WELLNESS AUTHOR
Dafne Villanueva
SUMMERTIME HORMONES EXPLAINED n Check out what a local holistic doctor has to say about
hormonal changes in the summertime and what to do about it.
S
How Does Summertime Affect Hormones?
ummertime is for ice-cold drinks, ocean water views, fresh fruit and chips, but it’s also a time of change. Due to the cruel Texas summers, many have to change their skincare routines and what they wear. However, people might be unaware that their bodies also undergo changes, particularly hormonal changes. First, let’s cover the basics of hormones and their role in the body.
One study shows a pattern among hormones during the changing seasons. The body has effector hormones, which are constantly working to balance out the body. In the winter and spring, these hormones are at their highest. Our bodies also have upstream regulating pituitary hormones, which contribute to our bodies’ overall wellness. These include cortisol and are at the highest level in the summer, which triggers the sequence of bodily hormonal events and releases for the rest of the body. So what does this mean? Cortisol, for example, is a stress hormone that aids in the control of stressinduced increased energy and attempts to restore equilibrium and blood pressure. Cortisol peaks in the summer, which indicates that people are more stressed during this season. In the winter and spring, hormones for reproduction, development, metabolism and stress adaptability are at their highest levels, indicating that our hormones are more balanced in this season and perform better together. According to another study, cortisol levels are highest in the summer and gradually decrease throughout the day. In the evening, levels lower to maintain healthy sleeping patterns. This also shows that our stress is higher throughout summer.
What Are Hormones?
Hormones are tricky. They are the body’s chemical messengers, and they play a big part in how the body reacts to various stimuli. In addition, hormones respond to changes in our environment, especially seasonal changes, which impact metabolism, development, reproduction and sexual function. Hormones are produced by endocrine glands, which are specialized cell groupings. The principal endocrine glands are the pituitary, pineal, thymus, thyroid, adrenal and pancreas. In addition, both men and women generate hormones in their testes and ovaries.
MAY 2022
52
