Skip to content - Insulin Pancreas (beta cells) The anabolic hormone that lowers blood glucose by driving uptake into muscle, fat, and liver and promoting storage of glucose, fat, and protein. Central to metabolic health. 📚 16 📄 93 🎙️ 3
- Cortisol Adrenal cortex The body's primary glucocorticoid stress hormone, released on the HPA axis. It mobilizes glucose, sharpens alertness, and modulates immune and inflammatory responses; it follows a daily rhythm, peaking in the morning. 📚 17 📄 60 🎙️ 2
- Melatonin Pineal gland The hormone of darkness, released by the pineal gland at night to signal the biological time for sleep and entrain circadian rhythm. Suppressed by light, especially blue light. 📚 4 📄 51 🎙️ 1
- Testosterone Testes / ovaries / adrenal The principal androgen, driving male sexual development and, in both sexes, muscle and bone mass, libido, mood, and red-blood-cell production. 📚 7 📄 29 🎙️ 0
- Oxytocin Posterior pituitary A hormone and neuropeptide central to social bonding, trust, childbirth (uterine contractions), and lactation (milk letdown). Released by warm social contact. 📚 0 📄 46 🎙️ 0
- Estrogen Ovaries The primary female sex hormone group governing the menstrual cycle and reproductive development, with wide effects on bone density, cardiovascular health, mood, and cognition. 📚 5 📄 15 🎙️ 0
- Adrenaline (Epinephrine) Adrenal medulla The acute fight-or-flight hormone that spikes within seconds of a threat, raising heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose and dilating airways to prime the body for action. 📚 1 📄 23 🎙️ 0
- Growth hormone Anterior pituitary Stimulates growth, cell repair, and metabolism, largely via IGF-1 from the liver. Secreted in pulses, especially during deep sleep and after intense exercise. 📚 2 📄 17 🎙️ 0
- Leptin Adipose tissue The satiety hormone secreted by fat cells that signals energy sufficiency to the brain, suppressing appetite. Chronically high levels can blunt the brain's response (leptin resistance). 📚 2 📄 11 🎙️ 0
- Myokines Skeletal muscle Myokines are signaling proteins released by contracting skeletal muscle, making muscle an endocrine organ that communicates with the brain and body. Molecules such as irisin, BDNF, and IL-6 released during exercise support neuroplasticity, mood, metabolism, and inflammation control, and are a leading mechanism behind exercise’s cognitive and antidepressant benefits. They biologically link physical activity to brain health. 📚 3 📄 8 🎙️ 0
- Thyroxine (T4) Thyroid The main thyroid hormone, converted to active T3, that sets the metabolic rate of nearly every tissue — influencing energy, temperature, heart rate, and growth. 📚 1 📄 13 🎙️ 0
- Glucagon Pancreas (alpha cells) Insulin's counter-regulatory partner: it raises blood glucose by signaling the liver to break down glycogen and make new glucose, protecting against hypoglycemia between meals. 📚 0 📄 12 🎙️ 0
- Progesterone Ovaries (corpus luteum) The primary progestogen, rising after ovulation to prepare and maintain the uterine lining for pregnancy. It balances estrogen, supports early gestation, and has calming, sleep-promoting effects. 📚 2 📄 5 🎙️ 0
- Ghrelin Stomach The "hunger hormone," released by the stomach before meals to stimulate appetite and drive food-seeking; it falls after eating. Poor sleep raises it. 📚 0 📄 6 🎙️ 0