Hormones are powerful chemical messengers that circulate through your bloodstream to specific target cells, where they generate a wide range of biological responses. You might think of hormones as the "prime movers" of your physical and emotional well being.

Every time you get angry, become tired, laugh, cry, have sex, wake up, feel hungry, or fall asleep your body is responding to hormones. That's because hormone levels can impact virtually every major system and organ in your body.

HOW DO HORMONES AFFECT MY WELL BEING?
There are several major hormones that have particularly powerful effects on your well being, and each one plays a unique physiological role in the body.

SEX HORMONES...
Testosterone is the most critical hormone involved in sex drive - in both men and women. Testosterone also supports bones and muscle, as well as the cardiovascular system.

Estrogen (estradiol) modulates the course of both the menstrual cycle and menopause, and proper levels support well being during menstruation. Estrogen imbalance can trigger or worsen symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). In addition, monitoring estrogen replacement therapy is crucial to ensuring proper estrogen levels. Progesterone, along with estrogen, plays a major role in shaping a normal menstrual cycle and imbalances have been linked to PMS. Adequate, but not excessive, levels of progesterone are also crucial for women during menopause, especially for those undergoing hormone replacement therapy.
 

STRESS HORMONES....
Cortisol is a powerful steroid released to "activate" your body in times of stress. You need cortisol to "pump you up"' to meet all the daily challenges of life. Without it you'd have no motivation to even get out of bed in the morning! Proper levels of cortisol help to ensure that your body is effectively coping with stress, keeping you feeling fit and in control.

DHEA is the most abundant hormone in your bloodstream. Although the complete scope of its function is not yet fully determined, DHEA seems to balance the effects of cortisol, by improving the body's ability to cope with stress. While cortisol primes your body, giving it the energy you need to respond to stress, DHEA protects your body from the "wear and tear" of stress. DHEA also provides the source material for the production of important sex hormones. DHEA levels should be closely monitored when supplementing, however, to prevent potentially harmful imbalances.  

DO HORMONE LEVELS CHANGE?
As you grow older, hormone levels can drop by as much as 80%-90% from their youthful peaks. In women, hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone fall most rapidly during and after menopause. In both men and women, however, cortisol levels have a tendency to rise with age, affecting our body's reaction to stress. 

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