At every moment, a complex network of signals takes place inside the body that connects the brain to glands and organs, and chemical messages are transmitted to specific cells to direct them to perform certain functions, stop them, or modify the way they work.
Although we do not feel the arrival of insulin to the cells, or notice the role of cortisol in regulating the body’s response to stress, or hear melatonin’s signal to the biological clock at the beginning of the night, these hormones affect thousands of vital processes within the body.
Hormones are chemical molecules that act in the form of an internal message, produced by various glands, organs, and tissues. They are transmitted through the blood or work at the site of their production, to reach specific cells and bind to specialized receptors, causing specific responses.
But how does a cell distinguish the message directed to it amidst this huge amount of chemical signals? Here comes the role of receptors, which act as a precise mechanism that helps cells recognize hormones and respond to them appropriately.
The future…the decisive moment
A receptor is a specialized protein found on the surface or inside a cell, and its function is to recognize and bind to a specific hormone.
A hormone is a chemical message that carries instructions to the cell, such as activating a specific function, stopping it, or changing its activity. When the hormone binds to the appropriate receptor, a series of signals begins inside the cell that transform this message into a specific response.
Hormones are many and varied, and each one has its own message and function. In this article, we will highlight some of the most important hormones.
Hunger and satiety hormones
Hunger does not only result from the stomach feeling empty, nor is satiety related to simply being full. Rather, they are part of a complex system of communication between the digestive system, the brain, the pancreas, and adipose tissue.
One of the most prominent hormones involved in regulating appetite is ghrelin, which is produced mainly in the stomach, and its levels usually rise before eating and then decrease afterward.
On the other hand, adipose tissue produces leptin, which sends signals to the brain about the body’s energy stores. Insulin also contributes to regulating appetite, metabolic processes, and converting food into energy.
Other intestinal hormones are also involved, such as GLP-1, which helps slow stomach emptying and enhance the feeling of fullness, in addition to its role in regulating high blood sugar after eating.
This system explains that appetite is not only a matter of will, but is affected by the interaction of a group of hormones and signals within the body. Therefore, understanding these mechanisms has become a basis for developing modern treatments for obesity and diabetes that target specific hormonal pathways, instead of being satisfied with the traditional advice: “Eat less.”
Compounds that disrupt hormonal balance
Some chemicals present in the environment and daily products can interfere with the work of the hormonal system, imitating the effect of some hormones, hindering their work, or changing their production and metabolism. Examples include bisphenol and phthalates (which are substances used to make some types of plastics softer and more flexible).
Some of these compounds may be used in plastics, food packaging or cosmetics, while others are used as pesticides.
These substances gain medical importance, especially during sensitive periods such as fetal life, puberty, and pregnancy, as exposure to them can interfere with development and hormonal functions. Their relationship to some hormone-sensitive cancers, including breast and prostate cancer, is also being studied.
What is noteworthy is that its effect is not limited to direct toxicity; It may interfere with the language of hormonal communication itself: mimic the hormone, prevent its binding to its receptor, or change the signaling pathways within the cell, confusing the hormonal message and changing the response of the cells, which may affect the body’s functions.
This is why it is recommended that:
- Avoid heating food in plastic containers that are not intended for this purpose.
- Choose glass or steel to keep food hot.
- Wash vegetables and fruits well.
- Do not overuse unnecessary cosmetics.
- Use household pesticides to control insects only when needed, while ventilating the place and avoiding inhaling or coming into direct contact with them, then not using them near children and food.
Cortisol is a chronic stress hormone
In modern life, psychological stress may last for hours and days, which means that the adrenal glands continue to secrete cortisol continuously and without interruption, while cortisol is primarily designed to help the body confront danger and then return to its normal state.
When exposure to stress is prolonged, disruption of the stress system may be associated with high blood pressure, impaired glucose regulation, and increased visceral fat. Chronic stress can also affect immunity and brain functions, including memory, and may also impair the efficiency of the immune response to some viral infections.
Yes, we cannot eliminate stress from our lives, but we can change our response to it: identify what can be changed and deal with it step by step, and what cannot be changed we learn to accept.
Artificial light: sleep hormone disruption
When darkness falls, the pineal gland, as small as a pea deep in the brain, is supposed to release the hormone melatonin, which is not just a hormone that helps with sleep, but is involved in regulating the biological clock and has antioxidant properties.
But sitting in front of phone screens, computers, and television screens, and being exposed to white lights at night, may send inappropriate signals to the brain. The light from these screens contains a percentage of blue light, which is short-wave light, and wavelengths in the range of 460-480 nanometers are particularly effective in activating specialized cells in the retina that sense light and transmit its information to the biological clock. The brain believes that we are still daylight; The night signal is delayed and melatonin secretion is inhibited, which may delay the feeling of sleepiness and sleep timing and may cause insomnia.
When sleep loss or disruption occurs repeatedly, concentration, memory, and mood may be affected, and overall health may suffer.
Women and hormones…body rhythm and mood
A woman goes through stages in her life during which hormones change periodically:
- Before menstruation: The rapid change in the hormones estrogen and progesterone at the end of the cycle in some women leads to changes in mood, energy, and appetite, and nervousness, emotional sensitivity, and fatigue may appear.
When symptoms are severe, recurrent, and interfere with daily life, they become an evaluable and treatable medical condition.
- During pregnancy: Sex hormones rise dramatically, and the brain adapts to this new hormonal environment, and for some women, emotions, sleep, and mood change.
- Postpartum stage: Estrogen and progesterone decrease rapidly, along with poor sleep and physical and psychological changes, which may lead to temporary mood swings or postpartum depression. In rare cases, postpartum psychosis may occur, which is a medical emergency that requires urgent intervention.
- Premenopausal stage: As hormones fluctuate and the cycle changes, sleep disturbances, hot flashes, and mood swings may appear in some women.
- Family duties:A female’s mood swings are neither behavioral luxury nor excessive pampering, but rather a silent physiological whirlwind that reshapes her body chemistry. Psychological containment is an indispensable antidote. Behind every fleeting intensity or sudden silence is a stressful biological reality, and the security you give it today is the greatest investment in the stability of your family tomorrow.
Hormones and fast food
Fast food, often high in refined sugars, energy and fat and low in fiber, may raise blood sugar quickly, and the pancreas responds by secreting insulin to bring glucose into the cells. This acute response may appear as an “insulin tsunami” when meals with a high glycemic load are repeated.
With excessive calories and lack of movement, visceral fat accumulates and insulin resistance increases, gradually disrupting the metabolic system and increasing the risks of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes.
Hormones and mood…the chemistry of happiness
Happiness is not a single hormone, but rather a complex experience in which the brain, nervous system, and hormonal system participate. Regular exercise, supportive social relationships, and volunteer work are linked to improved psychological well-being and mood, through a complex interaction between multiple nervous and chemical systems, including dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and others. Therefore, we may not have the “happiness pills” that we are looking for, but we do have daily behavior that can contribute to regulating brain chemistry and supporting our psychological health.
In infinitesimal quantities, hormones regulate sleep, hunger, growth, mood, and reproduction, and coordinate the work of an entire body. In this delicate balance lies the power of these chemical messages, and protecting it begins with protecting our lifestyle and health.