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Article: Health Zone: Happy hormones; Stuck in a bad mood you just can't shift? What you need is a sudden blast of endorphins. These substances are released in the brain when we're experiencing pleasure and provide a blissful feeling that can last hours. Here's our guide to putting a smile on your face. By HELEN FOSTER.(Features)
- Article from:
- The Mirror (London, England)
- Article date:
- August 23, 2001
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 MGN LTD. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Helen Foster
MOST people recognise the blissful feeling experienced after strenuous exercise, sex or even when listening to a favourite record.
In exercise, it's referred to as a runner's high. It's caused by the body's natural pain-killers - endorphins - which are released when we're out of breath and the body is under pressure.
Endorphins were discovered in 1972 when US doctors found receptor sites in the brain that doses of morphine latch on to. Because we had these receptor sites, they worked out we must have morphine-like substances ...