How long does endorphin rush last

Whether you're going with tai chi, aerobic exercise, or Pilates, you'll not only get that legit high Want to get those endorphins pumping? This minute HIIT and core workout can help—and you don't even need any equipment. Here's how weight lifting can lower depression. And incorporating more of these herbs into your life can help, too. Your official excuse to add "OOD" ahem, out of doors to your cal.

Become an Insider. Enter Email Address. Facebook Pinterest Twitter Youtube Instagram. T he blissful afterglow you feel post run or intense gym sesh is one of the main reasons why people work out in the first place.

But how intense or long does a workout have to be before this so-called, feel good "high" kicks in? And WTF are endorphins, exactly, and what do endorphins and exercise have in common, anyway? Related Stories. Tags: Fitness Tips , Running. Furthermore, the team found that HIIT caused negative feelings in the men, which was also associated with an increase in endorphin release.

After moderate-intensity aerobic activity, the men reported feelings of pleasure and euphoria, which they found corresponded with endorphin release. Overall, the researchers believe that their study sheds light on how different intensities of exercise influence endorphin release.

NordicTrack Vault and Tempo both offer workout mirrors suitable for exercising at home. Learn more here. In a meta-analysis of existing studies, scientists have identified 13 candidate genes associated with fitness outcomes.

A new study in mice suggests that having a healthy and intact gut microbiome may be necessary for optimal muscle growth after exercise. Drinking coffee before working out can improve muscle endurance, cognitive function, and muscle performance. Learn more. Since endorphin release is more on a case by case basis, it might be hard to pinpoint exact exercises to do to ensure endorphins are released.

However, there are a few things you can do and a few rules that you can follow if you want to take advantage of the huge benefits that come from endorphin release.

First, the treadmill is a good place to start. Running for extended periods of time has always been a great way to release endorphins into your body. It also might help to have a goal in mind. Some studies suggest that the brain, in order to meet certain goals, might release endorphins in order to meet those goals or benchmarks.

Another method of exercise that can do wonders for the release of endorphins is weight training. Remember one simple rule: the more weight you use, the more endorphins you release. Obviously, you want to be safe while lifting heavier weights , but for better endorphin release, you need to push yourself. It is also worth noting that certain weight lifting exercises have shown to bring on endorphin release more commonly than other exercises.

The problem with jumping to the conclusion that endorphins cause your "exercise high" is that in large-scale studies, scientists measure endorphins present in the blood — not the brain. Then, they make the assumption that if endorphin levels rise in the blood, then it must be because of an increase of endorphins in the brain, says Matthews.

But their findings don't necessarily prove that. And it's the endorphins in your brain that would be causing that "high.

In fact, a recent German study found that, while endorphin levels are higher after a run, endorphins can't pass through the blood-brain barrier, which means they probably don't have much to do with experiencing an exercise high. What does affect the brain, researchers found, was a neurotransmitter called anandamide, which is elevated after exercise and can travel from the blood to the brain. What's Really Going On? So if you aren't an endorphin junkie, then what are you?

Well, you might be a serotonin or norepinephrine junkie, according to Matthews. When you exercise, your brain increases production of these neurotransmitters, which send messages throughout your nervous system. In the case of exercise, those messages might be something along the lines of: "You're running! This is awesome! Cheer up! Studies have linked low levels of serotonin and norepinephrine to depression, which is a much more solid link to feelings of post-workout euphoria than the evidence for endorphins, says Matthews.

And it's not just that exercise leads to an increase in serotonin and norepinephrine which may, in turn, reduce depression and stress.