Hormones
Hormones are chemical signals that help regulate appetite, energy use, growth, stress, reproduction and many other processes.
What hormones are
Hormones are signals released by glands and tissues. They travel through the blood and tell other tissues to change activity.
Nutrition, sleep, stress, illness and physical activity can all influence hormonal signals.
Examples related to nutrition
| Hormone | Practical role |
|---|---|
| Insulin | Helps manage blood glucose and energy storage after meals. |
| Glucagon | Helps release stored energy when blood glucose is low. |
| Leptin | Signals long-term energy stores. |
| Ghrelin | Often rises before meals and is linked with hunger. |
| Cortisol | Involved in stress response and energy availability. |
Practical view
Hormones matter, but they do not replace energy balance. They influence appetite, expenditure and partitioning, so the useful approach is to improve the conditions around them: sleep, activity, protein, fibre and consistent habits.
Source
- NCBI Bookshelf : Physiology of glucose transport and GLUT4.