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What’s an Endorphin rush and why do I want it?
By Christina | March 23, 2008
The rush said to come from exercise is due to the europhic feeling that comes when there is an endorphin release in the body. This is also called the three E’s; exercise, endorphins and euphoria. This rush of good feelings is so powerful it can even mask the pain from an injury. Have you ever seen an athlete keep playing in a big game even after dislocating a bone? This is not necessarily because he or she is superhuman but more because of the hormonal release of endorphins. What are endorphins really and why does this euphoric reaction occur during exercise?
The idea about the chemical cause of the “Runner’s high” originated in the 1970’s. Jogging was the sport of choice back then and at the same time a new type of brain chemicals was discovered . These chemicals, now called endorphins, were found to be very similar to morphine in chemical structure and pain killing abilities. Morphine even attaches to the same receptors in the brain as endorphins. The scientists found the similarities so striking that they actually named the chemicals ‘endorphins’, meaning “morphine” and “made by the body.” The theory that endorphins caused the high during exercise was supported when early research found that there were heightened levels of endorphins present in the blood stream during and after exercise.
Topics: Fitness Tips, que-ans |
