Happy hormones can prevent digestive problems

Your digestive system does not work alone, but is assisted by various enzymes and hormones. Some of them play a direct role in the digestive process, including making you feel hungry and like certain foods.

Of the many hormones, which ones affect your digestive system the most?

Overview of digestive hormones

Hormones are chemicals that are produced by specialized cells called endocrine cells. Once produced, the hormones enter the bloodstream and are sent to the cells that need them. These cells then capture the hormone using receptors.

Once they reach cells, each type of hormone will work in different ways. There are hormones that form new proteins, activate enzymes, or make it easier to move substances out of and out of cells.

Digestive hormones are produced by epithelium cells in the lining of the stomach and small intestine. This hormone then enters the bloodstream and is circulated to the digestive tract, liver, pancreas, and other parts of the digestive system.

In carrying out its function, digestive hormones work together with the digestive nervous system. Both of them regulate appetite control, the process of digestion of food, energy balance, blood sugar levels, and others.

When the digestive process is in progress, the nervous system in the intestine will continue to send signals to the brain. These signals contain information about your digestive conditions as well as the amount and quality of the food you eat.

Hormones that affect digestion

There are many hormones that are associated with the digestive system. Some types of hormones work directly on the digestive process, but there are also hormones from other organ systems that play an indirect role.

Here are the most common hormones.

1. Ghrelin

Ghrelin is a hormone produced by the stomach, as well as the intestines, pancreas, and brain in small amounts. It has multiple functions, but ghrelin is best known as the "hunger hormone" because it stimulates appetite and increases food intake.

Most of the ghrelin production is influenced by food intake. The amount in your blood increases when you fast or haven't eaten for several hours. Then, the number will decrease as soon as the stomach begins to fill with food.

If you have trouble keeping up with hunger, ghrelin could be the mastermind. The amount of ghrelin increases when a person is on a diet. Perhaps this is also the reason why many people find it difficult to adhere to a diet by reducing food intake.

You can speed up the reduction in ghrelin by eating more fiber and protein than fat. The reason is, ghrelin actually increases fat storage so that it makes body weight tend to increase.

2. Gastrin

Gastrin is a digestive hormone produced by G cells in the lining of the stomach and upper part of the small intestine. This hormone stimulates the release of stomach acid which will be used to break down protein and kill germs in food.

Apart from that, gastrin also stimulates the release of pancreatic enzymes, emptying the gallbladder, movement of the intestinal muscles, and the formation of the lining of the stomach. The bile and digestive enzymes from the pancreas will later be used in the digestive process.

Gastrin production begins when the brain picks up on food. The stretched stomach muscles when grinding food also triggers the release of gastrin. The amount of this hormone only decreases once the stomach is empty and the pH becomes very acidic.

3. Cholecystokinin

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a digestive hormone produced by cell I in the 12 finger intestine. This hormone can slow gastric emptying, trigger bile excretion, and provide a brief feeling of fullness when eating.

The CCK hormone also stimulates the release of pancreatic fluids and enzymes in the digestive process. This is very important, because pancreatic enzymes are needed to digest carbohydrates, proteins and fats in food.

This hormone begins to be produced when fat and protein enter the stomach. About 15 minutes after eating, blood CCK levels will increase and only decrease three hours later. Its production decreases in the presence of the hormone somatostatin and bile.

4. Secretin

Secretin is produced by S cells in the lining of the duodenum. This hormone serves to stimulate the release of water and bicarbonate compounds from the pancreas. In addition, secretin is also known to slow gastric emptying.

Secretin production begins when the amount of stomach acid increases so that the pH of the stomach becomes very low. Meanwhile, bicarbonate is an alkaline substance. By stimulating the production of bicarbonate, secretin can neutralize stomach acid.

5. Pancreatic peptide YY (PYY)

Pancreatic peptide YY or peptide YY (PYY) is a digestive hormone produced by small intestine L cells, precisely at the end of the small intestine called the ileum (absorption intestine).

Once you finish eating, the small intestine will start producing PYY. This hormone then enters the bloodstream and binds to the nerve receptors of the brain. This causes a decrease in appetite so that you feel full.

6. Somatostatin

Somatostatin is a peptide hormone produced by small intestinal D cells. This hormone functions to inhibit the release of stomach acid and other digestive hormones, including ghrelin and gastrin.

The hormone somatostatin also slows down the movement of the gallbladder and intestines, and inhibits the release of the hormone lipase from the pancreas. This hormone is produced when you eat, especially when fat starts to enter the small intestine.

7. Serotonin

Known as the happy hormone, serotonin plays a stabilizing role mood, pleasure, and happiness. This hormone can increase the brain's ability to store memory and help regulate sleep and appetite.

Recently, a study again proved the ability of serotonin to maintain digestive health. It has been shown that serotonin can reduce the ability of various bacteria in the gut to cause infectious diseases.

From gene testing, it appears that serotonin has succeeded in reducing the expression (reaction process) of a group of genes used by bacteria to cause disease.

Additional experiments were carried out to test their effects in humans. After using human cells, the results also showed bacteria that had been exposed to serotonin could no longer produce lesions that caused infection.

Every day, the intestines produce more than 20 digestive hormones. Everything works with each other not only to make you craving for food, but also to carry out the digestive process so that the body can absorb the nutrients it needs.