Chemical:The human body has a variety of chemicals and hormones flowing through it. Of course, woman have a different set of chemicals than does men. Keeping these chemicals and hormones in balance is important for our health. Below is a list of some of the chemicals and hormones found in our bodies without respect to sex. I also include a list of foods the body uses to produce these. Certain effects and diseases occur if there is too much or too little of these chemicals and hormones. The discussion of diseases, cures and remedies is beyond the scope of this page. I doubt this list is exhaustive.
Serotonin: A neurotransmitter in the brain influencing healthy emotions. Symptoms of low serotonin levels include personality changes, depression, Bipolar disorder, chronic fatigue, sleep disorders and changes in appetite.
Foods helping the production of serotonin include: Vitamin B, cereals, whole grains, potatoes, liver, kidney beans, chicken, wheat germ, bananas, peanuts, eggs, mushrooms, watermelon, grapefruit, and dairy products.
Insulin: A hormone, produced by the pancreas regulating glucose into cells for energy. Insulin opens and closes little doorways in each cell allowing sucrose to enter the cell for energy. A drop in insulin may result in diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes: when the body’s immune system destroys the pancreas cells producing insulin.
Type 2 Diabetes: when the body’s cells ignore the insulin
Foods helping the production of insulin include: Natural occurring fiber: Most vegetables, berries, leafy greens.
Pituitary Hormones affects heart rate and blood pressure.
High protein foods: beef, fish, poultry, nuts and eggs.
Manganese: Leafy green, nuts, legumes and whole grains.
Vitamins: E and D
Metabolism Thyroid hormones: Too little: heart disease, fatigue, obesity Too much: Difficulty maintaining healthy weight.
Fish, dairy, oats, sesame seeds, bananas, avocados, almonds. Mustard greens, soybeans, spinach, and cabbage.
Other chemicals include estrogen and testosterone. These have already been discussed.
4) Psychological