12 Ways To Naturally Increase Endorphins + New Research

The term endorphins was created by combining the two words: endo genous m orphin e. These compounds trigger a natural high in our brains which encourages us to repeat the experience that produced it. Addictive drugs like heroin hijack this process to create dependency, but plenty of natural and healthy experiences, supplements, and foods act on this system to make us feel pretty good. This post will discuss ways that you can either increase endorphins or activate the body’s opioid system. The brain opioid systems play an important role in motivation , emotion, attachment behavior, the response to stress and pain , and the control of food intake [ 1 ]. There are four opioid receptors in our brain: mu-opioid (MOR), kappa-opioid (KOR), delta-opioid (DOR) and nociceptin (NOP). Activating these receptors or increasing the molecules that bind to them will produce an opioid high. Activation of the mu receptor by a substance such as morphine causes sedation, euphoria and decreased respiration [ 2 , 3 ]. Although morphine increases sedation, it decreases the total amount of deep sleep and rapid eye movement sleep in humans [ 4 ]. Individual differences in the function of the mu-receptor system predict personality traits that confer vulnerability to or resiliency against risky behaviors such as the predisposition to develop substance use disorders [ 5 ]. Molecules that bind to delta opioid receptors show robust evidence of both antidepressant effects and also increase of BDNF production in the brain in animal models of depression [ 6 ]. They also protect against heart damage from strokes by preconditioning our heart [ 7 ]. DORs are neuroprotective as well and work in part by reducing TNF [ 8 ]. Activation of delta receptors produces some pain relief, although less than that of mu-opioid activators [ 9 […]

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