Hormones are chemical messengers that are produced by endocrine glands. They are released into the blood and act on different organs of our body, helping them do their functions properly. Although sex hormones like testosterone, estrogen, progesterone etc, are talked a lot about, there are many different hormones that are crucial to normal functioning of our body.

So What are These Hormones, And What Do They Do?

Hormones play a vital role in metabolism. They maintain our sexual and reproductive health. They regulate our body temperature, thirst, hunger, sleep, mood, and cognitive functions, thus helping with development and growth. Here's an outlook of the most important hormones, their site of production, and the functions they perform:

1. Pituitary gland
• Pituitary hormones play important roles in growth, regulation of blood pressure, and reproductive functions. Major pituitary hormones include growth hormone (GH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, antidiuretic hormone (ADH), and oxytocin.
2. Adrenal gland
• Adrenal hormones are involved in (fluid and electrolyte balance in the body, along with a role in immunity. These include cortisol, aldosterone, and mild sex hormones.
3. Hypothalamus
• It is basically a master gland in our brain that secretes trophic hormones to regulate all other hormones in our body. The hormones secreted by the hypothalamus include growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), and corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH).
4. Pancreas
• The endocrinal part of the pancreas regulates blood sugar levels and the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Two major hormones secreted by the pancreas are insulin and glucagon.
5. Thyroid gland
• The gland is very important in overall metabolism and growth. It releases thyroxine and calcitonin.
6. Parathyroid gland
• The hormone produced by the parathyroid gland parathyroid hormone regulates serum calcium and phosphate, thus important for our bones and joints.
7. Gonads
• Gonads include testes and ovaries. Testes produce testosterone that regulates sex drive, sperm production, and muscle and fat distribution. However, ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone which are important in menstrual cycle regulation and pregnancy alongwith their roles in metabolism.
8. Pineal gland
• The pineal gland secretes only one hormone, melatonin, which plays an important role in regulating sleep-wake cycles, i.e., circadian rhythm.
9. Thymus

• Thymus is an involutionary endocrinal gland that releases thymosin, which is important in T and B cell production and antibody formation, thus playing a major role in immunity.

In addition to these hormones, multiple other hormones are produced by both the endocrine and exocrine glands. These include:

• Adrenaline and dopamine for mood changes
• Prostaglandins for pain management
• Renin and angiotensin for blood pressure regulation
• Hormones like GLP, ghrelin, cholecystokinin, leptin, motilin, and gastrin are important for gut health
• ANP and BNP for cardiovascular health

When Your Hormones Need Support?

Although the happy hormones bring us joy and satisfaction with life; a healthy body needs all of the hormones at proper levels. Slight variation in synthesis, release or action of these hormones, whether excess or decline, can result in significant disruption in our normal body functioning.

These changes, big or small, if left unaddressed, can increase the risk of multiple diseases and are associated with various nutrition deficiencies or, gland dysfunction, etc. So, how to look for whether you have hormonal imbalances or not? If you're unsure of that, then these are the most common signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalances that you might notice in yourself;
Unexplained sudden or gradual weight gain or weight loss

• Cold or heat intolerance
• Hair fall, thinning, receding hairline
• Decreased libido or sex drive
• Menstrual irregularities in females
• Dry, clammy skin or extremely sweaty palms
• Acne, pimples specifically on the face
• hirsutism, i.e., beard-like growth on the face
• Fatigue, lethargy and muscle weakness
• Pain, swelling, stiffness in joints
• Mood changes like irritability, nervousness, anxiety, depression, etc
• Palpitations, changes in heart rate and pulse, tremors
• Polydipsia (increased thirst), polyphagia (increased hunger), and polyuria (increased urination)
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Inflammation and weakened immune system leading to infections

These problems might vary depending on the nature of the hormone involved. If left untreated, these can cause hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, and electrolyte imbalances, ultimately leading to cardiovascular, renal, and CNS disturbances in the long run.

Support Your Hormones in the Simplest Ways

Now that you understand how important these hormones are to your body and how slight imbalances can create the majority of health problems, here are simple ways that you can use to keep your hormone levels in check.

1.By Supporting Digestion

Our digestive system produces and releases multiple hormones. These include serotonin, melatonin, ghrelin, leptin, and cholecystokinin. These hormones play an important role in overall mood and happiness by regulating satiety and hunger. The healthier the gut, the healthier these hormones, and the healthier you feel both mentally and physically. In addition, hormones like estrogen and progesterone production depend on good gut health in both males and females. Especially in females who experience changes in their levels during the menstrual cycle may even have premenstrual syndrome. 

An intact enteric tract is responsible for the proper absorption of all the essential nutrients, including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, and vitamins. These are the same nutrients that are required for the production of hormones. For example, many hormones like insulin glucagon are petite in nature and are made up of amino acids. Others, like cortisol and sex hormones, are steroids and are derived from cholesterol and fatty acids. So, a healthy diet containing all these essential nutrients is crucial to normal synthesis and release of hormones. 

Thankfully, supporting digestion is not as difficult as it seems. Incorporating collagen-rich foods like bone broth and collagen peptides can provide us with all these essential amino acids required for optional hormone synthesis. A protein-rich diet and adequate hydration are the key, but unfortunately, our sedentary lifestyle and poor diet do not cater to all these needs. Thus, using our gut-friendly supplements smartly can help a lot.

2.By Supporting Your Energy + Mood + Stress Response

Chronic stress is one of the nutrient-zapping culprits. It depletes our body from essential nutrients required for hormone production. Such nutrients include magnesium, vitamin C, Zinc, and vitamin B. These nutrients act as coenzymes and cofactors to help enzymes synthesize these hormones. Even if you're taking an adequate diet and supplements to replenish the depleted nutrient stores in your body, stress negatively affects your ability to properly break down, digest, and absorb food.

Stress interferes with digestion by decreasing the oxygen and blood supply towards the digestive system. There's also delayed gastric emptying and increased bowel motility, especially in the large intestine. This might result in nausea, bloating, abdominal cramps and even vomiting and diarrhea, when we're stressed. There are many ways to lift up moods and energy and release stress via healthy food, better lifestyle choices, and supplementation.

Some of our favorite foods we recommend to cope with stress response are those that are rich in healthy fats and good quality proteins. Adding foods like nuts, seeds, wild-caught salmon, avocados, grass-fed butter, free-range meats, dark chocolate, etc, is shown to decrease stress levels. Along with this, exercise, stretching, yoga, and meditation can really help manage stress and anxiety. Going out and maintaining healthy relationships is a bonus point.

Finally, targeted supplementation is a great way to support your body's stress release and boost energy levels. While we don’t treat sickness or disease, we can guide you toward a more holistic and well-rounded approach to your hormone health at Curated Wellness. Our trained nutrition professionals can accompany you on your wellness journey through food and supplement choices, movement, and mindfulness.

If you’re ready to take back your health and support your hormones with a knowledgeable guide and accountability partner, our practitioners are ready for you.