Hormones are a complex symphony
If you’ve been here a while, you’ve heard me go on and on about hormones, especially testosterone. All hormones, not just testosterone, are hugely important to a well-functioning body.
But have you been wondering what, exactly hormones are, and why they’re so dang important?
What are hormones?
Hormones are molecules our bodies make that signal an action to start or stop. Think of a railroad line, with all those automated switches that change the direction of the track depending on where the train needs to go.
Hormones are like those switches; they don’t turn the train, but they signal the track to change so the train can get where it needs to go.
There are so many different hormones that we make! Our biology is amazingly complicated, so there are layers of switches that have to turn on and off multiple times per day to keep our body in balance. There are even hormones that signal other hormones to activate or shut down!
Here are a few examples:
Insulin is an amazing hormone that signals our cells to store blood sugar. But it also signals fat cells to keep their doors shut, because when insulin is active it means we have plenty of sugar for energy and don’t need to dip into fat reserves.
Luteinizing hormone (LH) triggers ovulation in women and along with FSH stimulates the production of testosterone in men.
Ghrelin and Leptin are your two appetite hormones. Ghrelin signals hunger, and is released by your stomach when it is empty. Leptin signals fullness, and is produced by your fat tissue when your body has enough energy on board.
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin is a molecule that binds to sex hormones, like testosterone, limiting the “free” amount of that hormone available to you to use and transports those hormones where they are needed.
These are just a few examples of hormones and what they do.
Needless to say, hormones are an amazingly complicated symphony that control just about everything going on in our bodies.
Of course, it is possible for all these signals and switches to be out of sync, which create a lot of our chronic health issues.
Hormones out of whack
I talk about testosterone a lot, but it is a great example of what happens when hormones get out of whack. Other sex hormones, like estrogen and progesterone, can also become out of balance and create issues as well.
Testosterone production can be impacted by things like diet, insulin resistance, level of activity, environmental toxins and even EMFs.
Testosterone can also be aromatized in fat tissue, which means that it is converted to estrogen. This is a process that is meant to happen in small amounts (we all need estrogen and testosterone) but excess visceral fat can trigger this to happen more than you want.
Insulin is another great example of how hormones can get out of whack. Insulin is the energy storage hormone, meaning it tells cells to open up and accept glucose, while also telling fat cells to stay locked tight.
When insulin is chronicall high, like when someone eats a diet of sugary, highly refined food and drinks, cells become “resistant” to insulin’s signal. Then it takes more and more insulin to get cells to accept the glucose, increases fat storage, and leaves sugar in the blood for longer.
This is the beginning of pre-diabetes, and if left unchecked, Type 2 diabetes.
How can I fix my hormones?
You probably already know a lot of the things you can do to make sure your hormones are in balance and working properly.
Eat a nutrient rich, whole foods diet of vegetables, meat, eggs, fish, dairy, nuts and fruit
Avoid processed foods and added sugars
Get regular exercise, including resistance training
Make time to get outside everyday
Prioritize quality sleep
Everyone is going to have different struggles with different solutions, but these are a great start.
The good news is, you don’t need to know exactly what hormone is out of whack and what to do about it.
That’s what I’m here for.
If you feel like you’ve been dealing with a hormone issue for a while, or you’re just feeling lethargic and fatigued, dealing with brain fog, a drop in sex drive or even hair loss, I can help.
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