Drugs aren't cheap, especially on a student budget, and they're not always legal. So why not go for a free natural high instead? Endorphins are "feel-good" hormones-the word endorphin means internal morphine. They are produced by the pituitary gland and work by sedating pain receptors in the nervous system. The link between endorphin production and exercise (a runner's high) is widely known, but laughing, eating spicy food, eating chocolate, bungee jumping, getting a massage, meditating, and having an orgasm can also raise happy hormone levels significantly.
Endorphins have always had an important function: providing the body with a means of dealing with stressful or painful situations (for example, they aid women during childbirth). They also improve mood and enhance the immune system.
However, similar to anything else that induces a high, raising endorphin levels by eating, touching, laughing, and having sex too frequently can harm your body. When pleasurable activities are abused, endorphins can become addictive, leading to compulsive eating, exercising, or sex addiction.
How sex is good for youThe hormone oxytocin is released into the bloodstream during sex and causes the release of endorphins. You know the blissfull feeling that follows good sex; those are the endorphins working.
Since sex releases endorphins, it has all the benefits of an endorphin-regulated high. Sex can increase endorphin production by more than 200 per cent, and the resulting high can last up to 12 hours. In fact, researchers have found that having sex three times a week has the same mental impact as running 75 miles.
Sex is not the only act that will increase your endorphin levels. Any positive contact with people you love, such as hugging or kissing, can also be rewarding. If abstinence is your thing, other ways to get your endorphin fix include paying a visit to a spa, chiropractor, or acupuncturist.
While not directly related to the release of endorphins, some of the other benefits of sex include decreased risk of prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women. With all the benefits of sex and endorphins, you have every reason to get a little.
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