Many times, we forget something very important and essential for our lives: good humor. Some neurologists and scholars of the subject have defined this term as “the simple fact of feeling good without worrying excessively about the past or fearing the future too much,” arguing that it would be enough to feel much better by giving each moment of our daily life a touch. pleasant.
However, perhaps we are unaware that the key to developing a good mood is in our brain, which means that we have the ability to change our mood. According to what various specialists on the subject claim, this task is quite simple, that is, through our healthy habits, behaviors and healthy nutrition, we could encourage the production of oxytocin, endorphins and serotonin, substances related to joy and satisfaction. However, it is worth clarifying that this statement does not only mean that we take foods classified as “natural antidepressants”, or pills that help us with our mood, but, fundamentally, we should train our brain in order to stimulate it, which involves carrying out pleasant activities such as visiting friends, museums, exercising the body, listening to inspiring music, as well as other errands that produce positive emotions.
In the book 'The Four Seasons of Good Mood', its author Michel Lejoyeux, doctor and professor of psychiatry and addictology at the Denis-Diderot University in France, argues that to achieve an enviable state of mind we must:
- Take care of ourselves physically.
- Make at least small modifications in our daily lives.
- Understand that food, vitamins and even the color of the containers in which we eat, or drink exert an influence on neurons. We must not forget that what we supply to the intestine contributes to achieving a good mood, since the microorganisms that live in it produce a greater or lesser amount of serotonin, as well as other hormones for a good mood, even in the same proportion as medicines. manufactured for this purpose.
Some research has also revealed the antidepressant effectiveness of prebiotic foods such as artichoke, beet, carrot, and probiotic foods such as fermented dairy, yogurt, and fiber.
Michel Lejoyeux cites, for example, that tea acts by increasing the molecular quantity that acts as an antidepressant and increases the production of serotonin. The same thing happens with walking, saying that, from the first minutes of exercising, positive emotions increase. On the contrary, fatigue when training develops adrenaline, which is the so-called stress hormone.
To be aware of our mood, we could look at a series of behaviors and emotions that stimulate high amounts of cortisol in our body, which is nothing more than another of the stress hormones. Resentment, resentment, anger, rejection or repression, for example, lead to discouragement, depression, despair and sadness. On the other hand, silence, tranquility, sex, seduction, smiling, help in the production of serotonin. On the other hand, stimulating love, friendship, appreciation and joy also helps the mood in a very positive way.
It is very important to know that if we combined all these factors, we could greatly improve our mood. The routines that we could implement are essential because they help the key hormones for our well-being to be produced almost immediately, such as:
• Dopamine. This provides us with pleasant and pleasurable sensations, stimulating motivation and promoting memory, decision making and problem solving. How to increase dopamine levels? Reducing the consumption of alcoholic beverages, sugar and caffeine, for example. Doing physical exercise, developing creative activities, meditating and listening to music also leads to the production of dopamine in the body.
• Serotonin. This hormone provides us with emotional well-being, helping us regulate appetite and sleep. It is produced by natural light, so getting some sun is ideal for it to be generated. Eating foods rich in amino acids and tryptophans is vital for this. Among these foods are eggs, chicken, turkey, legumes, for example, which, mixed with carbohydrates, cause extremely positive effects on the brain.
• Oxytocin. Just the use of some seasonings such as rosemary, peppermint and thyme can help a lot in stimulating this hormone. Also, the consumption of chocolate, as it removes the vagus nerve. However, it is equally beneficial to laugh, talk, caress a pet, have sex or hug a loved one, since the release of oxytocin is related to life satisfaction rates, even more so in women, according to studies by several relevant universities in the United States.
• Melatonin. This is the so-called sleep hormone, which is secreted mainly at night, although there are certain foods such as oats, pineapple, dairy products and some citrus fruits such as oranges that also promote its release.
• Endorphins. They are hormones with the ability to reduce pain, create emotional well-being, strengthen the immune system and slow aging. The brain secretes them when we exercise or when we laugh a lot. Eating chocolate, ginger and some spicy foods can also help.
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