Boost Your Happy Hormones

by susannah hickling

IT’S FEBRUARY AND THE WEATHER’S RUBBISH, so you
could be forgiven for being at a low ebb, even if you don’t
have full-blown Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as
“winter depression”. But, happily, there are natural ways of
boosting the hormones that make us feel better about life.
Dose up on Dopamine This neurotransmitter drives
your brain’s reward system. If your boss praises you, you’ll
get a dopamine hit—and feel great as a result. Boost it by
setting realistic goals, such as tidying your desk or sticking
to an exercise schedule—and achieving them. Dopamine
also drives pleasure-seeking behaviour, so indulge in fun
(but healthy) activities. One fabulous way to get a feel-good
fix is to listen to music you love, according to a 2011 study
in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

seek out serotonin This mood-boosting neurotransmitter
was made famous by SSRI (selective serotonin
re-uptake inhibitor) antidepressants, which increase
serotonin levels in the brain. Do it naturally by exercising
daily—that’s one reason a brisk walk does wonders for your
mood. Carbohydrates also increase this happiness hormone,
which partly explains why we crave sweet, starchy foods
when we’re feeling low. For the most positive mood boost
with the least negative impact, choose healthy, high-fibre
carbs such as dense wholegrain bread.

opt for oXytocin Known as
the “love hormone” and “bonding
hormone”, oxytocin has been linked
to life-satisfaction levels by researchers
studying its effect on women. In fact,
it may play a greater role in women’s
happiness than men’s. Spending time
with loved ones and being kind to
others stimulates oxytocin. A cuddle
with your partner, kids or pet should
do the trick. Stress, on the other hand,
blocks its release, so try to control it.

Q: Can you fall in love without chemistry?

A: Yes. We can all think of relationships
(sometimes our own!) that
were highly charged at the beginning
and then fizzled out. But research has
shown it’s possible to fall for someone
even if you don’t feel any obvious
attraction to start with. Psychologist
Robert Epstein studied “Western
society” love matches and compared
them to arranged marriages. He found
that feelings of love and affection in
love matches fade by as much as half
in the first 18 months, but the love
in arranged marriages can grow and
eventually surpass relationships in
which people chose their partner. So
leave your chemistry in the lab this
Valentine’s Day and don’t give up
on someone just because the sparks
aren’t there on the first date!