It's The Winter To Get High

February 23, 2010

On endorphins…I mean! I have enough problems with mood swings this winter — thank you very much!

So while we're talking "highs" — I already told you what makes mine. The great thing is they're free, great for your overall health, and you can produce them yourself.

I discovered endorphins while attending a fitness seminar in the early 80s when I was teaching aerobics. I was never one for "biochemistry" in school but was so fascinated learning about these neurotransmitters and how helpful their function was to our well-being that I gobbled up every book I could find on the subject.

Yes, endorphins can get you "high." And, there are different ways to produce them. My favorite is to get up and move! I can just put on music and dance — and I'm happy as a lark.

It's a fallacy that you need to "go all out", "push it" or "go for the burn" in order to feel the effect of endorphins. Endorphins are naturally produced by a wide range of activities — singing, meditation, deep breathing, eating spicy food, acupuncture — just to mention a few.

Maybe you can guess my husband's favorite way of producing endorphins and it's not "on two wheels."

Speaking of those wheels — a bike tour is a great way to produce those endorphins. And look at the side benefits — it's environmentally friendly, fun way to travel somewhere new, and you get to meet new friends!