Continued from Part One where we relied five essential hormones, we now look at a few more of the most important hormones that impact our health and well-being.
You already know that hormones are the body’s chemical messengers. They travel through the bloodstream carrying messages between cells and organs. Hormones affect our body’s everyday functioning and therefore it’s important to build our knowledge about them.
6. Thyroid Hormone
Thyroid hormone controls our body’s metabolism, the process in which our body transforms the food into energy.
Two main hormones are released by our thyroid, a small gland located at the front of your neck: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These hormones affect every cell and all the organs in our body. They determine our weight, heart rate, energy levels, internal temperature, muscle contraction, bone strength, skin, hair, nail growth, and more.
The production and release of thyroid hormone is controlled by a feedback loop system that involves not only the thyroid gland but also the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and multiple hormones. Therefore if there are any issues with one or more of these, it can result in an imbalance in the hormones involved in this system.
Abnormal thyroid hormone levels cause noticeable symptoms, including:
- Irregular menstrual cycles.
- Unexplained weight gain or weight loss.
- Slow or fast heart rate.
- Dry or moist skin.
- Intolerance to cold or heat.
Several conditions can result from or cause abnormal thyroid hormone levels. Thyroid disease is very common, especially in females, including Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).
Iodine often comes up when talking about the thyroid hormone. Iodine is an integral part of T3 and T4, absorbed in the small intestine. Decreased iodine intake can cause iodine deficiency and decreased thyroid hormone synthesis. Iodine deficiency can cause goiter and hypothyroidism.
Iodine is in everyday food items such as iodized table salt, seafood, seaweed, and vegetables.
As the thyroid function is interrelated with other parts of the endocrine system it’s worth looking at any such conditions holistically. If you are trying to conceive its is particularly important as thyroid hormone affects fertility, ovulation, and menstruation.
7. Insulin Hormone
Insulin is an essential hormone, produced by the pancreas, a large gland located behind the stomach. Its main role is to control glucose levels in our bodies.
How does it do that?
The pancreas releases insuline into the bloodstream, which circulates around the body. Insulin mainly controls how the body uses carbohydrates found in certain types of food. After you eat, your body breaks down carbohydrates to produce a type of sugar called glucose. Insulin allows cells in the muscles, liver and fat to use glucose as a source of energy so they can function properly.
Without insulin, cells are unable to take up glucose and they will start malfunctioning. Excess glucose will be converted and stored as fat so it can provide energy later.
Insulin is not only responsible for allowing glucose to enter cells but also to maintain the amount of glucose in the bloodstream within normal levels. Other hormones found in the gut and pancreas also contribute to this blood glucose regulation. When we eat food blood glucose levels rise, causing insulin to be released so glucose can move inside the cells and be used. As glucose moves inside the cells, the amount of glucose in the bloodstream returns to normal and insulin release slows down. Proteins in food and other hormones produced by the gut in response to food also stimulate insulin release. Hormones released under stress, such as adrenaline, stop the release of insulin, leading to higher blood glucose levels to help cope with the stressful event.
What Is Insulin Resistance?
Insulin resistance is when cells in the muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond well to insulin and are unable to use glucose from the blood for energy. To compensate, the pancreas makes more insulin, which causes blood sugar levels to rise over time.
Insulin resistance can cause obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes.
How to reverse insulin resistance?
- Exercise
- Healthy diet
- Weight management
8. Oxytocin
Oxytocin is a natural hormone that manages key aspects of our reproductive systems, including labor and lactation, as well as aspects of human behavior.
The hypothalamus produces it and the pituitary gland stores and releases it into the bloodstream.
Oxytocin levels rise when we make physical contact with another human, therefore it is also called the “love hormone”. Large amounts of it are released during childbirth and it stimulates contractions of breast tissue to aid in lactation.
This hormone has an important role in many human behaviors and emotional responses, including:
- Sexual arousal
- Recognition and positive memories
- Trust and empathy
- Romantic attachment and bonding
- Social behaviors
Oxytocin is typically linked to warm, fuzzy feelings and can lower stress and anxiety. Cuddling, hugging, kissing, sexual intimacy, orgasm and even music and exercise can trigger oxytocin production.
Oxytocin is very important in romantic relationships, as it elevates your mood and makes you feel more attached to your romantic partner. Check out these 12 ways to boost oxytocin naturally.
9. Testosterone
Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone. The testicles produce it in men. While in women it is produced in the ovaries, adrenal glands, fat cells, and skin cells.
Testosterone is the main male sex hormone. It stimulates the development of male characteristics and plays a role in body fat distribution, bone density, hair on the face and body, mood, muscle strength, production of sperm and sex drive. Levels of testosterone are naturally much higher in men than in women.
This male sex hormone plays a big role in women, too. Combined with estrogen, the female sex hormone, testosterone helps with the growth, maintenance, and repair of the reproductive tissues, fertility, bone mass, and muscle strength. It contributes to a woman’s sex drive, menstrual health, breast health and human behaviors.
In women testosterone and other androgens are being converted to estrogen. If a female body produce an excess amount of testosterone or other androgens, her body can’t keep up with converting it to estrogen. As a result, they may experience masculinization, and develop more male characteristics, such as facial hair and male pattern baldness.
For females testosterone enhances libido. The majority of testosterone produced in the ovaries is converted to the primary female sex hormone, estradiol.
Testosterone levels also naturally decrease with aging in both men and women. Lower or higher levels of testosterone can cause health problems.
Abnormal levels of testosterone can be treated naturally with:
- Diet
- Stress reduction techniques
- Exercise
- Adequate rest
- Counseling
- Weight management
- Check with your doctor if you have any health concerns.
10. Leptin
Leptin is a hormone released by your body fat. It helps your body maintain your normal weight on a long-term. The level of leptin in your blood relates directly to how much body fat you have.
This hormone was only discover in 1994 and there is still a lot to learn about it. However we already know that Leptin controls appetite by signaling your brain to stop eating. It also helps your brain regulate how much energy your body burns throughout the day.
Research has shown that Leptin plays many roles in the body, including boosting the immune system, reducing inflammation, and creating healthy bones.
Obesity results in excess levels of leptin, called hyperleptinemia, which can cause Leptin resistance, lack of sensitivity to leptin.
Leptin resistance makes you feel hungry and eat more even though your body has enough fat stores.
- What can cause Leptin resistance:
- Too little sleep
- Too much stress
- Too much of the wrong foods
- Overeating
- High insulin levels
It’s very rare to have lower-than-normal leptin levels, called hypoleptinemia. Congenital leptin deficiency is a genetic condition people are born with that prevents the adipose tissue from producing leptin. Without leptin, the body thinks it has no body fat, signaling intense hunger and food consumption. The result is class III obesity in children and delayed puberty.
Some foods are believed to boost leptin levels, by lower the body’s triglycerides levels so that leptin can work more effectively in your body. These include berries, healthy oils, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and lean meat.
Continue reading the final part of the Guide here!