Explaining Runner’s High
Posted September 25th, 2007 at 12:30 PM by Lisa Cieplechowicz
Section: Running & Training, Health & Fitness, Exercise
Ever feel unusually cheerful after hitting the gym or increasingly confident after finishing up laps at the track? You’re not alone. This state of happiness after exercise is known as “runner’s high,” and has been a point of interest for researchers and athletes for years.The question is, what exactly causes runner’s high? Turns out, it’s all about endorphins.
Quite simply, endorphins are hormones that your body manufactures during exercise that are found mainly in the pituitary gland and nervous system. The interesting thing about endorphins is that they are renowned for having morphine-like qualities. In other words, they act like naturally-produced painkillers and sedatives. And, as exercise is a form of stress on the body, by participating in physical activity you are helping to release surges of endorphins.
To read the rest of this entry, please visit our partner site: HesFit.com
***Note: We encourage EVERYONE to see a doctor before altering their diet, taking a supplement and/or performing athletic, fitness or other strenuous physical activity. It is your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any information, instruction, opinion or advice contained in the content. Please also see our complete disclaimer.***
Tags: body, endorphins, exercise, fitness, health, intensity, lifestyle, Mens Health, mood, runners high, stress
Like what you see? Subscribe to our feed!
The Final Sprint
Recent studies have shown that the runners high may not be caused by endorphins (whose molecules are too large to pass through the blood/brain barrier), but instead are other chemical receptors in the brain. You can read more here:
http://runtrails.blogspot.com/2005/01/understanding-runners-high.html
SD
September 25th, 2007 at 6:56 pmHi Scott,
Thanks for pointing this out. The studies and theories you mentioned were analyzed and described by Lisa in her newest article - “Runner’s High Revisited”.
Thanks again!
Adam
http://www.hesfit.com/men/comment/the-final-sprint-runners-high-revisited/
October 1st, 2007 at 1:14 pm[…] HesFit.com, our men’s health and fitness partner site, recently reported that runner’s high was largely caused by the presence and production of endorphins in the human body. Interestingly enough, it turns out this issue isn’t as cut and dry as it may seem. Recent research questions the role of endorphins in the onset of runner’s high and turns instead to other factors to explain this state of temporary euphoria. […]
October 1st, 2007 at 1:25 pm