Natural ways to produce feel-good chemicals

[Dj-ob]

Hey all!
I was wondering does anyone have any exercises they do to gain a natural high? What i mean by natural high, is a high that you are able to produce without the need to take drugs for example:
Orgasm - oxytocin
During an intense workout - adrenaline, serotonin and dopamine

I was bored one day and started to breath deeply and tense the muscles around my chest, i then relaxed and got this light-headed calm warm feeling, similar to buzzing on a pill for 10 seconds.

I am interested to know of some exercises you can do to release feel-good chemicals. I am particularly interested to discover ways to gain a serotonin boost. I know nothing about the mechanics of the human body. So please share your information on how to release this chemical.

[Perception Addict]

We make serotonin from an amino acid (protein building block) called tryptophan. By eating tryptophan rich foods we can naturally boost levels of serotonin. Tryptophan is not as widely distributed in our foods as other amino acids, and it is found mainly in: turkey, chicken, fish, pheasant, partridge, cottage cheese, bananas, eggs, nuts, wheat germ, avocados, milk, cheese and the legumes (beans, peas, pulses, soya), and there are also smaller amounts in breads, cereals, potatoes and rice.

Because tryptophan is such a large molecule, other more easily absorbed amino acids actively compete with it. In order to divert them, and encourage the uptake of tryptophan it is helpful moderately raise insulin levels by eating starchy foods, such as brown rice, wholemeal bread, porridge oats and jacket potatoes, alongside the protein foods.

If brain serotonin levels are low then it can be tempting to reach for foods, and substances, which will temporarily give us a boost. These include sugary foods, refined carbohydrates (such as crisps, white bread, white rice and other processed foods), and alcohol. The problem with these foods is that they perpetuate the cycle of cravings. Normalising serotonin levels is probably one of the most important, and most ignored, means of reducing the need to binge-eating and drink.

While serotonin is the messenger, it is necessary for the message to be received. The brain chemical receptors are built principally from vital fats which include EPA and DHA. These two are found mainly in oily fish, such as mackerel, salmon, tuna, herrings and sardines, and also fish oil supplements, cold-pressed flax and walnut oils. Depression has been shown to be significantly improved by introducing these fats daily, over three or four months.

http://www.healthandnutrition.co.uk/articles/depression.htmI can't vouch for the authenticity of this article, but I've heard a lot of conjecture about eating a diet rich in carbs and taking in plenty of tryptophan in order to naturally boost mood (by raising serotonin levels).

[Dj-ob]

Hi perception addict,
I have read an article similar to what you found, i understand that you need divert the other amino acids with high carbohydrate foods in order for the tryptophan to be absorbed but i think it isn't beneficial to your weight by doing this.

I have came across a supplement called 5-HTP


From Wiki

5-Hydroxytryptophan or 5-HTP is a naturally-occurring amino acid (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amino_acid), a precursor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_precursor) to the neurotransmitter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurotransmitter) serotonin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin) and an intermediate in tryptophan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryptophan) metabolism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolism). It is marketed in the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States) and other countries as a dietary supplement for use as an antidepressant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antidepressant), appetite suppressant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appetite_suppressant), and sleep aid (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_aid).

The psychoactive action of 5-HTP is thought to derive from its effect on serotonin synthesis in central nervous system (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_nervous_system) tissue. It is believed that an artificially high supply of 5-HTP causes the brain's serotonin-producing neurons to increase production. Increased serotonin production then leads to increased serotonin release.

I have even found this supplement sold in a pure powder form on ebay. I might give this a shot! sounds promising!

Anyway, id like to thank you for your response!

If anyone else is aware of any other legal serotonin producing substances let me know!

[Perception Addict]

A quick google search yields many results. I would have included them, but I thought you didn't want supplements. Try the link to that quote I gave, it listed some other supplements/herbs.

[Salvinorin A]

Break swiy's arm.....feeeeeeel those endogenous opiates :laugh::laugh::laugh:

SWIM once had the most incredible adrenaline high after getting off his first REAL roller coaster (Invertigo at Great America, this coaster is a beast).

Lasted about 90 seconds....he was floating.....if the floaty feeling wasn't there, it would very much be like vicadin.

[Nahbus]

SWIM remembers taking 5-HTP to increase the positive effects of marijuana, while reducing the negatives. He remembers a very good synergistic effect with the two.

[[éS]Infinite]

SWIM is interested in the neurochemistry behind meditation and sleep. He finds both can be very euphoric, but only knows of involvement of serotonin and melatonin, and not so much what they do.
He also knows that some times pain can cause an endorphin "rush" which can make one feel good (ex. spicy foods, hitting one's funny bone/stubbing a toe). Any information on "how it happens" will be well received. :D

[Lethargy]

We hypothesize that laughter (whether intentional aka "Faked" or spontaneous) helps release pleasurable neurotransmitters. We have yet to try laughing for long periods of time but when laughing every day for a few minutes we certainly felt much better in general, similar to the slight mood life from exercising everyday.

Meditation and self-hypnosis can induce feelings quite similar (often identical, though shorter-lasting in our experience) to drugs.

[cannagirl]

Smile. And try not to feel just a little bit better. I bet you can't unless someone just died or something.

A warm shower, sex, food....all these things release happy chemicals.

[~lostgurl~]

My gurl took part in laughter therapy in rehab. Everyone lay in a circle with heads facing the middle and tried the "fake it till you make it" theory. 15 mins of laughter, seemed to lift the mood in general, but that could have been the placebo effect.

[IntrepidTraveler]

Yoga and Meditation have done wonders for me. Seriously, if you've never given it a try just enroll in a Yoga class for a couple of weeks to see how good and refreshed it can make you feel.

[stoneinfocus]

Usuallay, knowing of and sometimes making and subsequent taking of drugs, food and drinks to support activities of any kind of my favour, which gets me high in return or fucks-me up to make me stronger(training)^^