The Role Of Hormones In Our Body
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How do we send a message across to someone? First we need to write or record the message, then send via the mail, where the male officers takes our message and post it to the address of the receiver, isn't it? Well the same thing happens in our body as humans, so then who delivers our messages? Well, that's what we want to talk about in this contest hosted by our brother @abdullahw2.
What are hormones and what are their functions in the human body? |
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Hormones are chemical messengers in our bodies that tells our bodies what to do, keeping everything in balance and working the way it should. They are made by special glands, and they travel around our body in our blood, like letters in the mail.
Like each button on our phones has specific use, each hormone also has a specific job in our bodies. That is, one hormone is responsible for telling our body to grow, another is responsible for controlling our mood, and yet another telling us when we are hungry or full. Therefore acting like little instructors that tell the different parts of our body what to do.
This therefore means that hormones are super important to us because they help keep everything in our body running smoothly, hence without them, our body wouldn't be able to function properly.
Name any three hormones and briefly mention their roles |
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Insulin:
Insulin acts as the key that unlocks the doors to our body cells, allowing sugar (glucose) from the food we eat to enter and be used for energy. That is, when we eat, our blood sugar levels go up, and insulin is thus released to help us bring those levels down. Therefore, without insulin, our body can't use sugar properly, which can lead to problems like diabetes.
Thyroxine:
This hormone is like the engine controller for our body. It is made by our thyroid gland and helps us to regulate our metabolism, which is the rate at which our body uses energy. It also influences one's heart rate, how quickly we burn calories, and even our body temperature. Hence, if we have too much or too little of thyroxine, it can affect our energy levels, weight, and other important functions.
Testosterone:
This is known as a key hormone, especially in men, even though women have it too. This is the hormone responsible for our muscle growth, bone density, and the development of male characteristics like having a deep voice and facial hair. It is said to be a key hormone because it also plays a big role in sex drive and overall well-being in men.
Have you ever experienced any health issues related to hormonal imbalance? Share your experience or general knowledge |
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Hormonal imbalance can be something we ignore everyday, such as mood swings, feeling tired, breaking skins etc. Hence, I can say everyone of us may have found ourselves with issues related to hormonal imbalance.
For me, I have experienced this on several occasions as there have been days when I wake up feeling completely drained, like I hadn't slept in days, even though I got a solid night rest, my head will be pounding me, and sometimes I feel this weird, heavy feeling in my chest like something was placed on it, people usually relate this to be caused by cold.
Sometimes, I wake up so tired that taking care of myself seems like a battle, I will feel so blah that even simple things feel like a chore and I find myself getting irritated over the smallest things.
Or worse, I find myself having a major mood swing, where one minute I am fine, and the next I am sad. Then again, there are times I see myself constantly craving for sugar, and I can't seem to shake this feeling of being bloated. All these things are issues that are related to hormonal imbalance as the hormones are the ones telling our bodies what to do.
How can we maintain a healthy hormonal balance in our daily life? |
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Eat Smart:
Eating a balanced diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can provide us the nutrients our body needs to make hormones. We should also learn to cut back on sugary drinks, processed foods, and excessive alcohol, as they can mess with our hormones.
Exercise Regularly:
Carrying out exercises for at least 30 minutes a day can help in regulating our hormones like insulin and cortisol (the stress hormone), and these exercises don't have to be a strong workout, but something we enjoy doing like dancing, hiking, or swimming, to make it sustainable.
Managing Stress:
Stress is a major hormone disruptor, therefore we should find healthy ways to manage stress, like meditation, yoga, deep breathing, spending time in nature or even having a 7-9 hours of quality sleep each day. Don't forget, sleep has the magic of helping our body repair and balance the hormones.
I want to take this opportunity to invite @tripple-e, @bonaventure24 and @ikwal.
Thank You for your Time
NOTE: Always have a smile on your face, as you are never fully dressed without one.
