Happy Hormone - Is it Real?

The Happy Hormone is like the Holy Grail; everyone wants to be happy but many people feel unhappy without knowing why. It's not something you can put your finger on, or is it? If you are feeling tired, moody, anxious, depressed or have low energy levels post Menopause then maybe you have a hormone imbalance. Some candidates for the happy hormone are Serotonin, Melatonin and Progesterone.

What is a hormone? Quote from Wikipedia:

"A hormone is a chemical released by one or more cells that affects cells in other parts of the organism. Only a small amount of hormone is required to alter cell metabolism. It is essentially a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one cell to another. All multicellular organisms produce hormones. Cells respond to a hormone when they express a specific receptor for that hormone. The hormone binds to the receptor protein, resulting in the activation of a signal transduction mechanism that ultimately leads to cell type-specific responses." In other words, it is a chemical released by one type of cell that attaches to another kind of cell, causing that cell to react. Clearly a loss of hormones equates to a loss of that ability. Do you care? Yes; read on:

What about those hormones?

Serotonin is found in the gut and the central nervous system. In the central nervous system it has multiple tasks of regulating moods, appetite, sleep, anxiety, depression and more. It's not so much that Serotonin is the "Happy Hormone", but rather the lack of Serotonin causes many of those bad symptoms to appear. In order to get your moods back into balance it is required for Serotonin to get back into balance. Sunlight is a natural catalyst for Serotonin production. Serotonin doesn't make you happy it just makes you less unhappy or less depressed or less anxious. It has the same effect as money. Money can't make you happy but it can remove many of the issues that make you unhappy.

Melatonin has multiple purposes being associated primarily with synchronization of the biological clock and as an antioxidant. Melatonin is produced from Serotonin during low light conditions and is produced naturally when darkness falls. There is an obvious connection to Melatonin helping us to fall asleep. During periods of darkness it will induce sleepiness and, while you are asleep, goes about the business of cleaning up free radicals. In terms of mood and tiredness it is clearly a regulator that helps one to sleep and, as a healing agent, the "capture" and disposal of free radicals is clearly beneficial.

Progesterone is not just a female hormone, although mostly associated with Estrogen. Males also produce Progesterone. Progesterone levels in both are associated with reproductive organs and levels will drop as male Testosterone and female Estrogen levels fall off after male and female menopause. Yes, there is a male menopause. The affect of this reduction is a reduction in Progesterone's regulatory capabilities among other things, production of Myelin (the protective sheath around nerve cells) and therefore low Progesterone is associated with memory loss. It has a role in raising metabolism and also new skin cell growth. You could say if you are interested in retaining your memory, your energy level and want a glowing skin then loss of Progesterone during Menopause is your enemy. Progesterone has been found in nature, Yams being one source, though synthesis in the human body requires consumption with some fats to facilitate transportation. If feeling tired, moody, anxious, depressed, forgetful or having low energy levels after menopause causes you to be unhappy then maybe hormone therapy is for you. It may not make you happy but it may just remove those unhappy symptoms.

The happy hormone does not exist but hormones capable of removing some causes of unhappiness do exist.

Wikipedia hormone definition