If you find this article helpful, please
forward it to friends and relatives.
There are many physical, mental, and physiological
benefits to regular exercise. One category of
benefits is the impact that exercise has on many
of your body's hormones. Hormones are chemical
messengers within your body that affect almost
all aspects of human function:
1. Growth Hormone
- Stimulates protein synthesis (muscle tone/development),
and strength of bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. -
Decreases use of glucose and increases use of fat as a fuel
during exercise. This helps to reduce body fat and to keep
blood glucose at a normal level which helps you to exercise
for a longer period of time.
Release of growth hormone from the pituitary gland
in the brain is increased with increasing aerobic
exercise time, especially more intense exercise such as
interval training. To receive an article on interval
training, send email to: intervals@landry.com
2. Endorphins
- An endogenous opioid from the pituitary gland that
blocks pain, decreases appetite, creates a feeling of
euphoria (the exercise high), and reduces tension and
anxiety.
Blood levels of endorphins increase up to five times
resting levels during longer duration (greater than
30 minutes) aerobic exercise at moderate to intense
levels and also during interval training.
Also, after several months of regular exercise, you
develop an increased sensitivity to endorphins (a
higher high from the same level of endorphins), and
endorphins that are produced tend to stay in your
blood for a longer period of time. This makes longer
duration exercise easier (you're feeling no pain)
and it causes your exercise high to last for a longer
period of time after exercise.
3. Testosterone
- An important hormone in both males and females for
maintaining muscle tone/volume/strength, increasing
basal metabolic rate (metabolism), decreasing body
fat, and feeling self-confident. It's produced by the
ovaries in females and by the testes in males.
- Females have only about one tenth the amount of
testosterone that males do, but even at that level in
females it also plays a role in libido and intensity
of org*sms. Production of testosterone in females begins
to decline as a woman begins to approach menopause
and in males it begins to decline in his forties.
Blood levels of testosterone increase with exercise
in both males and females beginning about 20 minutes
into an exercise session, and blood levels may remain
elevated for one to three hours after exercise.
4. Estrogen
- The most biologically active estrogen, 17 beta
estradiol, increases fat breakdown from body fat stores so
that it can be used and fuel, increases basal metabolic rate
(metabolism), elevates your mood, and increases libido.
This hormone is at much higher blood levels in females,
but the ovaries begin to produce less of it as a woman
begins to approach menopause.
The amount of 17 beta estradiol secreted by the ovaries
increases with exercise, and blood levels may remain
elevated for one to four hours after exercise.
5. Thyroxine (T4)
- A hormone produced by the thyroid gland, Thyroxine
riases the metabolic rate ("metabolism") of almost
all cells in the body. This increase in "metabolism"
helps you to feel more energetic and also causes you
to expend more calories, and thus is important in
weight loss.
Blood levels of thyroxine increase by about 30%
during exercise and remain elevated for several
hours afterward - this period of time is increased
by an increase in intensity and/or duration of
exercise. Regular exercise also increase thyroxine
levels at rest.
6. Epinephrine
- A hormone produced primarily by the adrenal
medulla that increases the amount of blood the
heart pumps and directs blood flow to where it's
needed.
- Stimulates breakdown of glycogen (stored
carbohydrate) in the active muscles and liver to use
as fuel. It also stimulates the breakdown of fat (in
stored fat and in active muscles) to use as fuel.
The amount of epinephrine released from the adrenal
medulla is proportional to the intensity and
duration of exercise.
7. Insulin
An important hormone in regulating (decreasing)
blood levels of glucose ("blood sugar") and in
directing glucose, fatty acids, and amino
acids into the cells. Insulin secretion by the
pancreas is increased in response to a rise in
blood sugar as is often the case after a meal.
Typically, the larger the meal, or the greater the
quantity of simple sugars consumed, the larger
the insulin response. This is another reason
that it's good to eat small frequent meals and
to limit consumption of sugar and of processed
bread, pasta and rice. The whole grain (non-
processed) versions of those products are a
much healthier choice.
Blood levels of insulin begin to decrease about 10
minutes into an aerobic exercise session and
continue to decrease through about 70 minutes of
exercise. Regular exercise also increases a cell's
sensitivity to insulin at rest, so that less is needed.
8. Glucagon
A hormone that is also secreted by the pancreas,
but it's job is to raise blood levels of glucose
("blood sugar"). When blood sugar levels get too
low, glucagon is secreted and causes stored
carbohydrate (glycogen) in the liver to be released
into the blood stream to raise blood sugar to a
normal level. It also causes the breakdown of fat
so that it can be used as fuel.
Glucagon typically begins to be secreted beyond
30 minutes of exercise when blood glucose levels
may begin to decrease.
So, next time you're exercising, think about all
the wonderful things that are happening to your
hormones. It might even make you want to do more
exercise!
copyright 2004 by Greg Landry, M.S
Author and exercise physiologist, Greg Landry,
offers free weight loss and fitness success stories
and targeted, highly affective weight loss programs
for women, men, type 2 diabetics, and people with
slow metabolisms and hypothyroidism..
disinfecting cleaning services Arlington Heights ..Calorie burn can be really enhanced if you follow a... Read More
1. Start Exercising first thing in the morning.As soon as... Read More
Negative thoughts, symbolic protection, being who we really are ........ Read More
My name is Greg Ryan and I am a high... Read More
Do you compete in sports for weight loss or fat... Read More
The answer to the title of this article is "none."... Read More
Maybe your doctor suggested it. Maybe your favorite outfit doesn't... Read More
Your brain has this really interesting system that is kind... Read More
In a global television commercial just launched (10 June 2005),... Read More
One of the most popular diets is the low carb... Read More
Living a powerful, healthy, fit and trim life is a... Read More
Search Yahoo for "papaya" and "kirstie" and you'll find at... Read More
Here are some everyday, helpful hints to get you started,... Read More
All Diets Work: No Diets WorkHave you lost weight in... Read More
As of the writing of this article, May 16, 2005,... Read More
Losing Weight quickly and easily has become one of the... Read More
The following are diet tips that can help you shape... Read More
The South Beach Diet works, for most people. Its low... Read More
Chant the following each day, several times. They are mantras... Read More
Water is useful when we are trying for losing weight.... Read More
Your success in sticking with an exercise and weight loss... Read More
How would you like to eat all you want and... Read More
Do you know what the words really mean on food... Read More
Here are 5 solutions to slimming:1. Set Mini-Goals: Try setting... Read More
Magnetic weight loss is the newest fad diet supplement to... Read More
bathroom cleaning service Mundelein .."Life would be perfect if only I was thin." That... Read More
If you pick the right personal trainer?you'll most definitely see... Read More
Running For Weight Loss??.Slow DownYou may be out running your... Read More
It's common to respond to stress by distracting yourself with... Read More
What is low carb?We've all heard about the Atkins diet... Read More
WEIGHT LOSS:Nutrition and weight-loss researchers say that some supplements can... Read More
The term 'thermogenic' refers to a group of drugs or... Read More
There are numerous ways to make a bad weight loss... Read More
Are you sick of the hype? Wondering what diet products... Read More
"Hey, you have reduced now, compared to the last time... Read More
For some of us, food is warmth and love. We... Read More
MYTH: Fad diets work for permanent weight loss.FACT: Fad diets... Read More
Weight loss can be a difficult goal to achieve. Some... Read More
You've done everything right this time. You're eating lots of... Read More
Why Making Small Changes in Your Eating Habits Adds up... Read More
If you've been scouring the news, devouring as much information... Read More
Nothing is more disappointing than hearing a gastric bypass patient... Read More
You won't believe what happened to me today!I was getting... Read More
I am so grateful that you're taking steps to take... Read More
Why has Phentermine stopped helping me lose weight?Many people are... Read More
Essential Fats for Weight LossOver the past few decades, the... Read More
Weight loss specialists will tell you that attitude has a... Read More
In recent years, carbohydrates have been labeled as the nutrition... Read More
What is negative calorie effect? Whatever food we eat,... Read More
Diet pills have met with many different fates, and come... Read More
Weight Loss |