What are hormones? Chances are you’ve heard a lot about hormones when it comes to certain areas of your health. But not a lot of people really understand the profound influence they have on every aspect of your health and what happens when they are out of sync.
As a Holistic Health coach, it is my job to empower people with education so that you can make the decisions that are right for you and your healing journey - not the cookie cutter treatment plan that is offered to most people. So read on for your complete guide to what hormones are, the importance of maintaining balance, and the different types of hormones in your body so you can reclaim control over this important area of your health.
What exactly do hormones do in the body?
Hormones play a vital role in our overall health and well-being. But what are hormones? By acting as chemical messengers, hormones are responsible for sending directions between the different systems in your body to ensure various physiological processes run optimally. Working together, your hormones are responsible for maintaining healthy:
Metabolism
Libido
Reproduction
Mood
Homeostasis
Sleep-wake cycles
Growth + development
Your hormones are produced and secreted by a number of glands that are part of your larger endocrine system located throughout your body including:
Thyroid
Parathyroid gland
Pituitary gland
Hypothalamus
Pineal gland
Adrenal glands
Ovaries
Testes
Pancreas
But interestingly enough, other areas of your body outside of your endocrine system also release hormones. This is especially important to be aware of in order to identify and overcome any hormone imbalances that may happen as a result of dysfunction within these systems.
Liver
Gut
Kidneys
Adipose (fat) tissue
Once released into your bloodstream, your hormones travel to their target tissues and cells through the circulatory system. These chemical messengers rely on intricate feedback loops and signaling pathways to reach their intended destinations.
Hormones bind to specific receptors on target cells, initiating a cascade of events that regulate gene expression, enzyme activity, and cellular responses. This intricate network allows hormones to exert their profound influence on every aspect of your health.
Types of hormones
Currently, there are over 50 identified (1) types of hormones that your body produces. Each gland in your endocrine system has a specific responsibility to produce different hormones. This can be helpful when looking for the root cause behind your symptoms or chronic health problem.
Adrenal glands
Cortisol
Adrenaline (epinephrine)
Noradrenaline (norepinephrine)
DHEA
Aldosterone
Hypothalamus
Oxytocin
Dopamine
Corticotrophin-releasing hormone
Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone
Growth hormone-releasing hormone
Ovaries
Estrogen
Progesterone
Testosterone
Pancreas
Glucagon
Insulin
Pineal gland
Melatonin
Pituitary gland
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
Growth hormone (GH)
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
Prolactin
Testes
Testosterone
Thyroid
Thyroxine (T4).
Triiodothyronine (T3)
Outside of the endocrine system, your body produces the following hormones in these systems:
Gut
Ghrelin
Adipose tissue
Leptin
Estrogen
Adiponectin
Kidneys
Vitamin D
Erythropoietin
Liver
Insulin-like growth factor 1
Angiotensinogen
What is hormonal imbalance
A hormone imbalance occurs when there is a dysfunction in the production, secretion, or signaling of one or more types of hormones in your body. While your body is designed to operate a certain way, numerous factors can disrupt this delicate balance, including chronic stress, poor diet, toxin exposure, underlying health problems, genetic predispositions, and more.
A hormone imbalance can manifest in various ways, depending on the specific hormones involved and the affected body systems. Common symptoms of hormone imbalances may include:
Fatigue
Weight loss resistance
Mood swings
Insomnia
Hair loss
Low libido
Irregular menstrual cycles
Acne
Anxiety
Depression
Digestive distress (bloating, gas, constipation, leaky gut syndrome)
If left untreated, symptoms can lead to more severe hormone problems such as:
Estrogen dominance
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Infertility
Hypo or Hyperthyroidism
Adrenal fatigue
Factors that affect hormone health
Your hormones are influenced by multiple different factors that are, thankfully, mostly controllable. Even if you have a genetic predisposition to a particular hormone imbalance, it is your lifestyle choices that more often than not determine if your genes are ever expressed.
Poor diet
Chronic stress
Environmental toxins
Autoimmune conditions
Gut dysfunctions
Tips to maintain hormone health
Thankfully, there are many ways you can naturally support hormone health to maintain or restore hormone balance. This includes managing your stress levels, eating more hormone-supporting superfoods, and daily supplements designed to target various hormones.
Do you have a hormone imbalance?
If you are experiencing ongoing symptoms like fatigue, trouble losing or gaining weight, mood swings, insomnia, low libido, or irregular menstrual cycles, it may be worth pursuing hormone testing to determine whether or not a hormone imbalance is at play. After all, recognizing the signs of a potential hormone imbalance as soon as possible is crucial to proactively address your health.
Seeking help from a holistic health coach?
With so many different hormones in your body, there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to hormone health. Since everyone’s biochemistry and lifestyle is unique, hormone imbalances can manifest differently in you versus someone else. That is why a personalized approach is so important when looking to heal your hormones.
Based in an article of Dr Will Cole.
If you are ready to take the next step in your hormone health journey, schedule a free discovery call today.
Gabriela Ana / Luz Infinita
Holistic Health Coach
+34 604 398 948
I take a holistic approach to your health by looking at the entirety of your health case to uncover the root cause of your health problems to tailor a personalized plan specific to your health case.
I provide webcam health consultations for people around the globe.
Start Your Health Journey Today!
Comments