{"id":26517,"date":"2023-04-25T09:00:47","date_gmt":"2023-04-25T07:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/?p=137600"},"modified":"2023-04-25T09:37:16","modified_gmt":"2023-04-25T07:37:16","slug":"the-new-science-of-hormones-everything-you-need-to-know-including-how-to-keep-yours-balanced","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/the-new-science-of-hormones-everything-you-need-to-know-including-how-to-keep-yours-balanced\/","title":{"rendered":"The new science of hormones: Everything you need to know, including how to keep yours balanced"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hormones keep your bodily processes in balance, here’s everything you need to know about these chemical regulators. <\/p>

By Holly McHugh\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 25 April 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Hormones are chemical messengers that travel throughout the body, telling our cells and organs what to do. They regulate nearly all bodily processes and affect every aspect of our daily lives, influencing how we feel, what we look like, and how we act, whether that\u2019s hungry, hairy or happy.<\/p>\n

Crucially, hormones are responsible for maintaining the body\u2019s delicate internal balance, which\u00a0is required for optimal health. But sometimes, hormones become imbalanced or lose their ability to function effectively. This can cause a number of serious negative impacts on our health.<\/p>\n

In\u00a0other words, hormones\u00a0are of great importance to every one of us, so keeping them regulated and in balance is vital, because\u00a0they\u00a0affect us when they work, but\u00a0they can have drastic impacts on us\u00a0when they don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Five ways hormones can influence the way we feel<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Mood:<\/h3>\n

Serotonin and dopamine are two key players involved in regulating our emotions. These are often referred to as \u2018happy hormones\u2019 as they promote feelings of pleasure, positivity and, as the nickname suggests, happiness!<\/p>\n

Sleep:<\/h3>\n

Melatonin helps control your body\u2019s natural sleep-wake cycle. As night draws in and low light levels are detected by the eyes, melatonin production increases, telling the body it\u2019s time to go to sleep.<\/p>\n

Hunger:<\/h3>\n

Ghrelin is an appetite-stimulating hormone, mainly produced by the stomach. When you haven\u2019t eaten in a while and your stomach is empty, ghrelin secretion increases. This sends a signal to your brain to tell you that you\u2019re hungry.<\/p>\n

Stress:<\/h3>\n

Cortisol is released by the adrenal glands in response to stress. It helps the body prepare for \u2018fight-or-flight\u2019 by making glucose and other nutrients more available, while suppressing non-essential bodily processes like digestion.<\/p>\n

Love:<\/h3>\n

Oxytocin is often referred to as the \u2018love hormone\u2019 because it plays a role in romantic attachment. Levels increase during physical intimacy, such as hugging and sex. It also promotes parent-child bonding and feelings of trust and empathy.<\/p>\n

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Hormones are involved in more than just puberty. They can affect our mood, our sleep patterns, how to know when we\u2019re hungry, stress levels, and bonding \u00a9 Sam Falconer<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

What do hormones do?<\/h2>\n

Hormones provide an internal communication system between different parts of the body. The majority of hormones are produced and released by endocrine glands,\u00a0which monitor and maintain the body\u2019s internal environment\u00a0\u2013\u00a0a process\u00a0known as homeostasis.<\/p>\n

When imbalances in the body are detected, these glands release hormones that travel in the bloodstream\u00a0carrying information to tell other glands or organs\u00a0what to do\u00a0to\u00a0bring\u00a0the body back into\u00a0balance.<\/p>\n

There are more than 200 hormones<\/a> \u2013 or hormone-like substances \u2013 in the body, each with its own unique function. For example, after you eat a sweet treat, your blood sugar levels rise. This is detected by the pancreas, which responds by releasing the hormone insulin to stimulate muscle and fat cells to increase the absorption of glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream. Hormones also communicate with other glands, telling them to increase or decrease the release of certain hormones.<\/p>\n

We often associate hormones with things like puberty or periods, but they actually play a major role in nearly all bodily processes. You might not realise it,\u00a0but under the surface, hormones are continuously working to maintain nearly every\u00a0aspect of\u00a0your health.<\/p>\n

This complex network of glands, hormones and organs is what\u2019s known as the endocrine system.<\/p>\n

How do hormones trigger changes in the body?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When a hormone is released from a gland, it travels in the bloodstream through the body in search of its target. Organs, tissues and other glands in the body have receptor sites that hormones must bind to in order to deliver their message and cause an effect.<\/p>\n

But because every hormone has its own unique shape, they\u2019re highly targeted and can only act on\u00a0the\u00a0parts of the body that have a receptor site with the corresponding shape. This mode of action can be likened to a lock and key mechanism\u00a0\u2013\u00a0if the key doesn\u2019t fit the lock,\u00a0then nothing will happen.<\/p>\n

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Hormones regulate nearly all bodily processes \u00a9 Sam Falconer<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

When a hormone binds to its target, it sets off a cascade of other signalling pathways to create a change in the body. Once the desired effect has taken place, this signal is fed back to the glands to suppress any further hormone release. This is what\u2019s known as a feedback loop\u00a0and, when it\u2019s functioning correctly, it\u00a0allows the endocrine system to ensure the conditions in your body remain\u00a0in balance.<\/p>\n

What happens when hormones don\u2019t function properly?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Hormones are essential for our survival\u00a0and\u00a0support the everyday function of many important bodily processes. But sometimes, parts of the endocrine system don\u2019t behave as they should, resulting in a type of medical condition called an endocrine disorder.<\/p>\n

Typically, endocrine disorders cause abnormally high or low levels of hormones. They can also affect the body\u2019s ability to respond effectively to certain hormones. When this happens, our delicate internal balance becomes disrupted, and our health suffers. Think of\u00a0it like\u00a0a recipe\u00a0for a cake \u2013\u00a0if you add too much or too little of any\u00a0one ingredient, the final product is affected.<\/p>\n

For example, hypothyroidism<\/a> is an endocrine disorder in which the thyroid gland doesn\u2019t produce enough thyroxine. This causes a range of symptoms including fatigue, constipation, weight gain, depression, and muscle weakness. Gigantism is another endocrine disorder, but in this instance\u00a0the pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone\u00a0(somatotropin)\u00a0in children or adolescents, causing them to grow abnormally tall.<\/p>\n

Endocrine disorders can arise for several reasons, such as a genetic disorder<\/a>, problems with the endocrine feedback system, injury to an endocrine gland, infections, or a tumour on an endocrine gland. Most hormonal conditions can\u2019t be cured, but,\u00a0thankfully,\u00a0they can be managed effectively with medication.<\/p>\n

How can you tell if you have a hormone imbalance?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Some hormones fluctuate naturally\u00a0as you\u00a0age, or because they\u2019re part of a cycle,\u00a0such as\u00a0the menstrual cycle. But for others, even the slightest increase or decrease can cause major changes and\u00a0impact\u00a0your health.<\/p>\n

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A hormone imbalance has the potential to cause changes in the body that impacts your health \u00a9 Sam Falconer<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Some of the most common signs of hormone imbalances are related to your metabolism\u00a0(the chemical reactions that convert food into energy),\u00a0including changes to your heartbeat, weight, energy levels, bowel movements, skin and mood.<\/p>\n

Other imbalances are related to sex hormones, which can cause a loss of libido, loss or excessive growth of body hair, infertility, menstrual cycle and vaginal changes, and erectile dysfunction. But all of these symptoms can also be signs of other medical conditions, making it difficult to tell if you have a hormone imbalance without the help of a professional. If you experience any unusual changes in your body, always seek medical advice.<\/p>\n

How do you keep your hormones balanced?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While hormone imbalances are sometimes caused by endocrine disorders, there are other factors that influence hormone health. Eating a healthy, nutritious diet supports good gut health<\/a>, and optimises the production and function of hormones and their signalling pathways. Hormones love healthy fats, fibre and protein, but they aren\u2019t so fond of sugar, processed foods, or alcohol.<\/p>\n

Alongside a healthy diet, regular exercise also helps keep hormones in check. This is because physical activity increases blood flow and hormone receptor sensitivity, allowing hormones to deliver their messages more effectively.<\/p>\n

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Regular, physical exercise helps to keep hormones in check \u00a9 Sam Falconer<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Sleep<\/a> is also important for regulating hormone levels. Not getting enough shut-eye at night can upset the balance of multiple hormones. For example, sleep deprivation increases levels of the stress hormone cortisol and decreases levels of the appetite-suppressing hormone leptin. As a result, you might wake up the next day feeling unusually stressed and hungry.<\/p>\n

Stress<\/a> is another factor that may harm your hormones. Generally, when you experience a stressful situation, your body releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which initiate a cascade of other effects in the body. Once the stressor has passed, the endocrine system\u2019s feedback mechanism suppresses the production of further hormones. However, long-term stress prevents this from happening, meaning your hormone levels aren\u2019t able to return to normal.<\/p>\n

Key hormones in the body<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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There are over 200 different hormones in the human body \u2013 here are 9 of them (numbers correspond with the paragraph below) \u00a9 Sam Falconer<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

1. Oxytocin<\/h3>\n

Oxytocin is produced by the hypothalamus in the brain and is secreted into the bloodstream via the pituitary gland<\/a>. It\u2019s responsible for facilitating childbirth, stimulating lactation for breastfeeding, and promoting human bonding.<\/p>\n

2. Somatotropin<\/h3>\n

Also known as the growth hormone, somatotropin is produced by the pituitary gland. It supports growth and development, and regulates normal body structure, metabolism and blood sugar.<\/p>\n

3. Melatonin<\/h3>\n

Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland in the brain and is responsible for regulating the sleep-wake cycle<\/a>, by stimulating feelings of sleepiness.<\/p>\n