Hormones: The Chemical Messengers

Since hormones affect our mood, aging process, and the ability to heal ourselves, hormonal imbalance can create subtle dysfunctions in our physiological and psychological states. These include continuing sexual performance problems such as lack of sexual sensitivity and desire, erratic mood swings, delayed puberty, deregulation of metabolism, etc.

Major factors that promote these conditions are the chemicals in our food, water, and air namely, heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides, plastics, etc. that mimic certain hormones once they enter our body.

For example, the common tin can is inadvertently supplying us with unwanted, estrogen-like hormones because of a result of a chemical reaction over a period of time between the tin and the inner plastic lining.

These unwanted chemical additives are responsible for the mild to adverse health effects on our bodies. A synthetic steroidal hormone directly interferes with the normal function of our endocrine system. Our body is fooled into thinking it is real estrogen, and acts as if there is an estrogen excess in the system, creating an imbalance.

The endocrine system is the biochemical system of the body that controls and regulates the functioning of our entire metabolism through the production and direction of all of our hormones.

Within the endocrine system, there are literally hundreds of types of hormones produced; each affecting a specific gland, organ, and tissue. Some affect our overall health, and others simply aid the production of other hormones.

Hormones are multi-functional biochemicals we cannot live without. A specific group of hormones of amino acid-based molecules are manufactured by the body's free amino acids. If these essential amino acids aren't available, hormone production dwindles.

The endocrine system directly controls the process of aging. Hormones manufactured by the endocrine system directly govern the welfare of the entire body, keeping us young, healthy, and happy. Many pathological conditions are associated with the malfunctioning of the endocrine glands.

Hormonal balance is essential in the maintenance of good health and a strong immune system. Researchers have recently discovered that a number of hormones from within the endocrine system play a significant role with the T-cell markers within the immune system, most notably DHEA.

DHEA or dehydroepiandrosterone is commonly referred to as the mother hormone, since a number of other hormones are manufactured from it, such as estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, and corticosterone.

Researchers have observed an inverse correlation between DHEA levels and disease, meaning that the higher the level of DHEA in the blood, the less we may suffer from a disease. It is also understood that DHEA levels need to be really strong for a woman, if she needs to have an active sex life.