What makes us happy or stressed? What keeps us hungry or full? It’s all about hormones which constantly communicate with the brain sending out signals of happiness or hunger or depression. Let us learn something about hormones.
Hormones are the chemical substances produced by the Endocrine glands present in our body. They play a major role in controlling our appetite, metabolism, mood swings etc.
We can normally sense a happy feeling after a good workout or a dance session. Isn’t it?
Well, this is the time when our ‘happy hormones’ such as Endorphins, Serotonin, and Dopamine comes into play. These are the neurotransmitters or the chemical messengers that are released in the Brain. Because of this, we get that pleasant feeling after a workout session. Oxytocin is a hormone and a neurotransmitter which is popularly known by the name ‘the love hormone’ plays a greater role in women’s physiology and happiness. This hormone is released on being with the loved ones, or with any family member whose company makes you happy. However, excess production of these hormones can cause certain side effects also. For example, antidepressant drugs contain serotonin re-uptake inhibitor which is used to treat anxiety, panic attacks, depression etc. but the dosages can cause diarrhea and nausea because high levels of serotonin in the gut reduces stomach acid production.
It’s always better to boost our happy hormones in a natural way – by exercising regularly and by being on a healthy diet stimulates the Serotonin levels. Listen to your favourite music/song raise the Dopamine levels. Women can normalize their Estrogen and Progesterone levels by physical activities such as Yoga, Pranayam, etc., and by introducing good quality fat in their diets. In contrast, the ‘stress hormone’ comes into picture when we get stressed out – Cortisol. High levels of which can interfere with our learning and memory, gains our weight, increase blood sugar levels etc. The feeling of fear and anxiety also elevates our Cortisol levels. Regular physical exercise and mindful eating helps reduce the levels of this hormone.
There are hormones which control our hunger, appetite, sugar levels etc. Let us learn something about them. Ghrelin is called as a ‘hunger hormone’ which is released at the time of fasting or crash dieting, the levels of which is decreased after having meals. Leptin which is produced by fat cells called as ‘satiety hormone’ that contorls our hunger pangs and cravings. Similarly, CCK (Cholecystokinin) is a hormone which plays a major role in sending signals to the brain about being full. PYY (Peptide YY) is another hormone that suppresses our appetite and which is released in an hour’s time after a meal. Insulin is a hormone made in pancreas which regulates blood sugar levels in our body. Increase in the food intake increases the blood glucose which calls out Insulin in the blood. Through this we can understand how on not chewing the food well, eating too quickly, or eating under stress can lead to over-eating thereby raising our sugar levels. The key is to enjoy eating, not eating under stress, and eat slowly focusing on the food that we eat. This is how we can balance our hormones beautifully.
By bringing Fitness into our daily routine, we can combat Stress. And when this happens, we eat mindfully. After all, the entire game is played by HORMONES :D
