Hormones affect your health for a very good reason. They are messengers that trigger a variety of functions throughout the body. When those messengers are balanced and functioning, everything in your body works properly. However, sometimes there are imbalances or damage to areas that create the hormones and that’s when health issue begin. Hormones play a role in everything from how much you weigh to the amount of energy you have. The right balance of hormones is necessary for both the body and the brain to operate at peak performance.
While the heart, pancreas, kidneys and sexual glands make hormones, all other hormones are created by endocrine system that’s linked to the nervous system. The endocrine system includes the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroids, adrenal and thymus glands. The system is intricate with some glands sending hormones that stimulate other glands to create even more hormones. Their functions regulate almost everything in the body. Since they control everything from the functioning of your muscles, kidneys and brain to your skin, you can see how important the proper balance is to your health.
Insulin helps determine whether your body is going to use the glucose for immediate energy or store it for later use. It keeps the blood sugar levels from skyrocketing and getting to high or dipping to low. Insulin unlocks the cells so the sugar can enter them to nourish them and give them energy. Consistently high insulin levels cause the cells to become insulin resistant. That triggers the pancreas to create even more insulin and eventually it can’t keep pace for the demand, gets worn out and the boy develops type 2 diabetes.
You’ve probably heard of the fight or flight response. Did you realize all the changes that take place occur because of hormones? The response is started by a rush of hormones that activates the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system then triggers the release of catecholamines from the adrenal gland. These include adrenaline and noradrenaline. You’ve heard of the adrenaline rush that brings great strength, but it also increases breathing, blood pressure and heart rate. It sends blood to the brain, limbs and muscles and increases the clotting ability. Cortisol is one of the hormones released. If it’s not burned off by running or fighting, it can cause depression, mental illness, heart problems and even the accumulation of visceral fat—abdominal fat—the most dangerous to your health.
