Is It Me... Or My Hormones?

Q How do you know if your hormones are out of balance, and do you have any advice on how to balance hormones through food?

- Melissa

Q How do you know if your hormones are out of balance, and do you have any advice on how to balance hormones through food?

Hormones are chemical messengers that are produced by various organs in the body, which form part of the endocrine system, and are released into the bloodstream in response to certain triggers. These organs include the pancreas, ovaries, hypothalamus, and pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, pineal and adrenal glands.

Every aspect of our physiology, from our physical development, reproduction, sleep and metabolism, to our moods, emotions and general feelings of wellbeing are closely regulated by a wide array of these hormones. Hormones do their jobs by exerting a biological response on certain organs or other cells through specific cellular reactions.

Feedback loop 

The internal control mechanism that regulates hormone release is known as a negative feedback loop. For example, rising blood glucose levels trigger the release of insulin from the pancreas, which is needed to remove glucose from the bloodstream and into muscle cells and the liver. The subsequent drop in circulating glucose then sends a ‘feedback’ message to the pancreas, which switches off the production and release of insulin as the body returns to a state of balance, or homeostasis.

When our natural feedback loop is working optimally it is able to maintain balance, resulting in stability within your body’s internal environment. This is when your body functions naturally, as it should. In this state you should feel full of energy and vitality, your moods should be stable, and the condition of your body – things such as your hair, nails and skin – and overall health should be good.

The warning signs