By Juan Rojas
Introduction
Hormones play a very important role in our body. They are chemical substances produced by our own bodies that act as "messengers" in order to affect cells in other parts of our bodies. Hormones are responsible for things such as our growth, development, reproduction and our own behaviour. What's amazing about hormones is that they do this all on their own and we don't need to be telling them what to do. Now, most average males aren't really concerned with their hormone levels, but if you are a bodybuilder you should be. Hormones are directly responsible for the way your body uses food, growth, sex and the control of the hormones themselves, which means they are directly responsible for any muscle gains you make. Most hormones in the body are produced by organs called ductless glands, although some are also created by endocrine tissue in organs like the stomach and pancreas. Although many hormones are responsible for our progress in the gym, in more ways than just simple muscle growth, there is one that stands out, TESTOSTERONE.
Testosterone 101
Testosterone is a steroid hormone that is produced by the Leydig cells in the testes of males, more specifically it is a member of the androgenic group of steroid hormones. Steroid hormones are produced from cholesterol, which is a fatty substance obtained from certain foods you eat. There is a few intermediate steps which cholesterol goes through to be turned into testosterone, but to simplify things, we will not go in depth here. Androgens are responsible for the development and maintenance of male characteristics such as the male reproductive organ, hair growth, an enlarged larynx (or adam's apple), deepened voice and many many more. But the most important characteristic that concerns us bodybuilders is increased muscle mass and strength. According to Dr. West Conner, an average male produces between 3 mg and 10 mg of testosterone per day. This gives an average male levels that range between 300 and 1000 ng/dL (one nanogram per decalitre) of testosterone. After testosterone makes it to the blood stream, 95-98% is bound to proteins called albumin and globulin which protects testosterone from degeneration by the liver and kidneys and to make the testosterone soluble for being transported within the blood. The remaining testosterone is what is referred to as "free testosterone" which is the amount of testosterone that can actually interact with cells and be used towards physiological changes.
In order to regulate our testosterone levels from getting too high, our bodies naturally go through a very very complex process and I will try to sum it up as simple as possible. At many different times throughout the day the brain sends signals which lead to the hypothalamus (a part of the brain that regulates many hormones) to send a signal to the pituitary gland saying that testosterone needs to be created. Due to this event, the pituitary gland releases a hormone called gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). This hormone causes the gland to create luteinizing hormone(LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). LH then travels through our blood to the testes and it begins the production of testosterone from cholesterol. If our testosterone levels start getting too high, our pituitary gland will slow down the release of LH.
Seeing how complex testosterone is, and how many different steps it takes our bodies to create it, it is inevitable that many times people have low testosterone levels, and this can occur at any age. More surely, research has shown that once a male hits an age of about roughly 25, testosterone levels begin to drop slowly by about 1%-1.2% per year. Finding out each individuals testosterone levels is not exactly easy to do without a blood test, which can be done through a private medical corporation (in the U.S.) or in Canada through your family doctor. Although testosterone levels can vary between the time of day, it is believed according to many studies that testosterone levels peak in the morning, decline throughout the day, and peak again in the afternoon, so you should not base yourself after one reading, but more after a few taken at different times throughout the day.
Why Should I care about testosterone?
Increasing Testosterone Synthetically
This is the most assuring way to know that your testosterone will increase and it is also the only way to get your testosterone to levels so high that muscle size and performance will increase substantially way past levels you could ever naturally achieve. Increasing your testosterone synthetically involves the use of Anabolic Steroids. I am not promoting or condoning their use, but I will give you the facts on the most basic steroid, which is called, as you may have guessed, testosterone. Synthetic testosterone is medically prescribed at a low dose to males who have low levels of testosterone since low levels of testosterone are associated with: decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and depression. But the people who choose to use them for cosmetic purposes use a much higher dose, and since they are self medicating themselves, most of them do not seek proper bloodwork to see how exactly the body is reacting to the increased levels of testosterone. With high levels of testosterone you will notice your muscle mass increase at a very rapid rate, performance and strength in the gym is also greatly increased. Agression is a side effect, but I consider it to be beneficial if used properly INSIDE the gym, because the more aggressive you are the more intensity your workouts will have. Synthetic testosterone has great rewards, but once weighed against the negatives you may decide otherwise.
What happens when testosterone levels far surpass natural levels?
As with any drug, there are side effects, and these depend on the individual taking the drug. When the body senses that your testosterone levels are so high, it will try to counter this by releasing other hormones and trying to convert the extra testosterone to things like estrogen and DHT which are the main cause of some of the unwanted side effects many get from steroids. Although these side effects can be harsh, they can be prevented or minimized with the use of other drugs, and if one does happen to get a bad side effect, it will most likely go away once use of the synthetic testosterone is ceased. Most of the time the media blows the side effects way out of proportion, but these possible side effects may include:
-Acne
-High blood pressure
-Changes in your cholesterol
-Gynecomastia (or man breasts)
-Hair loss
-Liver damage
-Shrunken testicles
-Water retention
and testosterone supression. The use of exogenous testosterone will in fact make your body shut down its own production of testosterone. Since you are already obtaining it from an outside source, it sees no need in creating its own. This is why your testicles will shrink while you are using the synthetic hormone. Shutting down your natural hormone production, or how it is referred to medically as your Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis(HPTA), will in fact make you run the risk that it will not come back functioning properly after your steroid use. This can be minimized by not abusing the use of exogenous hormones but there is always a risk.
Increasing Testosterone Naturally
Although you won't see the benefits to the same degree as with using synthetic testosterone, doing everything possible to increase your testosterone naturally will make an impact in your life and in your physique.This is the safest way to increase testosterone with little to no side effects. When you increase testosterone naturally you don't have to worry about adverse health effects caused from taking synthetic hormones. Although there are reports of men saying the they developed gynecomastia after using over the counter products intended to increase testosterone naturally, these are very rare and the root of the cause has not been proven to be the products. Here are some ways you can increase your testosterone levels naturally:
-Getting Enough Sleep, this is fundamental to having higher testosterone levels, not to mention when you sleep, the greatest amount of growth hormone release and recovery takes place in your body. In a study done in 2001 by the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 10 healthy 20 year olds were examined with how their testosterone levels reacted to fragmented sleep, this led to no testosterone increase. These same individuals when examined with normal sleep patterns, were reported to have had increases of 20%-30% or more in their testoterone. So make sure you are getting your 7-8 hours of sleep nightly.
-Weight lifting, studies have shown that when your body is pushing heavy weights in the gym it releases higher levels of testosterone, specially with exercises that use a large amount of muscles at once, such as squats and deadlifts.
-Lower alcohol consumption, not only does alcohol lead to zinc depletion, but in a study conducted by Dr.A. Sierksma it was shown that individuals who drank 2-3 beers per day lowered their testosterone levels by 6.8% during a three week period. Not to mention, alcohol in excess also lowers protein synthesis which we learned, is crucial for muscle hypertrophy.
-Take in enough zinc, in a study of 88 men aged 40 to 60, it showed that those with normal testosterone levels had a much higher amount of zinc in them than those with low testosterone levels. Zinc was directly correlated with testosterone levels.
-Sex has been linked to increasing levels of testosterone.
-Proper diet, your diet is key to having higher levels of testosterone, make sure you are getting in things like lean beef and eggs, these contain fats and cholesterol which are crucial for making testosterone, how we mentioned before, Testosterone is made from cholesterol. Healthy fats like nuts and seeds have a very positive effect on your testosterone levels as well.
-Lower your stress levels, when you're under high levels of stress, your body releases a hormone called cortisol, and this hormone lowers the effects of testosterone.
-Supplementing with testosterone boosters, this is not a must, but to maximize your natural testosterone levels you can supplement with many herbs and products that are sold over the counter. Testosterone boosting blends are very expensive and made by many companies, but if you notice, they all use similar products in order to boost your testosterone, which can be bought separately at a cheaper price. These items may include, D-aspartic acid, tribulus, ZMA and many more.
Conclusion
We have seen the complex process that occurs when testosterone is made by the body and how testosterone is so important to build muscle mass. Testosterone is in my opinion the most important hormone in the process of building muscle, although there are many other hormones that play key roles as well. So House of Iron readers, I hope all of you got a small insight into how important testosterone is and as long as you keep training hard, keep eating right, and keep chasing your goals, you will get the physique of your dreams!
If you want me to write about a specific topic, experience or a specific supplement on this blog please let me know, your input and feedback is appreciated, comments can be made anonymous!
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testosterone
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/vm12.htm
http://www.medicinecoach.com/testosterone-basics/
http://www.harvardprostateknowledge.org/a-harvard-expert-shares-his-thoughts-on-testosterone-replacement-therapy
http://www.seekwellness.com/andropause/testosterone.htm
http://www.peaktestosterone.com/Testosterone_Levels_Male.aspx
http://www.peaktestosterone.com/Testosterone_Lower.aspx
http://www.peaktestosterone.com/How-To-Increase-Testosterone-Naturally.aspx
http://www.ehow.com/about_5173145_testosterone-muscle-growth_.html
http://www.timinvermont.com/fitness/test1.htm
http://www.faqs.org/sports-science/Mo-Pl/Muscle-Protein-Synthesis.html
http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/steroids.asp
http://www.steroid.com/effects_of_steroids.php
http://www.peaktestosterone.com/How-To-Increase-Testosterone-Naturally.aspx
\http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2012/07/27/increase-testosterone-levels.aspx
http://www.charlespoliquin.com/ArticlesMultimedia/Articles/Article/934/Five_Simple_Ways_to_Raise_Testosterone_Levels_for_.aspx
Journal of Clin Endo & Metab 86(3):1134f, 2001
Sierksma A, et al. Effect of moderate alcohol consumption on plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, testosterone, and estradiol levels in middle-aged men and postmenopausal women: a diet-controlled intervention study. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2004 May;28(5):780-5.
http://www.charlespoliquin.com/ArticlesMultimedia/Articles/Article/812/Top_Ten_Benefits_of_Zinc.aspx
Introduction
Hormones play a very important role in our body. They are chemical substances produced by our own bodies that act as "messengers" in order to affect cells in other parts of our bodies. Hormones are responsible for things such as our growth, development, reproduction and our own behaviour. What's amazing about hormones is that they do this all on their own and we don't need to be telling them what to do. Now, most average males aren't really concerned with their hormone levels, but if you are a bodybuilder you should be. Hormones are directly responsible for the way your body uses food, growth, sex and the control of the hormones themselves, which means they are directly responsible for any muscle gains you make. Most hormones in the body are produced by organs called ductless glands, although some are also created by endocrine tissue in organs like the stomach and pancreas. Although many hormones are responsible for our progress in the gym, in more ways than just simple muscle growth, there is one that stands out, TESTOSTERONE.
Testosterone 101
Testosterone is a steroid hormone that is produced by the Leydig cells in the testes of males, more specifically it is a member of the androgenic group of steroid hormones. Steroid hormones are produced from cholesterol, which is a fatty substance obtained from certain foods you eat. There is a few intermediate steps which cholesterol goes through to be turned into testosterone, but to simplify things, we will not go in depth here. Androgens are responsible for the development and maintenance of male characteristics such as the male reproductive organ, hair growth, an enlarged larynx (or adam's apple), deepened voice and many many more. But the most important characteristic that concerns us bodybuilders is increased muscle mass and strength. According to Dr. West Conner, an average male produces between 3 mg and 10 mg of testosterone per day. This gives an average male levels that range between 300 and 1000 ng/dL (one nanogram per decalitre) of testosterone. After testosterone makes it to the blood stream, 95-98% is bound to proteins called albumin and globulin which protects testosterone from degeneration by the liver and kidneys and to make the testosterone soluble for being transported within the blood. The remaining testosterone is what is referred to as "free testosterone" which is the amount of testosterone that can actually interact with cells and be used towards physiological changes.
In order to regulate our testosterone levels from getting too high, our bodies naturally go through a very very complex process and I will try to sum it up as simple as possible. At many different times throughout the day the brain sends signals which lead to the hypothalamus (a part of the brain that regulates many hormones) to send a signal to the pituitary gland saying that testosterone needs to be created. Due to this event, the pituitary gland releases a hormone called gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). This hormone causes the gland to create luteinizing hormone(LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). LH then travels through our blood to the testes and it begins the production of testosterone from cholesterol. If our testosterone levels start getting too high, our pituitary gland will slow down the release of LH.
Seeing how complex testosterone is, and how many different steps it takes our bodies to create it, it is inevitable that many times people have low testosterone levels, and this can occur at any age. More surely, research has shown that once a male hits an age of about roughly 25, testosterone levels begin to drop slowly by about 1%-1.2% per year. Finding out each individuals testosterone levels is not exactly easy to do without a blood test, which can be done through a private medical corporation (in the U.S.) or in Canada through your family doctor. Although testosterone levels can vary between the time of day, it is believed according to many studies that testosterone levels peak in the morning, decline throughout the day, and peak again in the afternoon, so you should not base yourself after one reading, but more after a few taken at different times throughout the day.
Why Should I care about testosterone?
After all this information you may think, "why should I care so much about testosterone if my body automatically does this process?" Well, as we have mentioned before, there are many advantages to having high levels within the normal ranges of testosterone, things like normal sperm development, increased libido, increased self confidence and the two we're mostly interested in, INCREASED MUSCLE MASS AND IMPROVED ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE. Testosterone increases muscle mass by increasing the rate of protein synthesis in the body (another complex topic for another day, but increased protein synthesis is something that is crucial for gaining muscle) allowing you to build muscle size. To sum Protein synthesis up, it is the method by which muscles are built, the human body uses protein and synthesizes it in order to grow, so we want this to be to the highest degree possible. When we look at the definition of steroids (or better said Anabolic Androgenic Substances) according to the University of Maryland it is: any drug(s) (other then estrogens, progestins, and corticosteroids) or hormonal substance(s), chemically related to testosterone, a male hormone that promotes muscle growth. If Anabolic Steroids are all based on testosterone, then testosterone must be a very important factor in muscle growth and improved performance. Now that we've seen why we should care so much about testosterone, let's see two methods on how we can increase testosterone and the side effects they may have.
Increasing Testosterone Synthetically
This is the most assuring way to know that your testosterone will increase and it is also the only way to get your testosterone to levels so high that muscle size and performance will increase substantially way past levels you could ever naturally achieve. Increasing your testosterone synthetically involves the use of Anabolic Steroids. I am not promoting or condoning their use, but I will give you the facts on the most basic steroid, which is called, as you may have guessed, testosterone. Synthetic testosterone is medically prescribed at a low dose to males who have low levels of testosterone since low levels of testosterone are associated with: decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and depression. But the people who choose to use them for cosmetic purposes use a much higher dose, and since they are self medicating themselves, most of them do not seek proper bloodwork to see how exactly the body is reacting to the increased levels of testosterone. With high levels of testosterone you will notice your muscle mass increase at a very rapid rate, performance and strength in the gym is also greatly increased. Agression is a side effect, but I consider it to be beneficial if used properly INSIDE the gym, because the more aggressive you are the more intensity your workouts will have. Synthetic testosterone has great rewards, but once weighed against the negatives you may decide otherwise.
What happens when testosterone levels far surpass natural levels?
As with any drug, there are side effects, and these depend on the individual taking the drug. When the body senses that your testosterone levels are so high, it will try to counter this by releasing other hormones and trying to convert the extra testosterone to things like estrogen and DHT which are the main cause of some of the unwanted side effects many get from steroids. Although these side effects can be harsh, they can be prevented or minimized with the use of other drugs, and if one does happen to get a bad side effect, it will most likely go away once use of the synthetic testosterone is ceased. Most of the time the media blows the side effects way out of proportion, but these possible side effects may include:
-Acne
-High blood pressure
-Changes in your cholesterol
-Gynecomastia (or man breasts)
-Hair loss
-Liver damage
-Shrunken testicles
-Water retention
and testosterone supression. The use of exogenous testosterone will in fact make your body shut down its own production of testosterone. Since you are already obtaining it from an outside source, it sees no need in creating its own. This is why your testicles will shrink while you are using the synthetic hormone. Shutting down your natural hormone production, or how it is referred to medically as your Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis(HPTA), will in fact make you run the risk that it will not come back functioning properly after your steroid use. This can be minimized by not abusing the use of exogenous hormones but there is always a risk.
Increasing Testosterone Naturally
Although you won't see the benefits to the same degree as with using synthetic testosterone, doing everything possible to increase your testosterone naturally will make an impact in your life and in your physique.This is the safest way to increase testosterone with little to no side effects. When you increase testosterone naturally you don't have to worry about adverse health effects caused from taking synthetic hormones. Although there are reports of men saying the they developed gynecomastia after using over the counter products intended to increase testosterone naturally, these are very rare and the root of the cause has not been proven to be the products. Here are some ways you can increase your testosterone levels naturally:
-Getting Enough Sleep, this is fundamental to having higher testosterone levels, not to mention when you sleep, the greatest amount of growth hormone release and recovery takes place in your body. In a study done in 2001 by the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 10 healthy 20 year olds were examined with how their testosterone levels reacted to fragmented sleep, this led to no testosterone increase. These same individuals when examined with normal sleep patterns, were reported to have had increases of 20%-30% or more in their testoterone. So make sure you are getting your 7-8 hours of sleep nightly.
-Weight lifting, studies have shown that when your body is pushing heavy weights in the gym it releases higher levels of testosterone, specially with exercises that use a large amount of muscles at once, such as squats and deadlifts.
-Lower alcohol consumption, not only does alcohol lead to zinc depletion, but in a study conducted by Dr.A. Sierksma it was shown that individuals who drank 2-3 beers per day lowered their testosterone levels by 6.8% during a three week period. Not to mention, alcohol in excess also lowers protein synthesis which we learned, is crucial for muscle hypertrophy.
-Take in enough zinc, in a study of 88 men aged 40 to 60, it showed that those with normal testosterone levels had a much higher amount of zinc in them than those with low testosterone levels. Zinc was directly correlated with testosterone levels.
-Sex has been linked to increasing levels of testosterone.
-Proper diet, your diet is key to having higher levels of testosterone, make sure you are getting in things like lean beef and eggs, these contain fats and cholesterol which are crucial for making testosterone, how we mentioned before, Testosterone is made from cholesterol. Healthy fats like nuts and seeds have a very positive effect on your testosterone levels as well.
-Lower your stress levels, when you're under high levels of stress, your body releases a hormone called cortisol, and this hormone lowers the effects of testosterone.
-Supplementing with testosterone boosters, this is not a must, but to maximize your natural testosterone levels you can supplement with many herbs and products that are sold over the counter. Testosterone boosting blends are very expensive and made by many companies, but if you notice, they all use similar products in order to boost your testosterone, which can be bought separately at a cheaper price. These items may include, D-aspartic acid, tribulus, ZMA and many more.
Conclusion
We have seen the complex process that occurs when testosterone is made by the body and how testosterone is so important to build muscle mass. Testosterone is in my opinion the most important hormone in the process of building muscle, although there are many other hormones that play key roles as well. So House of Iron readers, I hope all of you got a small insight into how important testosterone is and as long as you keep training hard, keep eating right, and keep chasing your goals, you will get the physique of your dreams!
If you want me to write about a specific topic, experience or a specific supplement on this blog please let me know, your input and feedback is appreciated, comments can be made anonymous!
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testosterone
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/vm12.htm
http://www.medicinecoach.com/testosterone-basics/
http://www.harvardprostateknowledge.org/a-harvard-expert-shares-his-thoughts-on-testosterone-replacement-therapy
http://www.seekwellness.com/andropause/testosterone.htm
http://www.peaktestosterone.com/Testosterone_Levels_Male.aspx
http://www.peaktestosterone.com/Testosterone_Lower.aspx
http://www.peaktestosterone.com/How-To-Increase-Testosterone-Naturally.aspx
http://www.ehow.com/about_5173145_testosterone-muscle-growth_.html
http://www.timinvermont.com/fitness/test1.htm
http://www.faqs.org/sports-science/Mo-Pl/Muscle-Protein-Synthesis.html
http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/steroids.asp
http://www.steroid.com/effects_of_steroids.php
http://www.peaktestosterone.com/How-To-Increase-Testosterone-Naturally.aspx
\http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2012/07/27/increase-testosterone-levels.aspx
http://www.charlespoliquin.com/ArticlesMultimedia/Articles/Article/934/Five_Simple_Ways_to_Raise_Testosterone_Levels_for_.aspx
Journal of Clin Endo & Metab 86(3):1134f, 2001
Sierksma A, et al. Effect of moderate alcohol consumption on plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, testosterone, and estradiol levels in middle-aged men and postmenopausal women: a diet-controlled intervention study. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2004 May;28(5):780-5.
http://www.charlespoliquin.com/ArticlesMultimedia/Articles/Article/812/Top_Ten_Benefits_of_Zinc.aspx
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