Hello dear readers! Today I am going to talk about the small but very powerful heroes of our body: hormones! Hormones are indispensable for our body to stay in balance and function properly. Let's take a closer look at what these tiny heroes accomplish.
1. Insulin
Insulin is a hormone produced by our pancreas. So what is the job of this small but powerful hormone? To regulate the amount of sugar in our blood! When we eat, the food turns into glucose (sugar) and gets into our blood. This is where insulin comes in and helps to transport blood sugar into our cells. This energizes our cells and keeps us energized. Insulin deficiency or dysfunction can lead to serious health problems, such as diabetes. So insulin is indeed a very important hormone!2. Adrenaline (Epinephrine)
We have all heard the expression “adrenaline rush” at least once in our lives, right? So, what is adrenaline and what does it do? Produced by our adrenal glands, adrenaline governs our body's “fight or flight” response. When we face a dangerous or exciting situation, adrenaline is released and increases our heart rate, raises our blood pressure and fills our muscles with energy. This makes us move faster and feel stronger. Thanks to adrenaline, our body is ready to cope with difficult situations.3. Cortisol
Cortisol is also known as the stress hormone. It is produced by our adrenal glands and governs our body's response to stress. But cortisol not only helps us cope with stress, it also regulates our metabolism, controls inflammation and keeps blood pressure stable. So cortisol is actually a versatile helper for our body. However, consistently high levels of cortisol can lead to chronic stress and health problems, so it's important to keep it in balance.4. Oxytocin
Oxytocin is known as the hormone of love and attachment. It is produced by the pituitary gland in our brain and plays an important role in strengthening our social bonds. Oxytocin plays a role in the formation of mother-baby bonding, in triggering uterine contractions during labor and in milk production. Oxytocin levels also increase when we spend time with our loved ones, hug or experience loving moments. Oxytocin therefore plays a major role in building happy and healthy relationships.5. Thyroid Hormones (T3 and T4)
The hormones T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine), produced by our thyroid gland, regulate the rate of our metabolism. These hormones control how our body uses energy, temperature regulation and overall metabolic activity. When thyroid hormones are out of balance, health problems such as hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) or hyperthyroidism (high thyroid hormone) can occur. These conditions can affect our energy levels, weight, skin health and overall quality of life.6. Serotonin
Serotonin is known as the happiness hormone and regulates our mood, sleep patterns and appetite. It is produced by nerve cells in our brain and is distributed throughout the central nervous system. Adequate levels of serotonin make us feel happy, calm and balanced. A lack of serotonin can lead to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Therefore, maintaining our serotonin balance is crucial for our mental health.7. Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone that governs our sleep patterns and is produced by the pineal gland in our brain. Released at night in the dark, melatonin signals our body that it is time to sleep. Thanks to melatonin, we can have a healthy sleep cycle. However, factors such as irregular sleeping habits, stress or too much light can affect melatonin production and lead to sleep problems.8. Testosterone
Testosterone is commonly known as the male hormone, but it is also found in women. It is produced by the testicles in men and by the ovaries and adrenal glands in women. This hormone regulates sexual development, muscle mass, bone density and energy levels. It also affects our mood and libido. Low testosterone levels in men can lead to problems such as fatigue, depression and a decrease in muscle mass.9. Estrogen
Estrogen is known as the female hormone and is produced by the ovaries in women. However, low levels are also found in men. Estrogen governs many important functions such as sexual development, reproductive health, bone density and skin health. Falling estrogen levels during menopause can lead to symptoms such as hot flashes, osteoporosis and mood changes.10. Progesterone
Progesterone is produced by the ovaries in women and regulates the menstrual cycle. It also helps prepare the uterus during pregnancy. Progesterone works with estrogen during the menstrual cycle to help the fertilized egg implant in the uterus. An imbalance of this hormone can lead to problems such as menstrual irregularities and infertility.11. Glucagon
Glucagon is a hormone produced by the pancreas that works as the opposite of insulin. It raises blood sugar levels. When your blood sugar drops after a period of not eating, glucagon kicks in and converts glycogen stored in the liver into glucose, bringing your blood sugar back to normal. This way, your energy levels remain stable.12. Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)
Parathyroid hormone is produced by the parathyroid glands and regulates calcium levels. Calcium is essential for bone health, nerve function and muscle contractions. PTH raises blood calcium levels by increasing calcium release from bones, promoting calcium reabsorption in the kidneys and increasing calcium absorption from the intestines.13. Prolactin
Prolactin is produced by the pituitary gland and supports milk production. In breastfeeding mothers, prolactin levels are high and milk production continues. Prolactin also supports the immune system and may have an effect on reproductive health. Abnormally high levels of prolactin can lead to galactorrhea (milk coming from the nipple) and reproductive problems.14. Vasopressin (Antidiuretic Hormone, ADH)
Vasopressin is produced by the pituitary gland and maintains water balance in the body by increasing water absorption in the kidneys. This hormone kicks in when you are dehydrated and makes the kidneys lose less water. It also helps regulate blood pressure. A lack of vasopressin can lead to a disease called diabetes insipidus, which is characterized by excessive thirst and urination.
15. Leptin
Leptin is produced by fat cells and regulates hunger. When we eat, leptin levels rise and signal the brain that we are full. This reduces our need to overeat. Leptin resistance can lead to obesity because the brain fails to recognize leptin signals correctly, resulting in a constant feeling of hunger.
16. Ghrelin
Ghrelin is produced by the stomach and is the hunger hormone. Before we eat, ghrelin levels rise, signaling the brain that we are hungry. After eating, ghrelin levels fall and the feeling of hunger decreases. By increasing appetite, ghrelin helps to maintain our energy balance.
Each of these amazing hormones in our body has vital functions that affect our health and quality of life. To keep them in balance, it is important to eat healthy, exercise regularly and avoid stress. Remember, knowing what amazing things our hormones do helps us take better care of ourselves.