SoOo...
what actually are hormones?
A short version of the science 🔍
Then the Girl Talk translation 👄
First the science bit:
Hormones are chemical messengers.
They are made by glands, organs and other tissues. Many hormones travel in the bloodstream and carry signals to cells that have the right receptor to receive them.
How they work:
Your body notices something (perhaps it is time to wake up, eat, grow, respond to stress or ovulate).
A gland, organ or tissue releases a hormone (a chemical message).
The hormone can travel through your bloodstream around the body.
Cells with the matching receptor recognise the signal and can change what they are doing.
Body communication
Different parts of your body communicate using electrical and chemical signals. Your brain, nervous system and hormones use these signals to help control things like sleep, hunger, growth and your menstrual cycle.
Your body's notification system 🔔
Your brain, organs and body parts are constantly sending and receiving little updates, letting everyone know what is happening, when it is happening and who needs to do something about it.
Hormones don't mention everyone...
The relevant 'parts' get @tagged
Otherwise it would end up a bit like this:
Think of it like only the apps with notification permissions turned on can see it.
Wait… THAT’S a hormone thing?
You’ve already felt some of these body notifications. You just probably didn’t know who sent them.
You look at the time and realise you should have left ten minutes ago.
One second you’re fine. The next your stomach drops and suddenly your entire body is ready to MOVE.
She helps rapidly switch your body into “GO GO GO” mode (increasing readiness so you can react quickly).