Endorphins

I recently heard that eating fat causes the release of endorphins (the body’s natural opiates).  It seems to me that this might explain a few things that I’ve observed about myself since switching to Paleo.  It could be why my mood has improved: endorphins relieve aches and pains and have a mood-elevating effect.  Endorphins are also an appetite suppressant, which could explain why I now only feel the need to eat once a day.

[[MORE]]Since vigorous exercise also releases endorphins, I’m wondering whether some synergy is possible there.  Chocolate and caffeine also release endorphins.

I started looking into this because I take low-dose Naltrexone for my arthritis.  Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist.  In low doses, it blocks the opiate receptor sites for just a few hours, which then causes the body to release more of them in response. The resulting increase in endorphin levels can modulate immune system function, and thereby help a wide range of immune system-related conditions ranging from arthritis to MS to cancer to Chron’s.

Apparently, there is some mounting evidence that an “endorphin deficiency” is prevalent in modern society.  Is it possible that low fat intake is responsible?  Perhaps low fat intake leads to low endorphins which leads to increasingly common immune system dysfunction?  Could it also be part of why people crave chocolate and “can’t live without” their morning caffeine?