Hormones! Usually we think of these guys as the thing that makes people act differently than they should... but in reality they are the ones that keep our body in balance! They respond to stimuli, which can either be from the brain wanting something done, changing levels of nutrients in the blood, or from other hormones who need help.

The first one I've been reading about is Growth Hormone, which has the biggest roll during childhood and adolescence. It is produced in the pituitary gland, a pea-sized gland in the middle of your head, and is then released to other cells in the body through the bloodstream. It targets bones and muscles to aid in growth, although it does contribute to growth in all organs aside from the brain. To help your tissue grow, growth hormone stops the liver from taking up glucose, or sugar, and mobilizes your fatty acids (which is indeed the same as your squishy, pinchable fat!).

For children, overproduction of growth hormone leads to longer long bones - arms and legs. If there is too much growth hormone past the point of the child growing taller, the hands, feet, and facial bones can thicken and become enlarged. This is called acromegaly. Too much growth hormone in adults does not present much of a problem. Too little growth hormone in adults can result in decreased muscle mass and energy, but overall it is not a huge inconvenience, as synthetic growth hormone is available as a supplement. In children it is important to catch a growth hormone deficiency early, so that growth can continue on schedule. If not caught and supplemented, it can result in dwarfism and delayed sexual maturation.

Growth hormone can be taken as a metabolic supplement for people looking to get leaner and stronger, particularly athletes and older people. However, this is definitely not recommended by your neighborhood physician or any other doctor. Putting synthetic things in your body is bad news. Technically this hormone is legal to take, but there have been no clinical trials approved by the FDA that prove or disprove its safety. There are also increased risks of diabetes, since growth hormone elevates your blood sugars.

One last thing to know is that hormones are triggered primarily by what you put in your body and what goes on in your head. Then they travel through the blood stream until they reach your DNA, where they say hello and make a little change so that your body starts producing proteins that it wasn't producing before. Of course this is mostly a good thing! But if you are putting bad stuff in your body or thinking bad things all the time, your body is going to produce wonky hormones and thus wonky proteins and that's what will make you feel bad. And I love to feel good!