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Stress is a very common component of our everyday life. Staying happy amidst our busy schedules has become almost impossible. Everybody wants to be happy and we often find ourselves pursuing this emotion in various ways. Did you know that these emotions are the result of chemical reactions in the brain? The human body has 4 natural built-in mood-enhancing chemicals, which help combat stress and relieve pain keeping you happy and positive.

What are happy hormones? Why do they make us happy? How do we get more of these in our system?

The four happy hormones are Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin and Endorphin (DOSE).

DOPAMINE: This is one of the chemical signals that pass information from one neuron to the next. Dopamine is released during pleasurable moments or situations and helps to regulate how pleasure is perceived and experienced. Dopamine is also responsible for our motivation, concentration, pleasure, bliss and euphoria.

How can you boost your Dopamine level:-

1. Limit your sugar intake: Although sugar is linked with raising dopamine levels, the “high” achieved is only temporary and is linked to a wide array or illnesses.
2. Limit caffeine intake: Yes, caffeine can also raise dopamine levels but studies show that increased caffeine intake can actually cause an increase in tolerance and can lead to lowered or even diminished dopamine release in the long run.
3. Connect with others: Human contact such as hugs from your kids, kisses from your spouse, or even simply shaking hands with a friend or colleague is enough to boost dopamine levels.
4. Meditate: Meditation and mindfulness helps the body relax through deep breathing and calming of the nervous system. This in turn helps with the release of dopamine.
5. Listen to music: Listening to the music you enjoy helps trigger our pleasure centre thereby releasing dopamine.

OXYTOCIN:

This hormone and neurotransmitter is best known for its role in breastfeeding and childbirth. It’s produced in the hypothalamus and females have been shown to have higher levels than males. Oxytocin has been linked to higher self- esteem, trust, optimism and can help lower stress and blood pressure.

How to boost Oxytocin:-

1. Cry: Suppressing ones emotions can lead to lower oxytocin levels which can cause stress as well as various physical issues within the body. We often hear that a good cry can help us heal both emotionally and physically. It’s true!
2. Give: This can be in the form of volunteering or simply making a generous donation. The act of giving and/or bonding with others can help increase oxytocin levels and make us feel good overall.
3. Physical Touch: Oxytocin helps to trigger the reward system in our brain when we are in healthy and loving relationships. It is also released during orgasms in both men and women.
4. Encouragement: Whether we are getting it, or giving it, words of encouragement go a long way in the release of oxytocin. Compliment and encourage one another at every chance you get!

SEROTONIN:

Do you feel imbalanced? Do you have depression, anxiety, hot flashes, night sweats, bipolar disorder, migraines, insomnia, PMS, or chronic pain? The cause of all these symptoms is a neurotransmitter imbalance.

Like dopamine, serotonin is also a neurotransmitter. While dopamine is responsible for our excitement and motivation, serotonin is responsible for calming us, suppressing pain, and regulating our mood and sleep cycles. This hormone is found mainly in the gastrointestinal tract, platelets,                    and the nervous system. Serotonin also controls appetite and reduces your sensitivity to pain.

How to boost Serotonin:-

1. 1. Aroma massage: Regular body massages can help lower the stress hormone cortisol, and help increase both dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain/body.
2. Positive affirmations: Regularly reciting positive affirmations can help almost re-wire your thinking. Numerous studies show the effects of positive thinking can help with serotonin synthesis while lowering cortisol levels.
3. Good vitamin B Intake: Vitamin B6 and B12 are directly linked to lowered levels of depression and when taken regularly, can help boost overall feelings of well-being. The richest sources of vitamin B6 include fish, beef liver and other organ meats, potatoes and other starchy vegetables, and fruit (excluding citrus). Vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal products, including fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products.
4. Gardening: This one may seem strange but studies show that microbes contained in the soil can lead to a rise in serotonin simply through inhalation.

ENDORPHINS:

These are chemical compounds which are produced in the human body and interact with receptors in the brain. They help to reduce pain, increase focus, and improve your overall mood. It also helps boost energy, confidence, and makes all of the daily stressors of life much easier to cope with. Today, we produce endorphins when exercising our anaerobic zones. Anaerobic exercise helps us to cope with chronic pains by activating our body’s natural painkillers. Hence exercise is one of the many ways of boosting Endorphins.

How to boost Endorphin:-

1. Laughter: Not only does laughter boost serotonin levels but also helps to increase pain tolerance levels.
2. Healthy eating habits: Increase your consumption of protein, healthy fats, and plant based food while limiting alcohol and caffeine. If you supply the necessary amino acids the body will restore balance and you will have improved health and moods.
3. 3. Sunshine exposure: Regularly spending time outdoors in the sun can regulate the release of endorphins. The best time is to expose the body to the Sun is from 10am to 1pm.
4. Aromatherapy: Soothing scents such as those found in essential oils can help with the release of endorphins in the body.

So keep smiling, stay positive and keep these hormones levels at the peak!

After a long tiring day or a hectic week, we all deserve to relax and rejuvenate ourselves and get pampered. There is no better way to do this than by visiting a health spa/gym with a steam room and sauna? Isn’t it?

Did you know that there are health benefits to using a sauna or steam room?

But, in the Sauna vs Steam room debate—which treatment wins?

Steam bath also called as Turkish style bath provides moist heat. The temperature in a steam room may range from 100 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, but it may feel warmer because of the high humidity.

The gentle warming of the muscles through steam treatment is increasingly found to improve your health and feeling of well-being. The steam room helps to open up airways which improve your breathing and alleviates congestion. The wet heat from the steam room thins and opens the mucous membranes in the body, which helps to relieve pressure. This helps in releasing congestion and sinus relief

For people with bronchitis and asthma, sitting in the steam room might not suit you. This could vary from person to person. If you are stressed and anxious about sitting in a steam room, you can opt for taking steam inhalation (using a bowl). The moist heat will loosen the sputum and clear the airways.

The steam room also increases metabolism and can help in weight loss. The steam room causes you to sweat, which means that your body is losing excess resulting in shedding some pounds. The sweat also helps to remove toxins and cleanses the body.

Being in the steam room can also decrease your body’s production of cortisol— the stress hormone. In fact, the simple act of sitting quietly for ten minutes provides that benefit. When the cortisol level drops, you can feel more in control, relaxed, and rejuvenated.

The pain you feel after working out is called delayed onset muscles soreness (DOMS). Moist heat works best for muscle recovery. So it’s best to take a steam bath after a good intense workout at the gym. A steam room can also be used before a workout, as it helps to loosen up the joints and increase flexibility.

Steam bath helps to boost immune system. Exposing your body to warm water stimulates leukocytes, which are cells that fight infection. Steam bath also helps to clear out any impurities from the skin which is especially good for those who have acne.

Now let’s understand what is Sauna?

The sauna uses dry heat method. In a sauna, the temperature range is about 170° to 190°F. The dry heat from a sauna soothes your nerve endings and warms and relaxes muscles, in turn relieving the tension from your body and minimizing joint pain. This is especially beneficial for those who suffer from illnesses such as arthritis, painful migraines and headaches, saunas can be used as a means of calming the body and relieving it of stress.

The heat from the sauna helps the body release endorphins, a feel-good chemical that reduces the effects of stress on the body which can relax you enough to sleep better. Sauna is better for muscle relaxation and lowering blood pressure. Sauna opens up your pores and increases blood and lymphatic circulation, which will effectively aid in softening your skin.

Sauna improves blood flow to our skin, which helps in the growth of new skin and also removes all the dead cells that were building up previously. Thus, Sauna helps you look younger. A sauna will help to eradicate blackheads to give you clearer skin.

Sauna helps in improving endurance during sports. Our body has a certain level for heat tolerance. Regular use of saunas increases the heat tolerance threshold. This leads to significant improvements in endurance, feel less fatigued and maintain energy levels during sports.

A sauna can make your hair look great. We have a special gland called the sebaceous gland on our scalp, which releases compounds that help condition and moisturize our hair. Spending some time in the sauna activates this gland, which will then release these useful compounds, thereby helping to make hair look great

So, the debate continues. Each has its own benefits.

To decide which one is better for you, you might want to ask yourself, which steam room or sauna is closest to me? Do I prefer dry heat or moist heat? Which facility am I likely to use on a regular basis?

Before you hit steam or sauna room…do consider the below precautions.

Precautions: Do make sure that you don’t stay in there too long—spending too much time in a sauna can lead to excessive thirst and too much time in a steam room can cause dizziness or even a rapid heartbeat.

It is advisable not to spend longer than 15-20 minutes inside. It is important to drink plenty of water prior, as well.

It is advisable to wear a towel and flip-flops or shower shoes when inside a steam room.

So, Get yourself relaxed, rejuvenated on this weekend in a different style.

NOTE: If you are pregnant, immune-compromised, or recovering from surgery, avoid the steam room and sauna until you get the green signal from your doctor.