8 Important Body Hormones

This is a hormone that is secreted from under the brain and is known as the ‘happy chemical’. It can be thought of as a natural morphine that the body secretes when humans are happy, content, relaxed or in order to stimulate positive feelings. When under stress, this hormone is decreased.

 

Ways to increase hormone levels:

-   Do things that you like or are interested in.

-   Exercise for approximately 20 minutes or more to stimulate the secretion of endorphin. 

-   Meditate while sitting or walking and keep your mind calm. 

-   Achieve climax during sexual intercourse. 

 

This is a hormone that is related to contentment, love and joyfulness. It is secreted by the brain and the body’s nervous system. Dopamine is related to many parts of the nervous system such as the brain-nervous system functions, movements, memory and learning. If dopamine levels in the body are too low, depression and sadness may occur which is deemed a mental disorder. 

 

Ways to increase hormone levels:

-   Exercise.

-   Eat foods that contain sufficient amino acids and protein such as meat, milk, beans, etc. 

This is an anti-stress chemical secreted by the brain and the gastrointestinal tract. It affects the muscles, emotions, behaviors and sleep. If the levels of this hormone are too low, you will experience irritation, sleep difficulty, lack of focus, headache, migraine or possibly even depression.

 

Ways to increase hormone levels:

-   Exercise regularly to stimulate hormone secretion. 

-   Eat protein foods because serotonin is synthesized from tryptophan which is an amino acid that can be used to synthesize the hormone. 

 

 

Cortisol is a stress-related hormone which is secreted in greater quantities during a stressful or emergency situation, or when you are worried or sick in order to prepare the body for recovery. Cortisol stimulates cell response in the body to inflammation, pain, infection and stimulates the liver to make more sugar as the body needs more energy than usual during a stressful situation. This causes you to eat more and feel hungry more often as well as causes weight gain faster than normal. 

 

Ways to increase hormone levels:

-   Keep a regular sleeping schedule, cortisol levels will increase and decrease normally. 

 

Adrenaline or epinephrine is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands. It is an anger chemical and is related to self-defense. The body secretes this hormone to prepare itself to respond to emergency situations and energy usage, causing the heart muscles and coronary arteries to work at full capacity. The heart beats more vigorously and quickly, blood pressure is elevated and what you could not do before becomes possible, such as when your house is on fire and you run inside and lift heavy objects out of the house. 

 

 

 

This is a male sex hormone secreted by the testicles which requires cholesterol to synthesize. Therefore, the body needs fat to synthesize the sex hormone. The male sex hormone causes changes to the body from childhood to adulthood, resulting in bigger muscles, growth of moustache, beard and body hair, deepening of voice as well as changes to the genitals. If the male sex hormone levels are low in children, it will lead to incomplete growth into adults. Normal decreases start at the age of 70 and if the process starts prematurely, muscles and bone mass will be affected, increasing the risk of muscular atrophy and osteopenia as well as erectile dysfunction during sexual intercourse.

 

Ways to increase hormone levels:

-   Exercise and rest adequately. 

-   Eat nutritious foods as well as food groups that help to increase the male sex hormone such as zinc or oysters. 

 

This is a female sex hormone secreted by the ovaries and causes the development and emphasis of female body characteristics such as breast development, larger hips and better skin. It is related to the menstrual cycle, egg production and ovulation. It also helps in the functioning of muscles and bones. If estrogen levels decrease especially in women who reach menopause between the ages of 45 to 50, there is an increased risk of osteopenia as bone matter decreases and the muscles weaken as well as symptoms of menopause such as feeling hot flashes along the body.

 

Ways to increase hormone levels:

-   Eat estrogen-rich foods such as coconut oil, soybean and soymilk. However, no amounts of consumption can replace the hormone. 

 

This is a pregnancy-related hormone and in most cases will increase when nearing pregnancy or menstrual cycle to prepare for the implantation of fertilized eggs. Progesterone is secreted by the ovaries and the adrenal glands. This hormone will stimulate the endometrium to thicken during menstrual cycle to prepare for the implantation of an embryo during pregnancy. If an embryo is not implanted, the progesterone levels will decrease and the endometrium is shed during menstruation. If pregnancy occurs, the progesterone levels will continue to be high to prevent uterine contractions and will stay high for the entire period of pregnancy.