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Tempting for a Food and not getting it, definitely makes you Angry…..

It’s not in your thoughts or in dream but it’s a Hormone that makes you to feel so..

According to the study, there is the connection between hormones and mental health, making your hormone imbalance and mood swing too. 

WHAT IS HORMONES AND WHAT THEY DO?

Hormones are the chemical that act as a messenger in the body. Many types of hormones are produced in the body, that influences the overall health including:

• Appetite
• Emotions
• Fatigue
• Mental Health
• Mood
• Sleep
• Reproduction
• Weight

HOW HORMONES ARE CONNECTED TO OUR MENTAL HEALTH

Hormone level in the body is normally fluctuate throughout the day, making you sleep when its night, emotional when you are sad or happy, alert at the day time and many more like this. Thus keeping this into consideration, there is no surprise that it also play a role in mental health. It is also advisable that if a person is facing constant mood change, irritable, sad or stressed, consult doctor to discuss about it and hormones as well. 

HORMONES THAT IMPACT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

The four most common hormone which have been recognised that influenced the Mental Health are :

1. CORTISOL-A KEY STRESS HORMONE

Cortisol is the stress hormone present in the body cell, that influence how your body reacts like how the body uses the nutrients you eat, it influence sleep and wake cycle, blood pressure etc. It normally fluctuate throughout the day. 

Many times, while in stressed or fear situation, hormones like cortisol or adrenaline are released in the body, making you to run or fight against that situation. It is important to calm the level of these hormone especially cortisol. The elevated level of Cortisol cause the weight gain and decrease immunity in the body.  

Constant stress and increased cortisol levels, thus compromise your mental health too in the long run.

It is important to reduce daily stress and stabilize cortisol levels. Some of the tips are:

• Adequate physical activity
• Meditation
• Balanced diet 
• Proper sleep with hygiene

2. THYROID HORMONES

A butterfly-shaped thyroid organ present in front of neck is responsible for producing thyroid hormones, which play a role in your overall energy levels, body temperature, weight,  metabolism etc. 

Over or under activation, can influence both physical and mental. Even small fluctuation in thyroid hormones can lead to moodiness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, stress, worrying etc. The imbalance therefore, influence the mental health. 

It would be advisable to speak the physician and registered dietitian.

3. SEROTONIN-HAPPY HORMONE

Serotonin affects every part of the body. It promotes positive feelings like happiness, pleasure, mood, love etc. Few activities like listening favourite music, reading a good book, and exercising can elevate the serotonin levels. A previous study found that low level of serotonin are linked to depression, anxiety and insomnia. Overall serotonin level helps to regulate mood naturally. If the level of it aren’t in balance, it can affect mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

Body’s natural serotonin production can boost by following factors :

• Maintain good gut health (95 percent of serotonin production occurs in your gut!)
• Exposure to bright light like sunlight
• Balanced and healthy diet like protein and fiber-rich diet. 
• Regular exercise and Meditation can have mood boosting effects.
• Adequate Vitamin B6 intake, which is essential for the amino acid tryptophan to convert into serotonin.

4. REPRODUCTIVE HORMONES

Hormones like progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone are the key reproductive hormones that may influence the mental health. Hormones like progesterone and estrogen play crucial role in women’s health and emotions, while for men, low testosterone can affect mood.

Premenstrual mood swings, postpartum or menopausal mood swings, nervousness, occurs due to imbalance in the hormone level of the female, which may instigate mental health changes. 

Progesterone typically has a calming effect, and the lack of it, for instance, occurs after childbirth, contribute to the symptoms like mood swings, stress, anxiety, which influence the mental health. 

Just like female, male also experience changes when the Testosterone male hormone fluctuate. It provides bone and muscle health, and general mood. Low level of it can cause poor mood, irritability and poor concentration.

To promote optimal mental health, be sure to:

• Minimize external stress
• Maintain good health
• Getting adequate rest or sleep
• No alcohol and Smoking
• Healthy Diet

THE BOTTOM LINE

If you’re experiencing any mood swings or other changes in your mental health, that interfere with your life, if may be that your hormones are likely at work behind the scenes. At this point, you should seek to the doctor to understand how to balance your hormone, that are influencing your mental health.