Hormones are chemical messengers produced by various glands in our body. These hormones control all the functions of the body, including growth, metabolism, reproduction, sleep, and mood. Many people today suffer from a condition where important hormones such as thyroid, insulin, estrogen, and testosterone are not produced enough in the body and are reduced. Here are the 5 main reasons behind hormone deficiency:
Aging & Natural Depletion: The production of some important hormones in the body naturally decreases with age. With menopause, which occurs between the ages of 45-55 in women, the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which protect the health of the uterus and bones, decrease significantly. In men, testosterone, which provides muscle strength and vitality, decreases by one percent every year after the age of 30.
Autoimmune Diseases: This is a condition in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys its own glands. The best example of this is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. In this condition, the immune cells destroy the thyroid gland, resulting in a severe decrease in thyroid hormone levels (Hypothyroidism). Type 1 diabetes in children is also caused by the destruction of insulin cells in the pancreas.
Severe mental stress and insomnia: When we go through chronic stress, the body produces excess amounts of the stress hormone cortisol. High cortisol levels in the brain can disrupt the functioning of the hypothalamus and pituitary glands. This leads to a decrease in progesterone in women and a decrease in testosterone in men. Hormone production can also be disrupted in people who don’t get enough sleep.
Malnutrition and strict diets: The body needs certain amino acids, fats, and vitamins to produce hormones. For example, iodine and selenium are needed to produce thyroid hormones, and healthy fats are needed to produce sex hormones. Hormone production can decrease rapidly in people who completely eliminate fats and nutrients to lose weight.
Tumors and surgeries on the glands: Benign tumors that develop in the pituitary gland, thyroid, and adrenal glands, which are the masters of hormone production, can damage the hormone factory. In addition, those who have to remove the glands surgically due to thyroid cancer or other disorders can also experience a sudden drop in hormone levels.