To have mental stability and quality of life, practicing sports will be a great ally in achieving these goals, after all, during the exercises, some types of hormones will be produced and released in the body.
This is because with an active routine, the brain understands that there is a need to increase the sending of neurotransmitters to regulate the body’s vital functions and, in addition, provide a series of benefits related to well-being, the most common being satisfaction, happiness and relaxation.
If you are in the process of becoming an athlete, or just want some inspiration to keep training, check out the types of hormones that will be produced when practicing physical activity and how to notice them during or after exercise.
What are hormones?
Hormones are chemical substances produced by the endocrine system, with the main function of ‘sending messages’ to various parts of the body through the blood, performing important tasks such as supporting sexual reproduction and regulating bodily processes.
With the proper regular production of hormones, the body will be balanced and with vital functions in order, thus, it is possible to have controlled and well-developed physical and mental capacities.
Now, when practicing any sport, this hormonal production increases, positively impacting the athlete’s life with the benefits mentioned at the beginning of the text.
Therefore, it is possible to see that, if training is done with the appropriate intensity and in the appropriate sports schedule, the effort made during practice will provoke hormonal responses with physiological and psychological influence.
In other words, the hormones produced will be secreted into the blood during exercise and, thus, it will be possible to obtain more physical strength, muscle definition and other results that will vary according to each person’s personal objective.
What types of hormones are released during exercise?
When you train, your body will undergo changes that go beyond aesthetics. From improving your sleep to increasing your quality of life and well-being, continuous practice will balance your body in a healthy way, and hormones are the ones responsible for this harmony.
Stress reduction, improved cognition and attention are some of the many benefits that practicing sports can bring. And hormones are essential to achieving them. Below, see which are the main ones that can be produced or activated during exercise:
1. Adrenaline
Popularly known for putting people in a ‘state of alert’, adrenaline is the hormone responsible for flight or attack reactions, after all, it makes us adopt quick reactions in emergency situations, thus ensuring survival.
And during sports practice, it will be released into the blood so that your body is able to respond effectively to the stimuli of the activity, that is, it helps to keep the athlete alert, in addition to increasing heart rate and metabolic activities.
In this case, adrenaline is one of the types of hormones that is released in stressful and anxious situations, however, as it can be discharged into the body through a programmed activity, the brain will wear out this neurotransmitter to maintain ‘survival’ during training.
That’s why, when you train, you reduce and control anxiety attacks and other problems caused by mental illnesses.
2. Cortisol
Cortisol is known as the stress hormone, after all, it appears during peaks of tiredness or mental exhaustion. However, it has interesting functions for the body, if it is released in the right amount. It can maintain the proper functioning of the immune system, reduce inflammation and even control blood sugar.
During exercise, small amounts of cortisol can be released. This is because the body will be at its limit, and in order to have good recovery and even balance in the body, the hormone will be present to deliver the benefits mentioned above.
3. Endorphin
Endorphins are the body’s natural painkillers, responsible for relieving pain and reducing anxiety in everyday life. They are the main agents that provide a feeling of well-being and, consequently, an increase in physical and mental energy.
By reducing pain, endorphins help those who need to perform heavy tasks or exercises, contributing to the longevity of the practice. In addition, they improve motivation and performance, as they bring a feeling of pleasure during exercise.
Along with serotonin, endorphins promote feelings of reward. For this reason, they are known as one of the happiness hormones .
Finally, endorphin is one of the types of hormones that has an anti-aging effect, improves memory, increases the ability to concentrate, helps with intestinal function and reduces cholesterol.
4. Norepinephrine
Released together with adrenaline, noradrenaline will have similar effects to this hormone in the body. It is made available in the body during high-intensity exercises, especially because it is necessary to have strength to withstand the greater load or training volume.
As an impact, it can help increase energy expenditure, weight loss and can even help you have the energy to do other activities. The only caveat to this hormone is the amount released into the blood, as excess can cause bad mood, anxiety or stress.
5. Growth hormone
Now, growth hormone (or somatotropin (GH)) is produced by lipolysis, with the main function of stimulating tissue growth, that is, it is the hormone responsible for developing stature (height) according to each person’s individual genetics.
In sports, GH can be used in protein synthesis, as it helps improve the body’s conditions so that muscle fiber can be built. In addition, it optimizes training performance, as it reduces recovery time.
6. Serotonin
Finally, among the types of hormones produced during physical activity, we have serotonin, popularly known as the happiness hormone.
It helps with emotional stability and mood control, so it can be said that it maintains balanced mental health, with low stress levels. In addition, it helps control body temperature and cholesterol levels, also aiding in good digestion.
In sports, it appears in the middle of training, so when the feeling of duty accomplished arises and even when you feel that ‘gas’ to finish the practice, it is very likely that this hormone has been released into the bloodstream.
Therefore, to have daily energy and quality of life, sports will be an essential tool for the release of different types of hormones in your body. If you had doubts about the importance of physical activity, now you know why it is necessary to achieve the famous well-being.