Hormones are important for controlling how our body uses energy. They change a lot depending on what’s happening inside us. Let’s break it down in simpler terms:

1. Fasting vs. Fed States

• Fed State: When you eat food, a hormone called insulin is in charge. Insulin helps our cells take in sugar (glucose) for energy. It also helps store any extra energy as glycogen (which is like a quick energy reserve) and fat.

• Fasting State: When we haven’t eaten for a while, another hormone called glucagon takes over. It helps release sugar from where it's stored (glycogen) and gets the body to break down fat for energy instead.

2. Exercise

• When we exercise, adrenaline (also known as epinephrine) goes up in our body. This hormone:
  • Makes our heart beat faster
  • Helps break down glycogen for energy
  • Releases fats so we can use them for energy

3. Stress

• When we feel stressed, our body produces more cortisol. This hormone:
  • Helps create sugar (glucose) from sources that aren’t carbohydrates
  • Affects how our body uses fat, which can change our weight.

4. Growth and Development

• Growth hormone (GH) is important when we are growing. It helps our body build proteins and use fat for energy.

In short, hormones like insulin, glucagon, adrenaline, cortisol, and growth hormone work closely together based on what our body needs. This constant play between hormones is what makes our metabolism so interesting!