Types Of Hormones: Exercising has numerous benefits for the body and mind. That’s because there are several types of hormones released in physical activity into your bloodstream.
The sum of physical practices with these substances allows the correct execution of movements, improves results and increases body and mental disposition — everything a person with a busy life wants, right?
That’s what we’re going to talk about in this post. Interested? So, please keep reading to understand what types of hormones will release during physical exercises and how they act in the body.
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Types Of Hormones Released In Physical Activity
First, we need to understand three fundamental concepts. These are metabolism, anabolism and catabolism. Such terms are entirely related to each other. So it is because the first one encompasses the other two.
Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that take place in the body, resulting in some change. For example, in anabolism, the molecules used to produce new substances that act in the growth and maintenance of the organism will synthesize.
However, in catabolism, the opposite occurs; it is a process capable of breaking down the molecules the body will use.
Well, now that these concepts are more apparent, let’s get to know the main hormones released during physical activities and what their real benefits are:
Somatotropin (The Growth Hormone)
Also known as GH, this hormone appears in high concentration, depending on the intensity of the activity carried out — the more intense it is, the greater its presence in the blood. Anyone who wants to lose or maintain weight will like to know that somatotropin directly stimulates body fat burning (lipolysis).
GH is important in anabolism as it facilitates protein synthesis (muscle building) and encourages tissue, cartilage, and bone growth. In addition, it helps a lot in training, as it decreases the recovery time between them and strengthens the ligaments and tendons.
The question that doesn’t want to shut up now is: how to increase the level of GH in our body? This substance, for the most part, is secreted during the night. In this way, a good rest directly contributes to your results in the gym.
Adrenaline And Noradrenaline
These two hormones are released during intense exercises, preparing the body for the great efforts that will will make when you start working out. Thus, they act together to increase energy expenditure, as they accelerate fat burning. Adrenaline also increases the willingness to do physical activities.
In addition, these hormones release glucose and fatty acids into the blood, important “fuels” in performing physical exercises. Finally, they still act in dilating the blood vessels of the muscles worked.
Stimulant substances such as caffeine boost the level of adrenaline in the body. However, it is essential to note that these hormones in excess in the body can be harmful, causing lousy mood, stress and anxiety.
For all these benefits, it’s easy to understand the great relevance of both hormones for excellent yield and high performance.
Glucagon And Insulin
Regulators of the metabolism of the body’s tissues, these hormones have functions that can be opposite or complementary. So it is because, at the same time that insulin lowers the blood glucose level, glucagon promotes its increase.
Still, both favour the availability of glucose in the blood so that it can use by muscle cells during physical activities.
Glucagon works by mobilizing glucose from the liver, and insulin enhances its transport into muscle cells, which are hungry for energy as you exercise. The longer the physical activity, the greater the release of glucagon and the lesser the insulin.
Exercise is essential as it facilitates glucose uptake and decreases insulin levels, which is favourable for those with diabetes.
ENDORPHIN
Because it is known as a natural pain reliever, this type of hormone has one of its primary functions to relieve pain, control anxiety and reduce stress. Therefore, it is essential for those with a busy and tiring routine who do not want to miss going to the gym to keep in good shape.
In addition to producing a feeling of pleasure and euphoria during exercise, endorphin inhibits the discomfort and pain caused by physical activity, helping athletes to get as far as possible.
This substance also motivates the person to exercise, bringing a sense of well-being, as it allows them to feel the benefits of exhausting exercise while still doing it. But for that, you need to exercise for at least 30 minutes, and with light to moderate intensity.
CORTISOL
Cortisol is the stress hormone and has a circadian cycle, meaning it lasts 24 hours. Some external factors, such as sleep, exercise and illness, act directly in releasing it.
This hormone helps to control tension, reduce inflammation and act on the immune system’s functioning. However, its concentration varies from person to person. Researchers have found that there is less accumulation of cortisol in active people when compared to sedentary individuals.
Its level increases considerably in long-term physical activities. So if you practice long-distance running, for example, the idea is to try to decrease the release of cortisol at other times of the day.
For this, it will recommend having a good night’s sleep and avoiding alcoholic beverages. In addition, investing in relaxing practices such as yoga and meditation is also appropriate.
LEPTIN
Leptin is the hormone responsible for our satiety, metabolic rate and body mass. It helps to regulate our weight, control our appetite and intensify the use of fat stored in our body as fuel.
There is also some evidence that leptin helps with muscle hypertrophy. In this way, eating foods rich in zinc and exercising regularly helps to increase the hormone level in our bodies.
SEROTONIN
It acts on factors such as normalizing mood, sleep, appetite, sexual desire, body temperature, and pain sensitivity.
With an action similar to endorphin, serotonin provides a feeling of well-being, helping the person practising physical activity to have a greater tolerance for discomfort.
It also interferes with the production of GH and cortisol if it is at a lower level, impairing sleep quality and increasing stress.
Knowing some hormones released in physical activity helps us better understand our body, contributing to a higher-than-usual performance during and after training.
We hope this knowledge will benefit your practice of physical activity. And don’t forget to warm up and stretch before starting any series of exercises, okay?