Meet the chemical messengers that secretly run the show. Mood, sleep, energy, hunger—they’re the ones pulling the strings, even when you think you’re in control.

Cortisol – The Overachiever
AKA the stress hormone

What It Does: Wakes you up, sharpens focus, responds to stress
Released By: Adrenal glands
When It’s Off: Jittery, wired, trouble sleeping

Melatonin – The Night Owl

What It Does: Helps you fall (and stay) asleep
Released By: Pineal gland (in darkness)
When It’s Off: Restless nights, scrolling till 3 a.m.

Insulin – The Energy Organizer

What It Does: Moves sugar into cells for fuel
Released By: Pancreas
When It’s Off: Sugar crashes, cravings, hangry spells

Estrogen – The Mood Curator

What It Does: Regulates mood, periods, skin, brain health
Released By: Ovaries
When It’s Off: Mood swings, irregular cycles, acne

Testosterone – The Energy Booster

What It Does: Builds muscle, fuels energy, boosts libido
Released By: Ovaries or testes
When It’s Off: Fatigue, weaker muscles, low drive

Ghrelin & Leptin – The Hunger Duo

What They Do:
- Ghrelin = hunger signal
- Leptin = fullness signal
When Out of Sync: Endless snacking, emotional eating

Serotonin – The Mood Stabilizer

What It Does: Keeps mood steady, supports sleep, digestion, memory
Boosted By: Sunlight, exercise, gut health

Dopamine – The Motivator

What It Does: Drives reward, focus, motivation, pleasure
Released By: Brain (especially in reward pathways)
When It’s Off: Low drive, lack of focus, trouble enjoying things

Oxytocin – The Love Hormone

What It Does: Strengthens bonds, trust, empathy, social connection
Released By: Brain (especially during hugs, touch, closeness)
When It’s Off: Feeling isolated, disconnected, lonely

Endorphins – The Natural Painkillers

What They Do: Reduce pain, boost pleasure, create that “runner’s high”
Released By: Brain and nervous system (especially during exercise, laughter, or excitement)
When They’re Off: Feeling low, more sensitive to pain, harder to shake off stress

The Takeaway

Your hormones don’t just influence your body—they shape your daily experiences, choices, and even relationships. Get to know them, and you’ll start to see patterns in your moods, cravings, and energy that make a lot more sense.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22464-hormones

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/hormones-and-the-endocrine-system

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538239/

https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/melatonin-what-you-need-to-know#:~:text=Melatonin%20is%20a%20hormone%20that,night%20can%20block%20melatonin%20production.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17212793/

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