Endocrine System: How Your Hormones Help Regulate Your Body

Your endocrine system is your body’s communication network. It produces hormones that regulate metabolism, blood sugar, stress response, sleep, growth, reproduction, body temperature, and energy production. When hormones become imbalanced, many different body systems can be affected. Learning how the endocrine system works can help you understand why healthy habits are so important for long-term wellness.

What is the Endocrine System

Our glandular system, or endocrine system, is the communication network that regulates our ambitions and emotions, promotes growth and sexual identity, helps control body temperatures, assists in the repair of damaged tissue, and helps our bodies generate energy.

Our endocrine system communicates using chemical substances called hormones. These hormones can stimulate reactions within the body that can last from a few hours to several days.

Two types of glands make up our endocrine system.

• EXOCRINE Glands – These types of glands secrete fluids throughout a duct or tube that usually lead to an outside surface, like our skin, tear glands, and salivary glands.
• ENDOCRINE Glands – These glands are ductless and secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. Our bloodstream carries these hormones to tissues or organs where they stimulate some action.

The major endocrine glands are:

Our endocrine and nervous systems work closely together. It is their job together to maintain a balance among all of our body systems. The glandular and nervous systems regulate the voluntary and involuntary actions within our bodies. These include growth, metabolism, digestion, elimination, menstruation, and sleep. These systems also enable communication between cells.

Possible Signs of Hormone Imbalance

Problems with the endocrine system or glandular system can affect us in various ways. Remember that many of these symptoms can have numerous causes and do not necessarily indicate a hormone disorder. If symptoms persist, it’s important to discuss them with your healthcare provider. Some indicators that you could be having issues are:

• Waking up as tired as you were when you went to bed
• Trouble sleeping, staying asleep, or falling asleep
• Coarse or blemished skin
• Feeling irritable
• Trouble focusing
• Problems maintaining your body weight
• Problems maintaining an ideal body temperature
• Feeling depressed or anxious

Endocrine System and Its Three Main Glands

Adrenal Glands

The adrenal glands produce over fifty different hormones. These hormones impact development and growth, and our ability to deal with stress. Some of these hormones also help regulate kidney function.

The adrenal glands are composed of two distinct sections: the medulla and the cortex.

• The medulla gland produces adrenaline. This hormone regulates the fight-or-flight response in the body, which is how the body reacts to stressful events. The medulla also produces DHEA, which is a precursor to estrogen and testosterone.
• The Cortex gland, located on the outer portion of the adrenal gland, produces several hormones that affect blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and growth. The cortex also produces cortisol, which is often referred to as the stress hormone. Some people produce greater levels of cortisol than others. Cortisol isn’t entirely damaging; it does have some beneficial effects, such as helping to reduce inflammation. It also allows the body to make sure the sodium it needs is not lost. It may also help improve short-term memory and support the liver in removing toxins. Excess cortisol can raise blood pressure, lower bone density, reduce the immune response, affect blood sugar levels, reduce serotonin levels, which help provide a sense of well-being, and contribute to weight gain.

The Thyroid Gland

The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck and weighs approximately 0.5 ounces. It has two halves, called lobes, that lie along the trachea and are joined together by a narrow band of tissue. I once took a class, and the man teaching the class said the thyroid gland is shaped like a butterfly and lies over our windpipe. Since then, it has always helped me to remember the shape of it.

The Pituitary Gland

The pituitary gland, which is the size of a small pea, is located at the base of the brain and is known as the master gland of the body. It not only produces its own hormones, but also influences the hormonal production of the other glands. The pituitary gland controls the thyroid gland by instructing it on how much T3 and T4 to produce, releasing TSH, the thyroid-stimulating hormone. As its name implies, TSH stimulates the thyroid to produce or not to produce hormones. The hormones released by the pituitary gland help some of the following body processes.

• Growth
• Temperature Control
• Conversion of food into energy
• Blood Pressure
• Breast milk production
• Absorption of water into the kidneys
• Stimulation of uterine contractions during childbirth
• Sex organs function in both males and females.

The Pancreas Gland

This is an interesting gland because it functions as both an exocrine and an endocrine gland.

If you are looking at digestion, the pancreas is an exocrine gland that secretes enzymes into the small intestine to neutralize stomach acid and help break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.

If you are looking at the pancreas’s hormonal function, it acts as an endocrine gland, using its islets to release hormones into the bloodstream to maintain metabolic energy and balance. Its key hormones are insulin, which lowers blood sugar, and glucagon, which raises blood sugar.

The pancreas is often involved in blood sugar management, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome.

Healthy Habits that Support Hormone Health and a Healthy Endocrine System

Lifestyle choices and their impact on our overall health are crucial. Some of the best things we can do to build and nourish our glands are to:

• Eat enough protein – 25-40 grams per meal for men and women over 40.
• Eat plenty of fiber to support healthy digestion.
• Maintain healthy blood sugar to avoid spikes and crashes.
• Exercise regularly to reap its many benefits for overall health.
• Get quality sleep with at least 7-8 hours per night.
• Manage stress through breathing exercises, spending time outdoors, prayer, meditation, enjoyable hobbies, and other practices that help activate the body’s relaxation response.
• Spend time outdoors and take advantage of the benefits of nature.
• Maintain gut health because it has a significant impact on overall health.
• Stay hydrated, making sure you are drinking 6-8 glasses of water per day.

Healthy hormone function doesn’t depend on a single gland. Every endocrine gland works together with your nervous system, digestive system, and immune system. That’s why healthy habits such as eating nutritious foods, sleeping well, managing stress, and maintaining gut health can have such a profound impact on overall hormone balance.

Some people also choose herbal or nutritional supplements to support their endocrine system and adrenals. It’s always best to work with someone knowledgeable to determine what is appropriate. Some of my favorite supplements are.

• Master Gland for overall pituitary support.
• Dulse for the thyroid.
• Nuri Calm or Adaptamax for the Adrenals.

If you are interested in learning more about what your specific needs, take our Brilliant Body Health Assessment to help you determine which body system is in most need of support.

Written by: Julie A. Devisser- All Rights Reserved and Edited by Mara Gerke, CNHP