When one refers to steroids, in most cases they are referring to drugs or supplements that boost the levels of certain hormones in the human body. While this is one definition of steroids, natural steroids can actually refer to these hormones in their original state. You see, things like testosterone and estrogen can actually be considered steroids - despite the fact that the body produces them on their own. Learning how to work with our natural steroids is a great way to improve our overall health. Furthermore, there are a number of natural alternatives to steroids that can boost the balances of our endogenous (naturally-produced) steroids. In this article, we’ll discuss all these topics so you can have a better - and safer - idea of how to manage your hormonal health. Table of Contents
What are natural steroids
When you’re talking about natural steroids, you’re likely going to be talking about one of two things.
- The naturally-produced steroids that the human body makes - things like testosterone or estrogen
- Natural androgens or other hormone-boosting substances that can elevate the amounts of hormones present in the human body
There are lots of natural steroids out there, and many natural substances that can improve levels of the steroids that your body actually produces.
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First off, we’re going to discuss some of the most important natural steroids and how they influence your endocrine (hormonal) systems.
Testosterone
In regards to bodybuilding, testosterone is the most frequently discussed and well-understood. This is because testosterone has the most influence on muscle building and can have a significant influence on the effects of your workouts. Testosterone is synthesized from cholesterol and is involved in a number of bodily processes, ranging from regulating our sexual health, our muscle growth, our energy levels, and the growth of body hair. There are a number of other vitamins and minerals involved in the production and maintenance of testosterone levels, including zinc, magnesium, and vitamin D. Having a deficiency of any of these nutrients can have an impact on healthy T levels.
Cholesterol
Many people refer to cholesterol as a steroid, though this isn’t actually the case. Rather, cholesterol is involved in the production of all the steroid hormones that are found in the human body. Studies have shown that reduced levels of cholesterol, such as that which can occur after taking cholesterol-reducing medication, can have an adverse influence on the production of hormones
in an individual.
Estrogen
Estrogen is present in women more so than it is in men, and is involved in a number of functions that are important for both genders. The
primary functions of estrogen include the development of breasts, the regulation of the woman’s menstrual cycle, the maintenance and growth and sperm and the regulation of libido. Estrogen can also cause men to grow breasts, and this is one of the reasons it’s generally demonized in the bodybuilding world.
Cortisol
Cortisol is generally referred to as ‘
the stress hormone,’ and for good reason. Cortisol is responsible for the psychological influences and physical changes caused by stress; high levels of cortisol usually result in stress symptoms and the opposite is also true.
Steroids functions in the body
There are a number of different functions that steroids perform in the human body. Each steroid is responsible for a number of different things, and each is important to maintain an optimal balance.
Testosterone
- Responsible for the development of male reproductive tissues - the testes, the prostate, etc
- Involved in the production of ‘masculine’ sexual characteristics, such as muscle and bone mass
- Involved in the growth of body hair
- Involved in the maintenance of libido and sexual health
- Has an influence on cognitive health
Cholesterol
- Involved in the maintenance of cell membranes
- Involved in the production of all essential hormones
- Involved in the digestion of food
Estrogen
- Involved in the maintenance of libido and sexual health
- Regulates the menstrual cycle
- Helps women growth their uterine lining
- Affects primarily female sexual traits, such as hip width, pubic hair, and breast develop
Cortisol
- Involved in the regulation and expression of stress
- Helps regulate blood sugar levels
- Involved in the maintenance of metabolism
- Improves memory levels
- Helps fight inflammation in the body
How to produce more natural steroids
If you want to have more natural steroids for muscle growth, there are a lot of ways that you can do this by making simple lifestyle choices. While natural steroids pills can be a viable alternative, if you’re hoping to go the safest and healthiest way, you should consider the following ways of boosting steroid levels. Exercises that help produce testosterone in the body There are a number of exercises that can be particularly useful for helping to increase the amount of testosterone that your body produces.
Strength and Resistance Training
Strength training is generally recognized as being one of the most effective natural ways to enhance levels of testosterone. All forms of exercise can boost levels of testosterone at least temporarily, however, some forms of exercise are more effective. Doing strength training, also referred to as
resistance training, can be highly effective for helping to boost levels of hormones in the body. Strength training is generally regarded as exercises that are highly intense, causing you to ‘max out’ in a shorter period of time.
Diet
Think about it - our body produces hormones. That means that we need a certain amount of nutrients to provide the building blocks for our body to make these hormones. Changing our diet can be one of the most effective things for helping to enhance our hormonal health. In regards to testosterone in specific, there are a number of nutrients that are required for the body to produce it.
- Vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to issues in the production of testosterone.
- Zinc. Zinc is highly involved in the maintenance of our sexual health overall, as well as the production of testosterone.
- Cholesterol. Cholesterol is required for the synthesis of sex hormones. High cholesterol levels have been associated with higher T levels.
Natural steroids in food
Now that you know that there are some nutrients that the body requires to make testosterone, it stands to reason that you can improve the testosterone production in your body by getting a diet rich in nutrients that promote testosterone growth. These are some of the foods that are best for increasing levels of testosterone.
Bananas
Bananas are rich in potassium. Potassium has been shown to decrease levels of testosterone
in rats, and it stands to reason that this could also be true in humans. Eating bananas might help regulate testosterone levels.
Eggs
Eggs are a very rich source of cholesterol, which as we have discussed is a very important nutrient for the production of testosterone. The yolks are a great source of vitamin D which is also important for the production of testosterone.
Spinach
Spinach is a great source of folate, which can help enhance blood flow to the genitals. This might not boost T directly, but can certainly enhance
sexual function.
Quinoa
Quinoa is another food that’s rich in nutrients and amino acids that can help to enhance the production of sex hormones like testosterone.
Wild oats
Wild oats are a great source of nutrients, and they have been associated with improvement in erectile dysfunction thanks to the L-arginine that they contain.
Oysters
Oysters are one of the best sources of zinc on the planet, and they have traditionally been associated with improved sexual health and sexual function.
Avocado
Avocados are another type of food that is rich in healthy fats, as well as potassium and vitamins. They are also associated with increased libido.
Fava Beans
Beans are a great source of a number of testosterone-healthy nutrients such as vitamin D and zinc.
Figs
Figs are rich in amino acids that can be useful for helping improve sexual health and testosterone production.
Natural bodybuilding steroids
There are lots of natural bodybuilding steroid supplements that you can take to help encourage your body to produce testosterone more easily. Many of these natural alternatives to steroids are much safer. They might not be as powerful as some anabolic steroids, but they’ll provide you with a number of similar benefits with a lot less risk. One of the most effective and reliable supplements for boosting testosterone is known as TestoGen. TestoGen combines a number of natural ingredients that can help
boost T levels and libido.
- Red ginseng extract has been used for thousands of years as a libido booster.
- Vitamin B6, which encourages good blood flow and health.
- Fenugreek, an herb that has been linked with increased libido.
- Zinc, which as we’ve discussed is vital for the production of testosterone
These ingredients, and many more, work together to provide the optimal nutritional intake for your body to produce testosterone. See also:
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