Hormones – these tiny messenger substances that do so much in our body. When you hear this term, do you immediately think of estrogen, testosterone, and the thyroid gland? But did you know that hormones can do much more? They are the conductors of our body; they regulate everything from A to Z. Without them, nothing works!
They control our development, our growth, and ensure that all biological processes run smoothly. They are the message carriers between our organs and cells. A harmonious hormone balance is therefore essential for our well-being – but unfortunately, for many people it gets out of balance. But don’t panic! In this article, we get to the bottom of the causes and give you practical tips on how to get your hormonal chaos back under control.
\nHormones are true master regulators in our body. As messenger substances, they ensure that everything runs smoothly and that the various processes in the organism work together harmoniously. They act like little conductors, making every cell do exactly what it is supposed to do.
Together, they form a complex network, also known as the “endocrine system,” which transports hormones through our body and directs them to their target locations. Without them, our organism would be like an orchestra without a timekeeper – chaotic and uncoordinated.
\nMost hormones are produced by endocrine glands, which release their substances directly into the bloodstream or transfer them to neighboring cells. In this way, they reach the corresponding places in the body where they are intended to exert their effect. Well-known endocrine glands include:
In addition to glandular hormones, however, our body also contains tissue hormones, which are not produced in glands but in individual cells. These hormones have a local effect because they influence the surrounding cells. But organs can also produce hormones! For example, in addition to their main function of cleansing the blood of toxins, the kidneys can produce a hormone that stimulates the formation of blood cells in the bone marrow.
But that’s not all! The nervous system can also influence our hormone balance by communicating with the endocrine system via the thalamus – the gateway to our consciousness. For example, when we feel fear, heat, or cold, these signals are transmitted via our nervous system to the neurosecretory cells in the thalamus, causing hormones to be released via the pituitary gland in the brain. The thalamus is therefore the most important connection between the nervous and hormonal systems, which is particularly special because other areas of the body are separated by the blood-brain barrier in order to protect the brain from possible pathogens.
\nThe estimated number of hormones in the human body is probably in the four-digit range, although only about 150 are currently known and researched in detail. After all, these tiny messenger substances have only been the focus of medical research for a little over 100 years. The functions of hormones are extremely diverse and individual, which makes it difficult to describe them in general terms. Nevertheless, we would like to give you a brief overview of the most important hormones and show what effects they can have in our body.
The hormone cortisol is produced in the adrenal cortex and is also often referred to as the stress hormone. Even if this synonym seems negative at first glance, the release of cortisol can certainly have advantages! When we face danger, need to complete important tasks quickly, or are in a competition, the hormone supports us so that our body can react quickly and effectively. However, it becomes problematic when we suffer from chronic stress! Because then a high cortisol level can harm our mental and physical health. General tension, high blood pressure, concentration problems, sleep problems, depression, anxiety, and bone loss are just some of the possible consequences.
Insulin is an important hormone in metabolism, produced in the beta cells of the pancreas, and acts like a key: it opens the cells in the body so they can absorb glucose from the blood and be supplied with energy. In diabetes, however, this insulin-key principle does not work properly, causing the cells to remain closed, blood sugar levels to rise, and health problems to occur. Through a ketogenic diet, using the essential eight amino acids, and practicing a healthy lifestyle, type 1 diabetics can benefit from more stable blood sugar levels, and type 2 diabetics can effectively counteract the condition! You can find many articles about this in our media library.
Estrogens are produced in a woman’s ovaries and are largely responsible for the development of primary and secondary sexual characteristics from girl to woman. In addition to their role in reproduction, estrogens also have other important functions, such as regulating armpit and pubic hair, distributing fat in specific body regions such as the hips and buttocks, producing lactic acid in the vagina, and producing breast milk for nursing infants.
While the happiness hormone serotonin lifts the mood, melatonin ensures that we become tired. The production of this hormone, which is formed in the pineal gland, is strongly dependent on light. That is why melatonin levels rise especially in the evening and at night. As a result, we also get tired earlier in winter than in summer. But that is not all, because melatonin has other important functions: it plays a crucial role in strengthening our immune system and is known for its antioxidant effect and thus as an anti-aging agent. In our blog post “Forever Young – with the power of antioxidants to eternal youth?” we focus in particular on the possibilities of anti-aging using antioxidants. There you can also learn how our two products Acitve H®day & night can support you in this.
Oxytocin is released when we are close to other people or animals. During sex, large amounts of this so-called cuddle hormone are released. It helps us relax and feel happy. Oxytocin works closely with serotonin as well as dopamine and endorphins. The oxytocin level is particularly important for the parent-child bond, as it strengthens the bond between mother and child, stimulates milk production, and enables breastfeeding. Oxytocin also plays an important role before birth, as it initiates labor. No wonder oxytocin can also be translated as “quick birth.” Interestingly, this hormone can also be released through exercise.
The so-called “happiness hormone” serotonin functions both as a hormone " }, "media": { "images": [ { "url": "https://drreinwald.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/header-artikel-blog_hormone.jpg", "alt": "", "type": "featured", "id": 1869 }, { "url": "/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/hintergrund-zitat-hormone.jpg", "alt": "", "type": "inline", "id": null }, { "url": "/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/stoergung-mikroplastik.png", "alt": "", "type": "inline", "id": null }, { "url": "/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/stoergung-gluten.png", "alt": "", "type": "inline", "id": null }, { "url": "/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/stoergung-vitamin-d.png", "alt": "", "type": "inline", "id": null }, { "url": "/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/stoergung-stress.png", "alt": "", "type": "inline", "id": null } ], "featured_image": { "url": "https://drreinwald.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/header-artikel-blog_hormone.jpg", "alt": "" } }, "ai_context": { "faq": { "type": "summary", "source": "generated", "visible": false, "confidence": "high", "purpose": [ "semantic_comprehension", "entity_disambiguation", "answer_generation" ] }, "semantic_qa": { "type": "summary", "source": "generated", "visible": false, "confidence": "low", "quality_score": 0, "purpose": [ "semantic_comprehension", "entity_disambiguation", "answer_generation" ], "items": [ { "answer": "Hormones are chemical messenger substances that help organs, tissues, and cells communicate. They regulate key body processes such as growth, metabolism, sleep, mood, stress response, reproduction, and immune function.", "question": "What are hormones?" }, { "answer": "A balanced hormone system helps the body function smoothly. When hormones are out of balance, symptoms may affect energy, sleep, mood, blood sugar, digestion, weight, concentration, and overall well-being.", "question": "Why is hormone balance important for health?" }, { "answer": "Many hormones are produced by endocrine glands such as the thyroid, adrenal glands, pancreas, pituitary gland, ovaries, testes, parathyroid glands, and pineal gland. Some organs and tissues also produce hormones locally.", "question": "Where are hormones produced in the body?" }, { "answer": "The brain communicates with the endocrine system through structures such as the thalamus and pituitary gland. Signals related to stress, fear, temperature, or daily rhythms can trigger hormone release throughout the body.", "question": "How does the brain influence hormone balance?" }, { "answer": "Cortisol is often called the stress hormone. It helps the body respond quickly to challenges, but chronically high cortisol may contribute to tension, sleep problems, high blood pressure, anxiety, low mood, and concentration issues.", "question": "What does cortisol do in the body?" }, { "answer": "Serotonin supports mood, activity, digestion, and emotional balance. Melatonin, which helps regulate sleep and the day-night rhythm, is formed from serotonin and is strongly influenced by light exposure.", "question": "How are serotonin and melatonin connected?" }, { "answer": "Yes. Healthy nutrition, regular movement, stress reduction, quality sleep, stable blood sugar, and supportive daily routines can help promote a more harmonious hormone balance and improve overall well-being.", "question": "Can lifestyle support hormonal balance?" } ] } }, "faq_detection": { "status": "none", "visible": false, "source": "", "source_label": "", "quality_score": 0, "item_count": 0 }, "related": [ { "title": "How Does a Nutrient Get into the Brain?", "url": "https://drreinwald.com/en/how-does-a-nutrient-get-into-the-brain/", "type": "post" }, { "title": "If Your Hair Could Talk…", "url": "https://drreinwald.com/en/if-your-hair-could-talk/", "type": "post" }, { "title": "10 Sweet Reasons Why Low Carb & No Sugar Makes You Stronger", "url": "https://drreinwald.com/en/__trashed-3/", "type": "post" }, { "title": "What Your Skin Really Wants to Tell You", "url": "https://drreinwald.com/en/what-your-skin-really-wants-to-tell-you/", "type": "post" }, { "title": "Shake Off the Burden: Detox That Can Do More Than Traditional Methods!", "url": "https://drreinwald.com/en/shake-off-the-burden-detox-that-can-do-more-than-traditional-methods/", "type": "post" } ] }