Epinephrine , norepinephrine , and other catecholamines are secreted in response to everything from extreme pleasure to increased cold. Their release into the blood gives the body a rapid energetic boost, increasing the basal metabolic rate. The adrenal glands also secrete a family of steroids called corticosteroids. Two main types in humans are the glucocorticoids and the mineralocorticoids. The primary effect of glucocorticoids is on bioenergetics, specifically on glucose metabolism.
Mineralocorticoids have their major effects on salt and water balance.