As of: February 18, 2024, 7:00 p.m
By: Laura Knops
Comments
Press
Split
They are crucial for physical and mental well-being - ten hormones are particularly important for the body.
1 / 9Endorphin is released by the body, among other things, during extreme physical exertion.
However, the hormone not only has a pain-relieving effect, endorphins also have a positive effect on health and stress.
If the body produces more endorphins, the immune system is strengthened and people can survive stressful phases more easily.
© YAY Images/Imago
2 / 9Testosterone is one of the most important sex hormones.
However, this doesn't just apply to men.
Testosterone is also found in the female body.
However, it is determined before birth whether testosterone is produced in excess.
The Y chromosome in men is responsible for testosterone production and thus determines whether the testicles, prostate and penis develop.
© Pond5 Images/Imago
3 / 9Serotonin is one of the happiness hormones and affects the reward system.
It ensures a good mood, contentment and serenity.
But serotonin is also important for the sleep-wake rhythm, the regulation of the feeling of satiety and the control of body temperature.
© Patrick Lienin/Imago
4 / 9The sleep hormone melatonin controls the internal clock and is therefore crucial for the human sleep-wake rhythm.
If the melatonin concentration increases in the evening, we become tired.
An imbalance also causes sleep disorders or weight fluctuations.
© Science Photo Library/Imago
5 / 9The hormones adrenaline and norepinephrine are also produced in the adrenal medulla.
Nerve impulses control the production of the two stress hormones.
Adrenaline puts the body on alert: blood pressure, breathing rate, heart rate and muscle tension increase so that the organism is ready for flight or fight.
© Cavan Images/Imago
6 / 9Estrogen is produced primarily in the female ovaries and thus regulates the female cycle.
During puberty, the estrogen level in the female body increases - the hormone therefore plays a significant role in fertility.
Unlike men, however, the female sex hormone fluctuates over the course of the cycle.
© Zoonar/Imago
7 / 9Cortisol is released more during stress.
If the cortisol concentration in the body increases, the organism prepares to flee or fight within a few moments - the heart then beats faster, breathing accelerates and blood pressure rises.
However, cortisol is also involved in a number of other metabolic processes.
It is produced in the adrenal gland and follows a natural daily rhythm.
While the concentration is highest in the early morning, it reaches its lowest point around midnight.
© Science Photo Library/Imago
8 / 9Insulin is produced in the pancreas.
The hormone is responsible for sugar metabolism and lowers blood sugar.
A lack of insulin therefore leads to elevated blood sugar levels - if these are chronically elevated, the patient subsequently suffers from diabetes mellitus, also known colloquially as diabetes mellitus.
In this case, insulin must be injected artificially so that the body can function optimally.
© Cavan Images/Imago
9 / 9Thyroxine and its counterpart triiodothyronine stimulate the adrenal glands, influence sex hormones and psychological well-being.
The hormones are produced in the thyroid.
If thyroxine and triiodothyronine become unbalanced, this can lead to fatigue, weight fluctuations, nervousness and memory problems.
© Pond5 Images/Imago
Hormones such as thyroxine, estrogen, testosterone, insulin, melatonin, oxytocin or cortisol are examples of messenger substances in the human body that control a variety of processes and thereby keep a variety of bodily functions in balance.
If the hormonal glands get out of balance, this affects the entire organism and our well-being.
Even the smallest changes can have big effects.
Mood and metabolism, but also relationships with other people, depend largely on hormones.
Which hormones are particularly important.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.