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Testosterone

Testosterone

Higher levels of testosterone in the blood stream lead to bigger muscles and lower body fat levels. Testosterone is an anabolic steroid that is the principal male sex hormone. Though it is secreted by the adrenal glands it is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females. It is the primary muscle building hormone, and for this reason it is used by many bodybuilders.

Its key function is to maintain the health and well-being of men, and to lesser extent women. The male body produces an average of 40 to 60 times more testosterone than the female body, with women being more behaviourally sensitive to its effects. Apart from maintaining male characteristics it also helps stimulate protein synthesis which accounts for muscle growth.

There is much hype surrounding the use, benefits and disadvantages of testosterone. As recently as 10 years ago you would have been hard-pressed to find a bodybuilding outsider , who would recommend or endorse the use of testosterone to enhance one’s physique, but views are changing and one can more easily gain access to this and other products associated with increasing physique and muscle size and definition. It is however highly discouraged for use by anyone under the age of 25 as the hormone levels of teenagers and young adults are in delicate and precise balance.

While there is a variety of synthetic testosterone products available that pose obvious health risks (listed below), it is possible to significantly increase testosterone levels through proper diet and exercise techniques and therefore avoid the health disadvantages.

The anabolic steroids that athletes use are synthetic modifications of testosterone. These drugs were developed in an attempt to maximize the anabolic effects and minimize the androgenic effects of testosterone. As it turns out, these two actions of testosterone can't be separated.

Why are these drugs so appealing to athletes and bodybuilders? Besides making muscles bigger, anabolic steroids may help athletes recover from a hard workout more quickly by reducing the amount of muscle damage that occurs during the session. In addition, some athletes may like the aggressive feelings they get when they take the drugs.

Some of the most popular anabolic steroids pills are ZMA, Viraloid and Tribulus Terrestris, but while the advertising surrounding these products encourages  one to take advantage of their ‘benefits’ it is much safer to enhance testosterone level through natural means.

Almost all unwanted side effects of testosterone are caused by the androgenic properties of the hormone.

Some of the disadvantages of testosterone use are:

•    An increase in the level of testosterone in the system can cause an increased risk of prostate cancer
•    It has been shown to increase irritability levels of users
•    Acne
•    Bitter or strange taste in the mouth
•    Fatigue, hair-loss, headaches