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Important hormones -

The three major sex hormones are estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. These hormones play a major role in boosting your libido.

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Estrogen -

Estrogen is a steroid hormone associated with the female reproductive organs, and is responsible for developing female sexual characteristics.

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Estrogen -

But did you know that estrogen helps protect against the flu virus? According to a study undertaken by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, fluctuating levels of estrogen in premenopausal women help protect them from flu around the second week of their menstrual cycles.

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Estrogen -

Estrogen, which is found in both males and females, although women have higher levels, can help ward off the onset of osteoporosis. This is because estrogen stimulates what's called osteoblastic activity, which builds up bone. Testosterone also plays a role in building bone.

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Estrogen -

Estrogen is actually an antidepressant chemical in your brain. If levels of this hormone dip too low, it can induce depression or anxiety.

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Testosterone -

Testosterone is the primary sex hormone in males, though women have a small amount of it, too. Testosterone hormone levels are important to normal male sexual development and functions.

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Testosterone -

Besides regulating sex drive (libido), testosterone also regulates bone mass, fat distribution, muscle mass and strength, and the production of red blood cells and sperm.

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Testosterone -

Women have only a tenth of the testosterone that men have. But even this amount can build muscle and help maintain skin thickness.

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Testosterone -

Testosterone is known for increasing levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter released by brain neurons when you do something enjoyable or rewarding. Simply put, it makes you feel pleasure and improves your focus.

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Progesterone -

Progesterone plays important roles in the menstrual cycle and in maintaining the early stages of pregnancy. It can also help you sleep.

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Progesterone -

Progesterone, found in men and women, exerts a sleep induction or hypnotic effect to help regulate normal sleep patterns.

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Progesterone -

Progesterone levels naturally begin to drop in our thirties, and start to plummet in our late forties.

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Progesterone -

Low levels of the hormone progesterone can cause sleep difficulties, including insomnia, sleep apnea, and night sweats.

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Progesterone and pregnancy -

Hormones can change your body during pregnancy in surprising ways. For example, in your first trimester, progesterone levels increase, often triggering mood swings.

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Progesterone and pregnancy -

Progesterone levels continue to rise during pregnancy. This, in turn, slows digestion and often decreases the speed of motility (movements of the digestive system) in the bowels. This increases the risk of constipation and gas.

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Progesterone and pregnancy -

Constipation invariably leads to difficulty evacuating the bowls. And the more your strain on the toilet, the greater your risk of hemorrhoids (also called piles).

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Estrogen and pregnancy -

Pregnancy increases estrogen levels. This can result in several changes to your appearance, including acne, dark spots, and stretch marks.

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Prolactin and pregnancy -

Roughly halfway through pregnancy the body begins to produce the hormone prolactin, which allows you to produce milk.

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Oxytocin and pregnancy -

Towards the end of your pregnancy the body starts creating the hormone oxytocin, in readiness for labor. Oxytocin stimulates the uterus to contract.

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Oxytocin -

Incidentally, oxytocin is associated with trust, sexual arousal, and relationship building. It's why oxytocin is sometimes referred to as the "love hormone" or the "cuddle chemical."

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Serotonin -

Postpartum depression is common in new mothers. This is often due to low levels of serotonin, a chemical that also acts as a hormone and carries messages between nerve cells in the brain and throughout your body. Serotonin is considered a natural mood stabilizer.

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Leptin -

Leptin is a hormone your body fat releases that helps you maintain your normal weight on a long-term basis. In other words, it's an appetite suppressant.

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Leptin -

When you sleep, levels of leptin surge, signaling to your body that you don't need to eat. A bad night tossing and turning in bed won't produce the right amount of leptin, which is why insomniacs and others with sleep disorders feel extra hungry in the morning and are prone to weight gain.

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Endorphins -

Endorphins are the feel-good hormones released during pleasurable activities such as exercise, massage, eating, and sex.

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Endorphins -

As neurotransmitters, endorphins are also released by your body in response to pain or stress.

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Cortisol -

Another hormone associated with stress is cortisol. In fact a steroid hormone that your adrenal glands produce, cortisol affects several aspects of your body and mainly helps regulate your body's response to stress.

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Melatonin -

The hormone melatonin plays a vital role in the sleep-wake cycle. Produced in the brain in response to darkness, it helps with sleep and regulating the timing of your circadian rhythm (24-hour internal clock). Being exposed to light at night can block melatonin production.

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Insulin -

Insulin is a hormone created by your pancreas. It controls the amount of of sugar (glucose) in your bloodstream at any given moment. If your pancreas doesn't make enough insulin or your body doesn't use insulin properly, blood sugar levels skyrocket, a condition known as hyperglycemia. This results in diabetes.

Sources: (NIH) (Weill Cornell Medicine) (Prevention) (Orlando Health) (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health) (Cleveland Clinic) (Harvard Health)

See also: Health mistakes you didn't know you're making

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