WHAT ARE HORMONES?
Hormones are chemical compounds that are produced by a
specific organ of the body (adrenal gland, pituitary gland, thyroid
gland, etc), and transported via the bloodstream to another 'target'
area of the body, where they have a specific effect. Hormonal
regulation is key to maintaining a healthy body. Hormones are like
architects of the body. They must be present in levels that balance
with each other and work together to constantly rebuild the body.
They are very powerful substances and are effective even when
present in extremely small amounts (micrograms).
Within
everyone's body and within each of their cells, chemical and
physical processes are continuously happening. The total of these
processes is termed metabolism. Metabolism is actually a dynamic
balance of two different and opposing processes - anabolism and
catabolism. Anabolism is construction, or building up. Catabolism
is destruction, or tearing down.
From infancy to young adulthood, the body is predominantly in an
anabolic state. Once adulthood has been reached, the balance shifts
and the body then is in a predominantly catabolic state. Hormones
dictate these two metabolic processes, and the balance between
them. In order to work efficiently, all the processes in the body
have checks and balances. These checks and balances depend on
hormonal balance and regulation.
Hormonal balance
can be influenced by many factors. Diet and nutrition, alcohol
consumption, smoking, exercise, chemicals/pollutants in the
environment, prolonged use of antibiotics and other medications,
etc. The human body, given the proper nutrition and devoid of
stress can in theory survive to about 150 years. And, at the age of
150 years, it should appear like the body of a 75-year old. At the
present time though, most individuals age two years for every one
chronological year! Why? There are many reasons, but one of them
is often hormonal imbalance.
Hormonal
imbalance occurs when there is either a deficiency or an excessively
high level of a particular hormone in the body. And, because
hormones work in conjunction with each other, a change in the level
of one hormone has an immediate impact on other hormones.
Hormonal imbalance can result in a wide range of symptoms. These
can include, but are not limited to, irritability, lethargy,
fatigue, depression, headaches, backaches, joint pain, hot flashes,
night sweats, insomnia, changes in libido, vaginal dryness, erectile
dysfunction, weight gain, decreased muscle mass, and hair loss.
The goal of
ProactiveHealth
is to provide all natural hormonal replacement that
restores the balance of hormones to healthy, normal
levels.
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