are the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, along with amino acids tryptophan and theanine, which can contribute to the creation of serotonin, known to most as 'happy hormones'.

Low levels of these chemicals can cause fatigue in addition to lowering existing levels of serotonin. Similarly, a deficiency of Omega 3, can lead to fatigue and mood swings.

Examples of these hormones:

1. Dopamine: This drives your brain's reward system. Compliments and other positive moments will bring this out. It also drives pleasure-seeking behavior. 

2. Serotonin: This boosts your mood. The most effective and natural way to boost serotonin is by exercising daily. 

3. Oxytocin: This is both a neurotransmitter and oxytocin and often referred to  as the "love hormone." Research suggests it plays a bigger role in a woman's physiology than a man's. 

4. Estrogen: This protects you from irritability and anxiety, keeping your mood steady. Estrogen decreases with menopause and lifestyle factors such as smoking and extreme exercise can also lower it. 

5. Progesterone:This helps your sleep and prevent anxiety, irritability and mood swings. Levels can drop in women with pre-menopause or after the age of 35 or 40.