Hormones are chemical messengers, or signals, that are produced by glands and then travel throughout your body, affecting other organs’ activities. These tiny chemical molecules regulate your growth and development, as well as control the way your body functions.
Each hormone has its own function in the system and they contribute to a healthy balanced life.
What do hormones do?
Hormones help to regulate many important functions in the body, including growth and development, metabolism, and reproductive function. They can also play a role in mood and behavior. Some examples of hormones you can find below.
The first time we may feel some imbalance in our hormones, is when we are teenagers. Starting with the age of 13 years old, things start to change with our bodies. Girls mature faster than boys due to the quicker process of puberty.
Estrogen
In girls’ cases, when the ovaries start to release estrogen that’s when breasts start growing and their bodies change significantly. Men can also have estrogen but it becomes an issue. The symptoms are enlarged breasts (gynecomastia), erectile dysfunction, and trouble maintaining an erection.
Estrogen is involved with bone building, tissue growth, and development during pregnancy, as well as breast milk production.
Testosterone
The main hormone that boys and men have is testosterone. When testosterone appears in the body, it creates different changes like thickening of the voice, increased hair, muscle development, regulates libido, and produces sperm. In women’s cases, testosterone is very bad. Usually, when a woman has high testosterone it’s mainly from POS ( polycystic ovary symptoms ), hirsutism, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The symptoms of high testosterone are acne, hairiness, balding, increased muscle mass, and deepening of the voice.
Hormones have more than sexual functions. They regulate vital functions and are responsible for our growth, metabolism and food digestion, mood, stress levels, anxiety, body temperature, and more.
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas and is responsible for regulating the levels of glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood. It is released into the bloodstream in response to high blood sugar levels, which can occur after eating a meal. Insulin helps to move glucose from the blood into the cells, where it can be used for energy.
In people with diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin or does not properly use the insulin it does produce, leading to high blood sugar levels. Insulin injections or use of insulin pumps are often used to treat diabetes and help to regulate blood sugar levels.
Gastrin
Gastrin is a hormone produced by the stomach that plays a role in the digestive process. It is produced in cells called G cells, which are located in the lining of the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine.
Gastrin is released in response to food in the stomach and stimulates the production of stomach acid, which helps to digest food. It also stimulates the muscles in the stomach to contract, which helps to mix and move food through the digestive tract.
HGH (human growth hormones)
The hormones that are called HGH (human growth hormones) are the ones that clearly make us grow. This hormone is produced by the pituitary gland. Acromegaly is a disease created by the pituitary gland when it overproduces the growth hormone. The bones start to increase in size in adult cases. The same disease is called gigantism when it affects kids.
Adrenaline
Adrenaline is a hormone that is released by the adrenal gland in response to stress, exercise, or danger. It is also known as epinephrine. Adrenaline increases heart rate, blood pressure, and the body’s supply of glucose, which helps to fuel the muscles. It also prepares the body for the “fight or flight” response, which is the body’s way of preparing to either face a challenge or escape from danger.
Adrenaline can cause physical symptoms such as a racing heart, sweating, and an increase in energy. It is an important hormone that helps the body to respond to emergency situations.
Be careful, when adrenaline is produced in your body too often, it produces anxiety, palpitations, high blood pressure, and more issues.
Dopamine
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is involved in a variety of functions in the brain, including reward, motivation, and pleasure.
It is released in response to pleasurable experiences and plays a role in the brain’s reward system. Dopamine is also involved in movement, attention, and learning.
Dysfunction in the dopamine system has been linked to a number of disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and addiction.
Serotonin
The last important hormone mentioned is serotonin.
Serotonin is a chemical that functions as a neurotransmitter in the human body. It is involved in a wide range of processes, including mood, appetite, and sleep. Serotonin is produced in the body from the amino acid tryptophan and is found in the brain, gut, and blood platelets.
Serotonin is a mood stabilizer with lots of benefits: reduces depression, maintains bone growth, helps with anxiety, and can heal wounds faster. To stimulate your serotonin levels you should eat a healthy diet, sleep 7-9 hours per night, exercise, meditate, and don’t overthink.
Hormones are powerful chemical messengers that control a variety of body functions and actions, including digestion, metabolism, muscle activity, and mood.
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