Endorphin Foods: Plants That Make Us Happy

What are endorphins?

The word endorphin is derived from a combination of the terms ‘endogenous’ meaning bodily and ‘morphine’, an opiate pain reliever. So, unsurprisingly, they’re the body’s natural pain relievers; but they also have another role, acting as indicators of pleasure too. They’re also the feel-good chemical that our bodies produce that can lead us to feel happier – and what happiness really is might just be a debate we leave to philosophers.

If you’re interested in some more sciencey stuff, then this article from Healthline has you covered.

What are beta-endorphins?

Beta-endorphins are responsible for the feel-good, satisfying post-exercise rush you feel. It’s commonly called ‘runner’s high’ and researchers believe that it’s a deeply embedded survival mechanism that enabled our ancestors to be energised and focussed whilst hunting or running away from life-threatening dangers. 

Read more about it here at Road Runner Sport. 

Why does your body create endorphins? 

Not all the roles that endorphins play within the body are entirely understood by scientists yet but it is known that they play a key role in our perceptions of pain and pleasure. They help act as internal signifiers to physical experiences: so your brain knows if you’ve broken your leg and should stop running, or if you’ve just eaten something delicious, that you should try it again. 

What’s an endorphin diet?

An endorphin diet is a term used to describe eating food that actively promotes the release of endorphins in the brain. Foods that can not only make us feel happier and more content but that also regulate our appetite and even boost our immune systems. 

Want to discover three new ways to boost your workouts? Read trained PT Emily’s post here.

Plant-based foods that help your brain release endorphins

Here’s our favourite part; where the food comes in. These foods help us release the happy  hormone:

• Spicy foods – it’s believed that the body releases endorphins as a response to the heat of foods like chillies as a painkiller; maybe this is why we all love eating vegan curries so much
• Legumes and nuts – the healthy fats help trigger a dopamine release (which helps create the feeling of pleasure or reward) 
• Probiotic foods – anything fermented, like kimchi or sauerkraut can also influence our hormone release 
• Dark chocolate – not that we needed a reason to keep this in our diets, but eating dark chocolate can help release endorphins, serotonin (the ‘happy’ chemical) and dopamine. Perhaps that’s why we can’t get enough
• Foods high in vitamin C – yes, eating oranges, broccoli and peppers can promote the release of endorphins too