When you exercise, your body releases certain proteins and chemicals into the bloodstream that help produce “hope hormones” or “feel-good chemicals.” Here’s a simple breakdown of how this works. During exercise, your body undergoes various changes, including the release of hormones and other chemicals into the bloodstream. This includes proteins and precursors of hormones like endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine.
For example, exercise triggers the release of endorphins from the pituitary gland. These endorphins travel through the blood to the brain, where they bind to specific receptors and help block pain while creating feelings of happiness and euphoria. Exercise also increases the availability of tryptophan, an amino acid that is a building block for serotonin. This happens partly because exercise increases blood flow and helps transport tryptophan to the brain. Once in the brain, tryptophan is used to make serotonin, which helps improve mood and reduce feelings of stress. Exercise boosts the production of dopamine by increasing the activity of certain areas in the brain. Dopamine is released into the bloodstream and then acts on the brain’s reward system, enhancing feelings of pleasure and motivation.
In summary, exercise stimulates the release of various proteins and chemicals. These substances then travel to the brain, where they help produce and regulate hormones making you feel happy and motivated.
So, let’s get off the couch and take a walk, go swimming, stretch, lift weights, or workout with some light resistance bands. You can exercise to not only look and feel better, but you can feel happier too!