What Do Hormones Actually Do?

​Hormones are chemical messengers and without them, proper functioning in our body does not occur. They control everything from reproduction, digestion, metabolism, emotions to hunger and satiety. When our hormones function properly, we feel great and when they do not, we can have health issues that make us feel miserable.

To illustrate this, let me introduce you to my client, Jane. She was feeling like crap for a LONG time and she had no idea why. She struggled with hot flashes, low energy, and brain fog daily. Once she got some tests done, she was made aware that her hormones were severely out of whack, but she didn’t want to go on any big pharma meds to fix it.

However, Jane had NO IDEA how to naturally fix her hormones so she could start feeling good again. It turns out that her biggest enemy in the hormone department was STRESS, which is one thing that a lot of us struggle with daily.

With my help, I was able to point her in the right direction on how to manage her stress, and also helped her find some all-natural chemical-free hormone-boosting supplements that she could take daily without any adverse or negative effects on the body.

Now that her hormones are in balance, Jane feels like she can take on the world again and be the best mom for her kids and the best wife to her husband.

​Let’s take a deeper look at seven of the key hormone systems and you will get the picture as to just how important they are.

1. Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus signals the production of other hormones and in doing so, helps regulate things like hunger, moods, sleep, body temperature and sex drive. 

​2. Thymus

The thymus produces the hormone thymosin, which help regulate the immune system. The thymus shrinks as we age but scientists are not sure it is supposed to, which means that, perhaps, good nutrition could help maintain immune function as we age. 

​3. Pancreas

Insulin produced in the pancreas is a key hormone and its sole function is to help blood sugar get into the cells so we have the energy we need for our cells to function. However, too much insulin has been implicated in many health issues. 

4. Thyroid 

Hormones produced by our thyroid are associated with metabolism and heart rate. If you have trouble losing weight – your thyroid may not be functioning optimally.

​5. Adrenals

There are many hormones produced by the adrenal glands but their main function is to help us cope with stress, both physical and mental. Because of this, the adrenals rule the roost in the body. This is because protecting us from danger is considered to be one of the most significant systems in the body and because of that, when we are stressed, the adrenals can cause all kinds of havoc with other systems.

6. Pituitary

The pituitary is a master endocrine gland that produces hormones that tell other glands and organs to produce more hormones. However, hormones from the adrenals like cortisol or insulin from the pancreas can exert pressure on the pituitary and interfere with other hormones relationships where the pituitary is involved. 

7. Reproductive Hormones

​Of course, the hormones that often concern most people are the reproductive hormones.

In women, the ovaries produce estrogen, progesterone and small amounts of testosterone before menopause. After menopause, it is the adrenals that produce these hormones to keep women healthy.

​For men, the testes produce testosterone and small amounts of estrogen and progesterone. 

These are just a few hormonal relationships. It really is complex and often hormone problems are a result of several hormones exerting influence in a way that causes more than one issue. 

In Summary

​Balanced hormones are the key to a having a body in balance. Even small imbalances may lead to an issue. Although aging and other factors that affect hormones are beyond your control, the good news is there are several steps you can take to help manage your hormone levels.

​Eating a nutritious diet and focusing on healthy lifestyle habits like regular exercise, proper sleep, and keeping stress levels in check may go a long way towards improving your hormonal health and helping you feel your best. A holistic nutrition professional can help you with this. 

​
Would you like to get coaching support to help you work through hormone imbalance? Book a free consultation with me so we can talk more about your health and how you can make the best decisions going forward. Book your free call by clicking HERE.
​

Did you find this article useful? Please share your thoughts in the comments.