Do you have a history of chronic emotional or physical pain? Crave comfort foods or behaviors? Tear up easily or cry often? Feel super sensitive before your period? If you said yes to any (or most!) of these emotional symptoms, there’s a 99% chance you have very low endorphin levels.
I’ll teach you how to fix those low levels quickly with 1 simple nutrient!
What are endorphins?
Endorphins are brain chemicals that your brain makes to help numb pain and stress. When released, these pain-relieving chemicals give us a sense of well-being, emotional resilience and even euphoria. They are produced in the pituitary gland and hypothalamus.
Endorphins feel like a big warm hug. A ‘runner’s high’ is attributed to the release of endorphins from exercising. Endorphins are our body’s natural pain-killers. If your levels of endorphins are robust, you’ll feel a general sense of well-being in your life, even during times of stress.
“Endorphins are an amazing part of our body’s survival mechanisms. They are what allow human beings to perform at very high levels when they are in extreme situations. They allowed our ancestors to survive very hostile circumstances by blocking pain long-enough for them to escape whatever threat they were under.”
“The main function of endorphin molecules is to inhibit the transmission of pain signals in the nervous system. The secondary role they have is to produce a feeling of euphoria that is very similar to what we experience when using other opioids.”
-Dr. Jockers ‘Are You Struggling with an Endorphin Deficiency?’
How endorphins get depleted
Extended periods of stress, painful emotional experiences, under-eating, under-exercising, nutrient imbalances or a history of chronic pain can all cause endorphin levels to decline.
Prolonged use of substances like drugs and alcohol may also affect endorphin levels.
Endorphin levels can drop the week before your period too, following the the natural dip in serotonin and progesterone- increasing the tears, mood swings and low moods of PMS.
Symptoms of low endorphin levels
If you have low endorphin levels, you might notice that you really gravitate towards certain foods like chocolate, bread, pastries or wine to help comfort that extra pain you’re feeling, whether mental or physical.
Or maybe when you’re out running errands you always seem to be needing that ‘little treat’ like a comforting latte or pastry (don’t worry I just totally called myself out too haha!).
Take this quick quiz to see if you have symptoms of low endorphins:
____ Heightened sensitivity to emotional or physical pain
____ Often feeling sad/hurt/depressed
____ Often feeling lonely
____ Cry or tear up easily
____ Really hard to recover from loss, break-ups or progress through the grieving process
____ History of chronic pain (emotional or physical)
____ Eating to soothe your mood, or comfort eating
____ Craving a reward or a numbing treat
____ Really, REALLY loving or craving certain foods (like desserts, wine, chocolate) behaviors, drugs or alcohol (because they can temporarily boost endorphins and numb pain)
How do I boost my endorphin levels??
The nutrient that helps quickly boost endorphins is called DPA (D-Phenylalanine.) It does this by blocking enzymes that break down endorphins. It’s sometimes called ‘a-hug-in-a-bottle’, and I quite agree with this nickname, having felt the instant calm, emotional comfort and grounding that just one capsule can provide. It’s pretty mind-boggling!
A note on cravings & food addictions: Supplementing with DPA can quickly turn off your intense cravings for comfort foods, while supporting and balancing your emotions. In my amino acid coaching sessions, I’ll ask my clients to think about their favorite ‘treat’ foods, which is usually junk food, breads or candy. After trying the DPA, the cravings not only go away within minutes, but they don’t even sound appealing anymore! DPA can quickly help you break free from the cravings/addictions that sugars and junk foods create in your brain chemistry- no willpower needed.
Typical dosing:
DPA (I like ‘Endorphigen’ by Lidke Technologies best) : 500 to 1,500mg 2-3 times a day, between meals
Some people do better with DPA’s twin sister, DLPA (DL-Phenylalanine) 500 to 1,500mg 2-3 times a day between meals. It’s a little more stimulatory, because it helps boost your catecholamines too, which can be very helpful if you score high in the ‘low catecholamines’ mood type.
An amino acid blend with all 9 essential amino acids can be helpful for a few months too, while you build your endorphin levels
Contraindications: Don’t take DLPA after 3pm if you tend towards insomnia, it can keep you up at night. Both DPA and DLPA are not recommended if you have Grave’s disease/overactive thyroid, Phenylketonuria (PKU), melanoma, high blood pressure, frequent migraine headaches, or bipolar 1.
Mood + emotional freedom with holistic mental wellness coaching
If you’re feeling sad, sensitive, craving numbing from foods, emotionally fragile or depressed, that can be a sure sign that your endorphin levels are depleted. If you’d like to learn what’s driving your mood and emotional symptoms and how to fix them with amino acid therapy, download my eBook here:
And if you’re looking for a holistic, individualized approach to getting your mental health unstuck for good, just book an intro coaching call with me below!
xx,
Annika
DISCLAIMER:
This post is for educational and informational purposes only and solely as a self-help tool for your own use. I am not providing medical, psychological, or nutrition therapy advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your own medical practitioner. Always seek the advice of your own medical practitioner and/or mental health provider about your specific health situation. For my full Disclaimer, please go to https://www.nourishedbynature.co/disclaimer