What do hormones do?

Hormones are chemical messengers and without them, our bodies can not function properly.

Hormones control everything from reproduction, digestion, metabolism, emotions and even hunger and satiety. When our hormones function properly, we feel great and when they do not, we can have health issues that make us miserable.

A few years ago, I started to experience hot flashes and night sweats. I knew I was approaching the perimenopausal age but these uncomfortable symptoms seemed to be arriving a bit early in my opinion. As a nutritionist, I was able to examine my diet and reduce/eliminate a couple of key foods. I also started using the right combination of flax oil and evening primrose oil in proper timing. I was very happy that with just a couple simple changes my sweats and flashes reduced dramatically.

A short while later, due to some chronic stress I had to deal with, I ended up with chronic fatigue. Again, I took a close look at my diet and lifestyle and made adjustments to support my adrenals. Within a few weeks I noticed significant improvements! These examples demonstrate the power of our food and lifestyle choices.

Let’s look a few key hormones systems and you will get the picture as to how important they are.

Hypothalamus: It signals the production of other hormones and in doing so, helps regulate things like hunger, mood, sleep, body temperature and sex drive. 

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

Pancreas: Insulin produced in the pancreas is a key hormone. 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. 

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.

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.

Pituitary: This 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. 

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

In women, the ovaries produce estrogen, progesterone and small amounts of testosterone before menopause. After menopause, it is the adrenals that must produce these hormones to keep women healthy. This is a big reason why women need to make significant dietary and lifestyle changes in their menopausal years.

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. Food and lifestyle can help immensely to feed the various body parts so they work in a more balanced way. A holistic nutrition professional, like me, can help you do this.