Hormones act as the body’s messengers, facilitating communication and coordinating changes in the body that are necessary for maintaining a functioning organism. These powerful chemical messengers control overall homeostasis by regulating essential functions like body temperature, blood pressure, metabolism, sexual function, reproduction, sleep-wake cycles, mood, growth and development. The body system that controls hormone production and response is called the endocrine system. It is made up of several glands found throughout the body, which include the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, pineal gland, thyroid, parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, pancreas, ovaries, and testes; other tissues and organs, such as fat cells, liver, kidneys, and the gastrointestinal tract, are also capable of secreting hormones.
Given the powerful and crucial role that hormones play in multiple bodily functions, they are tightly regulated. Any imbalance, regardless of severity, can have profound effects on an individual’s health by disrupting numerous bodily processes. These imbalances can be created through various means, including tumors, gland injuries, chronic stress, chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, genetics, environmental pollutants, and microbiome dysbiosis.