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Another Reason to Stop After One Glass: Endorphins

FitSugar — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:05:29 PST

I'm doing a little Spring cleaning and found this simple health tip in the FitSugar files. It's a good reminder to enjoy your nightly wine in moderation.

By now we all know that drinking in moderation, especially wine, is beneficial for your health. However, it is important to remember to drink in moderation, and for women that means stopping after one glass. Here's another reason to keep your alcohol intake in the moderate zone: endorphins. Recent research found light to moderate drinking releases endorphins, while heavy drinking does not. A "feel good" brain chemical, endorphins can also reduce anxiety.

Lead researcher in the study and professor of psychiatry and physiology at McGill University, Christina Gianoulakis PhD, hammers the point home with this explanation:

Readers should understand that drinking only low amounts of alcohol will increase endorphin release and produce pleasant effects. Thus, if after consumption of about two drinks of alcohol an individual does not experience the pleasant effects . . . he or she should stop drinking.

You Asked: Mood Swings and Exercise, What Gives?

FitSugar — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PDT

Dear Fit,
I am usually pretty good at working out but recently I've been skipping a few days because work's been super busy. I find that on those days I get super moody... What's up with that? Is it all in my head?
- Moody Mandy

Actually it is all in your head, but not the way in which you're thinking. Here's the deal, according to Peak Performance Online: Your pituitary gland (a gland located at the base of your brain) releases substantial quantities of 'endorphins' - chemicals which can block sensations of pain and produce overall feelings of euphoria - when you preform strenuous activities like running or biking. In other words, exercise makes you feel and look good, it's scientifically proven. This is why some people can get 'addicted' to exercise or feel a 'runners high'. Just like any addiction, withdrawal symptoms are normal, so don't worry. Get back on the ~~horse~~ treadmill as soon as you can and you're sure to be feeling great all over again.

5 Strange Ways Chocolate Keeps You Healthy

Prevention — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:02:26 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

This sweet treat may also boost brainpower, help you relax, and more!
By Mara Betsch, Prevention

Show your heart some love this Valentine’s Day by nibbling a few chocolates - and making them a regular treat throughout the year. A recent study found that those consuming the highest levels of chocolate had a 37 percent reduction in cardiovascular disease and a 29 percent reduction in stroke compared to those with lower chocolate intakes.

Though experts are quick to clarify that we should stick to moderate consumption of high-calorie chocolates, it’s hard to deny the cold, hard facts that chocolate can be a healthy addition to our diets.

Seven Surprising Ways to Sharpen Your Mind

Hundreds of studies have shown that dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants that promote heart health and may prevent many cardiovascular-related conditions, but we’ve dug up five more surprising health benefits. Read on for five new ways to justify your chocolate craving.

1. Chocolate May Help You With Math
Flavonols, compounds in chocolate with antioxidantlike properties, are thought to improve circulation, including blood flow to the brain. A 2009 study asked participants to count backward in groups of three from a number between 800 and 999. After drinking hot cocoa filled with flavonols, the participants were able to do calculations more quickly and accurately and were less likely to feel tired or mentally drained.

Learn a four more things chocolate can do for you after the break.

Relaxing Ways to Stay Healthy and De-Stress

Leta Shy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:38:17 PST

Exercise is a proven way to beat stress, but if you're more in the mode for relaxation, here are some ways to ensure you stay healthy and stress-free without a bead of sweat.

Eat fresh: Greasy, fried foods may be endorphin-boosting since they're addictive, but in the end, they'll only make you feel bloated and tired. Instead of eating processed foods, reach for feel-good foods that will not only help you get the nutrition you need but will also boost your happiness, like these five foods that fight stress.

Think low-intensity, not no-intensity: On those lazy days when you don't want to sweat it out, there's ways to still burn calories and boost endorphins. Whether you're walking or practicing restorative yoga, make sure you stay moving when you're feeling especially overwhelmed.

Read on for more tips after the break.

Simple Tips For Staving Off Holiday Sugar Cravings

Heather Dale — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 03:29:20 PST

You know you're getting into the holiday spirit when the movie Elf is on repeat in your DVD player. If this is the case, let's just hope you aren't influenced by Will Ferrell's bad dietary habits, which include copious amounts of candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup! We may not be guzzling down bottles of syrup, but when confronted with tables full of cookies, candies, chocolates, and cake, what's a girl to do? Other than exercising some restrain, here are some helpful tips that will help curb your sweet tooth during the holiday season.

Hangover Cures That Work (and Ones That Don't)

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 04:17:53 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

You know you shouldn't, but sometimes a girl just can't help herself. You plan to meet up with friends for a drink after work, and one drink turns into many more, which then turns into a rough next morning. We hope you don't have a hangover reading this, because we bring you some not-so-good news. "There are a lot of myths about hangover cures," says Ruth C. Engs, RN, EdD, a professor at Indiana University who has done extensive research on the effects of drinking. "Essentially there is no cure other than consuming water and liquids like juice (i.e., not spiked) in the morning." The reason? Hangover symptoms are a product of dehydration, hypoglycemia, and the poisonous side effects from toxins in our drinks (sounds great, right?). Water will not only help hydrate your muscles and organs, but will also aid in flushing out the toxins. Juices such as orange juice accomplish both while replenishing your body with missing sugars.

That said, if you swear by a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel or a five-mile run after a night out on the town, you're not alone. We got the scoop on which remedies seem to prove real, and which ones are just part of the rumor mill.

Find out which hangover cures work after the break!

5 Health Reasons to Make Time For Cuddling

Shape — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:08:28 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Next time your guy gets on your case about cuddle time — he says he's too hot, needs his space, doesn't feel like relaxing — present the evidence. Research suggests that there's more to cuddling than meets the eye. Lovey-dovey'ness aside, the health benefits of cuddling will surely convince him to make time for it.

Reason 1: It Feels Good
Cuddling releases oxytocin, which is also known as the feel-good hormone. "It increases overall happiness," says psychologist, physical therapist, and author of bestseller A Happy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness Elizabeth Lombardo.

"Cuddling, holding, and sexual play releases chemicals, like oxytocin, in the brain that create a sense of well-being and happiness," says Dr. Renee Horowitz, an ob-gyn who recently opened the Center for Sexual Wellness in Farmington Hills, Michigan.

Cuddling can also release endorphins, which is the chemical released after a good workout or when you eat chocolate, Horowitz adds, which contributes to that great feeling.

Dr. Oz: 5 Tips for Lasting Love, Health, and Happiness

Reason 2: It Makes You Feel Sexy
The most obvious benefit to cuddling is getting close to your partner in the physical sense. Cuddling can lead to fun sexy time or relaxing and loving time post sexual intercourse, but there's also a chemical plus.

"There is also the release of dopamine, which is an excitatory hormone that increases sexual desire," Horowitz says. Plus, studies show that sex is healthy for fitness and mental reasons, too. So it's a win-win.

Keep reading for two more reason to snuggle up!

Simple Tips to Reduce Workday Stress

Michele Foley — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:16:46 PDT

Sometimes a "case of the Mondays" can follow us well into the work week. Looming deadlines, pressure from the boss, and a hectic day of meetings are enough to frazzle the calmest individual. Before you let stress take control of an otherwise productive workday, follow these tips for stopping stress before it takes full hold.

Eat yourself to calm: While fatty junk foods may seem like the cure to your hectic day, these indulgences will only have you experiencing the crash-and-burn effect of a sugar high. Instead of reaching for things like chips or candy, eat one of these healthy foods proven to fight stress. Good-for-you items like nuts, oranges, spinach, and fish all contain nutrients that will ward off workday pressures. If a sweet treat is the only way you'll be able to survive the day, choose dark chocolate. A recent study shows that eating a small amount of dark chocolate can reduce stress levels. Along these same lines, give yourself a break and eat lunch away from your desk. Getting out of the office may be just what you need to relax.
Schedule a lunchtime workout: An easy way to blow off steam during your workday is to exercise. If the idea of leaving work to hit the gym only causes stress levels to rise, follow these timesaving tips for a midday workout and check out this quick beauty routine for the locker room. Numerous studies have shown that exercise is a sure-fire way to boost endorphins. You'll return to work happier, calmer, and energized.

See the rest of the tips after the break!

Are You Addicted to Exercise?

FitSugar — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:14:35 PDT

If you're feeling tired, down, or otherwise out of sorts, exercise can do wonders to help you feel better. That's because exercising releases endorphins, chemicals that tap into your brain's feel-good center.

It's no wonder, then, that exercising is on the list of activities, from eating dessert to sex, that people can become addicted to. In fact, in a recent New York Times article, researchers said that compulsive exercisers act much like drug addicts in regards to their daily workout: "tolerance, craving, withdrawal, and the need to exercise 'just to feel normal.'"

Of course, like any addiction, being addicted to exercise is no joke; it can cause anything from headaches to injuries to a weakened immune system - here are more signs that you are exercising too much. But many people profess to feeling out of sorts if they miss a workout, or how much they love experiencing that "runner's high." Are you one of them? Have you ever been addicted to exercise?

How to Survive a Breakup Without Gaining Weight

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:27:49 PDT

If you're an emotional eater, a bad breakup can send you into an eating frenzy. To avoid gaining weight after ending it with your S.O., keep these essential tips in mind.

Take up a sport to work out your ~~anger~~ feelings: Dodgeball and kickball are great for aggression; swimming and yoga can be perfect if you need time to reflect or mourn the end of your relationship; and, fast-paced cardio classes like Zumba or kickboxing keep your mind so busy, you won't have time to be upset.
Don't go on a partying spree: To prevent a pity party at home, you might want to go out and have as much fun as possible. This is a great tactic, unless that means downing high-calorie foods and fruity cocktails. It's OK to hit the town, just be mindful of how much you're taking in. Here are tips for having a healthy happy hour.

Keep on reading for more tips on avoiding weight gain after a break-up.