Hormones 101

Hormone Health
Written By Stacey Harwood

You’ve probably heard people talk about hormones when they’re feeling stressed, tired, or moody — but do you really know how hormones affect your health? Let’s break it down together!

Hormones play a huge role in nearly every aspect of our health, which I will touch on below, but there’s so much more to explore. Stay tuned for future blogs!

What Are Hormones?

Your body has several glands, including the thyroid (which controls metabolism), adrenal glands (which manage stress), and pituitary (which directs the other glands). Hormones are chemicals produced by our glands and released into the bloodstream.

Hormones travel to specific organs and tissues, telling them to either speed up, slow down or perform certain tasks for the body. They help regulate almost every biological process within us, from growth, energy levels and metabolism to mood and sexual function. So basically helps us live our best life (and sometimes not if hormones are imbalanced).

How Do Hormones Work?

Have you ever had a surge of energy after a workout, or felt suddenly alert after a stressful situation? That’s hormones at work!

Imagine hormones as letters being delivered to mailboxes throughout your body which trigger different reactions depending on who they are from (like us reacting to new shoes vs electricity bill). When your body needs something — like more energy for that gym workout, or to deal with that stressful boss — specific hormones are sent out to instruct the body’s organs on how to respond. For example, when you’re stressed, your adrenal glands release adrenaline (the “fight or flight” hormone) to prepare your body to react quickly to the situation.

What Do Hormones Control?

As I’ve mentioned, hormones impact nearly every aspect of your health and life, specifically:

  • Growth & Development: Growth hormones help you grow taller as a child, and develop through puberty into an adult. They also influence things like bone density and muscle mass.

  • Energy & Metabolism: Hormones play a big role in how efficiently your metabolism works (the process by which your body turns food into energy). Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps control your blood sugar levels and gives you energy from food. If insulin isn’t working properly, it can lead to conditions like diabetes.

  • Mood & Emotions: Hormones like serotonin, dopamine, and cortisol play a huge role in how we feel emotionally. Serotonin and dopamine are feel-good hormones that affect your mood and happiness, while cortisol is the stress hormone that spikes when you’re under pressure. If these hormone levels are out of balance, you might feel more anxious, depressed, or irritable than usual.

  • Reproductive Health: Sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone govern your sexual development and reproductive systems. They also help regulate menstruation, pregnancy, and libido.

  • Sleep: Melatonin is a hormone produced by the brain, it helps set your circadian rhythm (your body’s natural 24-hour cycle), so you know when to sleep and when to wake up.

What Happens When Hormones Are Imbalanced?

Because hormones control so many important functions in the body, even a small imbalance can result in a noticeable change in your health and well-being.

  • Too much of a hormone could lead to conditions like hyperthyroidism (where you might feel jittery or have rapid weight loss due to excess thyroid hormones); OR

  • Too little of a hormone could lead to conditions like hypothyroidism (where you might feel tired or gain weight due to insufficient thyroid hormone).

If you’ve been feeling off lately — perhaps battling with fatigue, unexplained weight gain, or irritability — it could be a sign that your hormones are out of balance. But don’t worry! You're not alone, and the good news is that hormone imbalances can be corrected with the right lifestyle changes and support.

What Are Common Symptoms Of Hormone Imbalances?

Many factors can influence hormone levels, including stress, diet, lifestyle, autoimmune disease, and age. Common symptoms of hormone imbalances are:

  1. Fatigue or Low Energy

  2. Unexplained Weight Gain or Loss

  3. Mood Swings or Irritability

  4. Trouble Sleeping or Insomnia

  5. Changes in Skin and Hair

  6. Digestive Issues (Bloating, Constipation, or Diarrhea)

  7. Low Libido (Sex Drive)

  8. Brain Fog or Trouble Concentrating

  9. Hot Flashes or Night Sweats

  10. Irregular Periods or Changes in Menstrual Cycle

  11. Increased Anxiety or Stress

This quick hormone health quiz will help you assess whether your hormones might be out of balance and how you can start supporting your hormones today!

Did you learn something new from the quiz? Let me know your score in the comments below, and if there’s a specific topic you’d like me to dive deeper into!

While hormones may seem like a mystery to you right now, it’s important to know they are vital for your health. Understanding hormones means understanding your body. Whether you’re trying to manage stress, improve your sleep, or maintain your overall health, knowing how hormones work will empower you to make better choices for your well-being and quality of life.

If you found this helpful, don't forget to share it with someone who could benefit from learning more about their hormones!

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With love and balance, my Friends x

PS. Here are some recommendations you may find useful:

Stacey Harwood
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