The happiness recipe continued ...

Thanks for coming back to look at part two of the happiness recipe. The article was running long but I know everyone is waiting with baited breath to see what the LOVE HORMONE does so here it is. Do comment on our Facebook page. We love getting your feedback.

-Oxytocin

What it does: (This one’s my favorite to talk about as you will see from this being quite lengthy compared to the others but please do humor me.) So Oxytocin: It's known as the LOOOVE hormone ;)  It's produced in the brain and its main functions appear to be its role in childbirth and breastfeeding. It is said to be associated with bonding, attachment and closeness and may enhance the instinct to be protective of others. Oxytocin may also make you kinder and more altruistic. The effect of oxytocin appears to be in opposition to that of cortisol and this may explain how it reduces stress and improves sleep. There are some recent studies that suggest that oxytocin may help reduce cravings and may be helpful for patients with addictions; while other studies show positive effects of oxytocin on patients diagnosed with autism. This all sounds amazing; this all sounds like everyone in the world should go out and get some oxytocin. But how...from where....??? Glad you asked!

How you can get your body to make more of it: Get off social media and actually get social! Spend time connecting with friends and family members that have a positive influence and effect on you. (Please note: If you have a friend or relative that infuriates you, hanging out with them is not going to boost your oxytocin levels people...just saying.) Pick up the phone and call an old friend that you haven't talked to in ages and feel the hormones surge. Another booster: be intentionally kind; Go out of your way to just do amazingly awesome things for as many people as you can. I want to make a disclaimer here. I'm not sending anyone out to do anything weird. That being said, physical contact boosts oxytocin, big time. So: Get a massage, give a high five, hug a friend or family member, shake hands with someone or just cuddle on the sofa to kick up your oxytocin levels a notch. Other activities that appear to boost oxytocin levels seem to boost the levels of the other happy chemicals too. If you feel like you need a shot of oxytocin, try listening to soothing music, doing some exercise (even just a walk in nature can get things going!) Find something very funny to laugh about, deep belly laughs are best. Do some breathing exercises, yoga or meditation type activities are good. Get warm: Warm baths, steams or saunas may help. All of these things appear to have a positive effect on the happy hormones in general.

Foods that help: "Ok, Doc," you're saying. "What about food or supplements that can boost our levels?" I hear what you are saying. We are after all a culture that likes to have the option to pop that pill or in some way ingest that specific thing to get the required result. As always I will not disappoint on the "let your food be your medicine" front, but it's not what you are thinking. It seems that most food stimulates oxytocin production, especially if there is a protein-carbohydrate combination. The trick to increasing the flow of the love hormone is to share a meal with someone or with the family...It appears it's the connections that do the trick with this one.

The recipe: So there you have it folks. It seems to me the bottom line is: Engage in overt positivity, be nice to others, and eat healthily including a healthy balance of fruits and veggies. Exercise, stay connected with those you like and for heaven's sake, laugh. Check how often you laugh now, multiply that by a hundred and maybe you will be close to laughing as much as you should. Drink water, get rest.... Wait a minute... These are all the things we encourage for improving overall health.

Mind BLOWN!

Disclaimer: Remember that it's absolutely impossible for me to diagnose you and treat you just by you reading one of my articles. I'm superwoman it's true but even that is beyond my capabilities. So before you engage in any health and wellness activities, do consult your health care provider. We are happy to address your personal concerns, call us in office to schedule your personal consultation; and thanks ever so much for reading!