Working out with a group can boost your endorphin levels. Photo: crschmidt, Flickr

It's long been said that misery loves company. But researchers at Oxford University's Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology found that when people exercise together, they increase their levels of "happy" hormones, the endorphins that are your body's natural way to reduce pain and create the post-workout high that keeps you coming back for more.

The study, published in the British journal Biology Letters, speculates that these hormones are the biological foundation for the social reward we find in communal activities like religious rituals, dancing, laughing and your killer spin class.

"The exact features of group activity that generate this effect are unknown," said the study's lead author, Emma Cohen. "But this study contributes to a growing body of evidence suggesting that synchronized, coordinated physical activity may be responsible."

As winter finally gives way to spring, I'm guessing the urge to spend your weekends on patios with friends is winning out over the winter tendency to curl up on the couch with a DVD.

Having drinks with friends is a great way to spend the evening, but recent research says you should stop after one to truly have a great night. Why? Apparently, one drink releases feel-good endorphins into your bloodstream, but more than that reverses the effect.

There's another reason to stop after one: Calories. A pint of beer can have upwards of 200 calories, and a margarita can run you around 300. Yeesh. That's not all -- drinking relaxes your inhibitions, meaning you're much more likely to see that 2 a.m. chili cheese dog as a good idea. Plus, who works out when they're feeling hungover?

By all means, do have fun -- just do your best to limit your 'fun' to a waistline-friendly amount.

Life is too short not to be fully "turned on." The Daily Turn On! energizes all aspects of "you." Every Monday The Daily Turn On! with That's Fit Life Fit expert Laura Lewis will provide you with ideas and tips to awaken your mind, your body and your life as you journey through each day of the week! Check in each Monday to get your tip for Turning On every day of your life.

You're an addict. You really are. As members of the human race, we naturally aspire to be happy, joyful, excited, buzzed, elated and "out-of-this-world-blissed out!" We love our "feel good" brain chemicals. Who wouldn't really? Whether we realize it or not, we all strive to attain just the right balance of dopamine, serotonin, cortisol, growth hormone, essential fats, insulin and other naturally occuring "bio"chemicals in our bodies. Fitness lovers, myself included, love the high that comes along with a great workout, right? I know I do. At the end of a particularly stressful day the "pre-workout" Laura looks very different before doing forty-five minutes of cardio and thirty minutes of free weights. I am all smiles ... and naturally high.

The hunger to feel good has a flip side. Hence addiction is a huge problem for many in our society. I should know. My genetic heritage is laden with those who have struggled with alcoholism and prescription drug abuse. My Grandpa Len died from it. He was such a great guy too and I adored him. It's too bad he died at age 57. I still miss him to this day.

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Try to find a person who doesn't enjoy a massage to relax. You'd be hard-pressed. Of all the stress-relieving techniques out there, massage is my absolute favorite.

Certainly, massage relieves muscle pain and soreness, but it appears to be most popular for stress relief. It's effectiveness is largely due to the fact that manipulating the muscles releases endorphins, the brain's natural opiates, which encourages a feeling of well being and confidence. Studies show massage can be helpful for various ailments. But when looking at the list, one can't help but notice many of the benefits involve the mind more than the body. Consider the following from a Mayo Clinic article:

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When you think of cheese, do you you think happy thoughts? A strange question, I know, but I promise that the apparent oddness of my question will fade after hearing why I asked it.

Here's why: the Journal of Food Science reports that phenylethylamine (PEA) -- a chemical found in cheese (that also happens to be related to amphetamines) -- causes the release of mood-enhancing hormones.

While chocolate has long been considered to be among the top "happy foods," cheese, especially cheddar, contains ten times more PEA, according to a report from the British Cheese Board. What's more, cheese is also purported to help reduce pain and beat stress and anxiety by increasing the release of endorphins.

Hopefully my question doesn't seem so strange anymore.

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I tend to think that moderation is the best way to go when it comes to most things, including alcohol consumption. However, I'd be a liar if I said I always followed my own rule. We all overindulge from time to time -- sometimes it can be easy to get carried away when you're having a good time. Despite the resulting hangovers, life goes on and we all have to pay for our overindulging.

If you find yourself in a situation where you've woken up with a raging headache, nausea, red eyes (etc) and don't have the luxury of laying around all day recovering in front of the TV, here are some tips from AOL's All About You on how to look good if you're hungover but still have to go about your daily life.

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Many people believe that exercise and pain go hand-in-hand. And sometimes it's true -- after a good workout, your muscles and joints can be sore for days afterward. It's a good pain, a satisfying pain, but a pain nonetheless.

But you know, pain and exercise do go hand-in-hand, though not necessarily in the way you might think. Exercise has been shown help with pain, particularly of the chronic variety. I'm serious! If you're suffering from chronic pain, a workout routine could be the cure for what ails you. Or, if not the cure, at least a very good treatment.

According to this article from Johns Hopkins University, exercise can help with pain in several ways:

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Most relationships start off hot and heavy -- everything between you and your partner was new and exciting, and you probably couldn't keep you hands off each other. So it could be kind of disappointing when, further down the line, that energy wears off and regular life begins to interfere with your formerly fab sex life.

If you've found that you're at the point where work stress, kids or just being a bit bored, has began to get in the way of getting intimate with your partner, check out this piece for some advice on how to boost a sagging sex life. The article offers five healthy tips (both physical and emotional) to help get things back on track.

You can try exercise (releases feel-good endorphins and helps you feel good about your body), quitting smoking (male smokers are more likely to be impotent) and eating right (protein and low glycemic index carbohydrates will help you retain energy throughout the evening). For more info, as well as the rest of the tips, take a look here for the full article.

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What excites you more -- chocolate or a passionate kiss? It's a purely subjective matter but technically speaking, the correct answer is chocolate. According to SELF Magazine, the sensation of chocolate melting on your tongue is physically more stimulating than a kiss. Here's what happens when you eat chocolate:

• The ingredients in chocolate trigger the release of serotonin and endorphins, which leads to a feeling of euphoria
  
• Theobromine and caffeine stimulate thought in the brain
• Your blood pressure and heart rate go up
• A chemical called anandamide triggers pleasure centers in the brain

So maybe the old saying about sex being better than chocolate is true? Still, kissing has a lot less calories than chocolate so if you're watching what you eat, stick to the kissing. What do you think?

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When I'm filled with anxiety, panic, or worry, exercise usually helps. It allows me to clear my head, focus inward, and collect a fresh perspective. There's nothing groundbreaking about my strategy. It helps loads of people who find themselves in all sorts of stressful scenarios.

Health experts have long recommended 30 minutes of moderate daily exercise to relieve stress. Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia agree. But they've got an even better recommendation. They say studies show high-intensity workouts pack a much bigger punch against stress than any other form of exercise. Why? There are several theories. We know intense aerobic exercise strengthens the heart and lungs, and these two vital organs bear the brunt of the body's stress response. So the more we exercise, the better these organs respond to negative emotion. Another possibility: Vigorous workouts require major concentration and limit the ability to obsess about weighty matters. It could also be that this type of exercise increases the release of endorphins, our feel-good hormones. The harder we work, the better we feel.

I guess it doesn't really matter why strenuous activity does the trick. It just does. And that's reason enough for me to keep at it.

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Life is too short not to be fully "tuned in." The Daily Turn On! is designed to wake up your senses, all six of them: smell, taste, touch, hearing, sight and intuition! Everyday The Daily Turn On! with That's Fit Life Fit expert Laura Lewis will awaken your mind, your body and your life!

Did you know ... Touch is one of the most effective pain relievers. Touch triggers the release of the brain's endogenous, analgesic endorphins that are more powerful than any drug.

The power of touch far exceeds its power over pain. Touches communicates to the very core of the soul. A hug releases stress, creates a sense of security and partnership. A hug or a held hand communicates partnership which provides confidence and strength. Touch communicates love, friendship, kindness and calmness.

Try it out ... Get in the habit of touch. Massage your pet, your partner, your friends and even yourself. Don't talk just touch, and notice the level of communication you experience with that person.

Observe the experience ... Do you feel more connected? Is there a kinder sense of reciprocity? A deeper level of love. Share your ideas and experiences!

Awaken your sense and touch a soul.

Turn On your senses ... live a fit life!

Acupuncture is one of those traditional eastern practices that has gained recognition and popularity over here too. But does it work? Will it benefit you? Acupuncturists use thin needles to manipulate energy in one's body, and it can help relieve pain and many other problems. Though many experts in North America think it works, they can't really explain why, aside from suggesting that the needles might trigger endorphins which help with pain management.

I had acupuncture about a year ago and though I didn't notice any major changes in my body, I did feel better. One of the keys to acupuncture is that you have to have an open mind. If you're convinced it can't work, your body will believe it and it won't work for you. So if you're considering it, I would say it's work a try ... and don't worry, it's doesn't hurt beyond the occasional pinch. For more information, check out this article from eDiets.

Have you had it? Will you?

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If you suffer from migraines, you know that they are no fun and it is very difficult to find anything that will take them away.

I have pretty good luck with chiropractic and natural progesterone cream, but the next time I am suffering I am going to give this "cure" a try.

It seems that to get rid of our pain, all we need to do is release pain-killing endorphins into our body. That makes sense, and Squidoo tells you exactly how to compress the nerve below your eyebrow to do just that.

They also offer other ways to release endorphins, like eating cayenne pepper.

Dr. Mercola has other suggestions, like EFT, diet and exercise.

Will you try this simple trick the next time you have a migraine? What natural remedies help you alleviate your migraine pain?

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Yoga is intended to help with both physical and mental health so I don't think too many people are surprised to hear that yoga can help improve your mood. Whether you're feeling a little depressed, bored, stressed out, or even insecure before a big date or important event there are poses that will help you combat those emotions and help you get into a more positive frame of mind. And there's real physical evidence to back up the effects -- by holding your body in certain positions you can stimulate glands that release mood altering chemicals. Move #3 here I come!

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Feeling great and being in a good mood is a very complicated process made up of numerous pieces and processes. If you're having trouble with your exercise and fitness goals you should consider carefully why that might be. Although there are any number of reasons you may be lacking motivation, like whether or not you're doing something you love for exercise (don't try to make yourself jog every day if you hate running!), it's worth considering other sneakier causes. The science of feeling great is a complicated one!

One aspect of making sure you're "in the mood" to exercise is making sure you give your brain what it needs to be positive and happy. Brain chemistry is a delicate balance of many things, including your metabolism (no, it's not just about energy and calorie burning, but mood too!) and neurotransmitters like seratonin -- which is responsible for feelings of happiness, calm, relaxation, confidence, concentration, and personal well-being. A lack of seratonin can lead to depression, as it does all too frequently for many people in this country.

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