We all have our days, don’t we? Days when we are on top of the world as well as days when we are not in the best of moods.

One thing that we often forget to recognize, especially on those “not so good” days, is that our bodies are miraculous creations equipped with the ability to manufacture special “chemicals”, on demand.
I like to refer to our bodies as our very own natural pharmacy. These “chemicals” are called neurotransmitters and neurotransmitters have an effect on how we are feeling. But how do we access these neurotransmitters?

Simple! Have you heard the term biohacking?

Biohacking is a hot buzzword these days and can range from extremely invasive procedures like implanting magnetic chips into our fingers to more mainstream, non-invasive practices such as meditation.

Simply put, it is the act of intentionally tapping into our brain and body in order to optimize performance and create physiological changes, outside the realm of traditional medicine.

Three ways to biohack Dopamine:
Note: Dopamine (also known as the reward chemical) – is a chemical produced by our brain that makes us feel good.

1. Celebrate little wins. Due to our busy lifestyles it is not uncommon to scratch one thing off our to-do list and quickly move on to the next task. Next time, before moving onto the next task, simply take a moment and have a little dance party…if not physically than at least mentally.

2. Engage in self-care activities. Whichever activities make you feel like you are refilling your proverbial cup will give you an extra boost of Dopamine. Mani/pedi, massage or even arts and crafts are all examples of possible self-care activities.

3. Eat foods that are rich in L-Tyrosine (avocados, bananas, pumpkin seeds and eggs and cheese, if you are not plant based). Even creating a recipe helps boost your Dopamine levels. Oxytocin (also known as the love hormone or cuddle hormone) – is a hormone that helps promote trust, empathy, and bonding in relationships.

Three ways to biohack Oxytocin:

1. Cuddling, hugging, making eye contact or even holding hands all help to increase your Oxytocin levels. This can be done either in a romantic relationship or in a platonic friendship.

2. Rubbing your pet or holding a baby. Think about it, when was the last time you either rubbed your pet or held a baby and it didn’t instantly put a smile on your face?

3. Giving a compliment or talking with friends. I bet you smiled while you read that. Serotonin (also known as a mood stabilizer) – is a hormone and neurotransmitter that helps regulate your mood as well as your sleep, appetite, digestion, learning ability, and memory.

Three ways to biohack Serotonin:

1. Get outside in the sunshine. Just 10-15 minutes a day of sunlight has been shown to have a dramatic effect on your overall mood.

2. Practice meditation. Research has found that meditation not only improves your mood but it also helps to decrease anxiety, decrease blood pressure and improve focus. If you are new to meditation, give yourself some grace, start with just 5 minutes and increase from there.

3. Eating a clean diet is also important as up to 95% of serotonin is produced in the gut. Get creative and see where you can incorporate more bananas, nuts and seeds, leafy greens, probiotics and eggs, if you’re not plant-based, into your diet. Endorphins (also known as the “pain killer” hormone) – are hormones produced by the body and they increase when you engage in reward-producing activities.

Three ways to biohack Endorphins:

1. We’ve heard it before. Laughter is the best medicine. Finding humor in your day is a great way to keep your endorphins flowing and keep a smile on your beautiful face. What’s your favorite comedy to watch?

2. Exercising (HIIT, jogging, swimming or any type of movement that brings you joy and makes you sweat) will give you a boost in endorphins. Lace up those shoes, turn on your favorite tunes and get moving.

3. Eating dark chocolate! Need I say more? But in addition to dark chocolate, spicy foods will also do the trick.