Why are hormones important?

Because hormones play a critical role in daily health and well being. When hormone levels are out of balance (for both men and women), our mood, health, weight, stress, blood sugar levels, and, for women, ovulation and even fertility are impacted.

But what causes our bodies to get out of balance in the first place?

Common culprits are frequently due to lifestyle factors including poor diet, stress, bad sleeping habits and lack of exercise. In addition for women, menopause, pregnancy, menstrual cycle, and “the pill” or other contraceptives help imbalance hormones. Still other factors could be due to hypothyroid, hyperthyroid, autoimmune diseases and diabetes. When any ONE of these stressors occur in our lives, our hormones become off balanced causing us to feel off balanced, both mentally and physically. Hormones are created by the glands that are a part of the endocrine system. Hormone.org shows us which glands are responsible for what.

      “Hypothalamus: The hypothalamus is responsible for body temperature, hunger, moods and the release of hormones from other glands; and also controls thirst, sleep and sex drive.

·       Parathyroid: This gland controls the amount of calcium in the body.

·       Thymus: This gland plays a role in the function of the adaptive immune system and the maturity of the thymus, and produces T-cells.

·       Pancreas: This gland produces the insulin that helps control blood sugar levels.

·       Thyroid: The thyroid produces hormones associated with calorie burning and heart rate.

·       Adrenal: Adrenal glands produce the hormones that control sex drive and cortisol, the stress hormone.

·       Pituitary: Considered the “master control gland,” the pituitary gland controls other glands and makes the hormones that trigger growth.

·       Pineal: Also called the thalamus, this gland produces serotonin derivatives of melatonin, which affects sleep.

·       Ovaries: Only in women, the ovaries secrete estrogen, testosterone and progesterone, the female sex hormones.

·       Testes: Only in men, the testes produce the male sex hormone, testosterone, and produce sperm.

Steroid Hormones:

These hormones are derived from cholesterol, includes sex hormones and adrenal hormones (mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids):

·       Estrogen – produced by the ovaries, placenta, breasts, liver, adrenal glands, fat cells, hypothalamus, and others. Responsible for female sexual development, breast development, menstruation, pregnancy, memory, and anti-aging.

·       Progesterone – produced by the ovaries, placenta, and CNS. Responsible for female sexual development, breast development, menstruation, and pregnancy.

·       Testosterone – produced by the testes and ovaries. Responsible for male sexual development, sex drive, sperm production, and muscle and bone mass.

·       DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) –  produced by the adrenals and the brain. Responsible for lean body mass, bone strength, immunity, heart health, and resistance to stress.

·       Pregnenolone – produced by the adrenals. Responsible for memory and resistance to stress.

·       Cortisol – produced by the adrenals. Responsible for resistance to stress, energy production, anti-inflammatory, and mood stability.

·       Vitamin D (1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D or calcitrol) – produced by the skin, liver and kidneys. Responsible for a variety of functions, including bone and muscle health, heart health, immunity, metabolism, brain development, cell communication, and more!

 Peptide Hormones

These hormones are often in “pre-hormone” form, requiring further processing to be active:

·       HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) – produced by the placenta. Helps support the endometrial lining for a developing fetus (and stimulates progesterone).

·       HGH (Human growth hormone, or somatotropin/somatropin) – produced by the pituitary. Promotes growth in children and adolescents, and helps regulate body composition, tissue growth, and metabolism in adults.

·       Melatonin – produced by the pineal gland. Responsible for sleep; supports brain health, heart health, immune system, and cancer prevention.

·       Insulin – produced by the pancreas. Signals glucose to be transferred from your blood into your cells for energy usage; fat body regulation.

·       Glucagon – produced by the pancreas. Signals liver to release glucose into your blood.

·       Prolactin – produced by the pituitary, breasts, uterus, prostate, skin, fat, and immune cells. Promotes lactation, bonding, and more than 300 reproductive, metabolic, immune, and other functions.

·       Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) – produced by the pituitary. Stimulates cortisol release.

·       Leptin – produced by fat cells. Promotes fat regulation.

·       Ghrelin – produced by the stomach and pancreas. Stimulates hunger.

·       Parathyroid hormone (PTH) – produced by the parathyroid gland. Controls amount of calcium in your bones and blood.

·       Thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) – produced by the hypothalamus. Stimulates the thyroid gland to release TH.

·       Humoral factors (e.g., thymosin) – produced by the thymus. Responsible for the development of a healthy immune system.

Amino Acid Derivative Hormones (Amines)

These hormones are derived from tyrosine and tryptophan, includes thyroid hormones and catecholamines.

·       Adrenalin – produced by the adrenals. Responsible for the “fight or flight” response: increases heart rate, dilates blood vessels, and releases glucose.

·       Thyroid hormone (TH) – produced by the thyroid gland. Responsible for organ development and metabolism.

Eicosanoid Hormones

These hormones are produced from fatty acids (arachidonic acid); very short-lived in your body and exert effects primarily on local tissues.

·       Prostaglandins – produced by nearly every cell in the human body. Varying responsibilities, including uterine contractions, bronchodilation and inflammation.

 If you’re one of the thousands that find yourself struggling to lose weight, experiencing major food cravings, have difficulty falling or staying asleep, feeling scatterbrained or forgetful, battling painful migraines, experiencing painful or irregular cycles, increase in body aches, inability to gain muscle mass despite work outs, or feeling “off” including depression and anxiety then you should have your hormones evaluated.