Hormones are chemicals pumped out by one tissue or gland that travel through blood or body fluids to reach another part of the body. There, they instruct targeted cells to produce some other chemical or action. While food components aren't produced in the body, they can elicit specific reactions from cells, making them much like hormones. 

This gives rise to the metaphor of food as hormones. Amino acids can activate a chain reaction of events in cells related to cell growth and insulin. Vitamin D and other vitamins are involved with the body's immune response. These interactions help us understand the key role that food plays in cell receptor interactions.

During pregnancy, this hormonal imbalance is even more pronounced, which makes inadequate intakes of specific micronutrients a very common risk. Hence, it is vital that we are attuned to our food habits and make sure we are eating all the necessary foods to revitalise ourselves.

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