Did you know that fat loss and muscle growth can depend on your growth hormone (GH) and testosterone (T)? Their interplay and fluctuation can cause either a muscular advantage of an array of issues such as low energy levels, poor metabolic rate and poor muscle recovery. Below are some of the hormones that play an important role in your bodybuilding efforts:
Testosterone (T)
Testosterone is the kind of all hormones in terms of helping you build a good muscle mass. You must keep your T level high to get constant results. You can boost your T levels by getting rests between workouts, maintaining a lean body weight, staying well-fed and supplementing with testosterone boosters.
Growth Hormones
These hormones stimulate growth, the production of body cells and the release of insulin-like growth factor. These hormones are important for fat burning and preventing muscle loss. Keeping a high level of these hormones helps in maintaining muscle tissue while exercising and dieting.
Estrogen
This hormone is mostly produced in females; however, also present in men to a lesser degree. It runs counter to fat loss and bodybuilding success. Too much estrogen in the body can even cause breast cancer and prostate cancer. Men who have a higher body fat percentage may have high estrogen levels. To gain lean muscles, men should have more T than estrogen. Those who have estrogen dominance should learn why bodybuilders take DIM pills. DIM means Diindolylmethane, a compound that helps in the metabolism of estrogen to become good estrogens. Aside from taking DIM supplements, there are also other ways to reduce estrogen levels such as:
- Reducing body fat.
- Consuming a diet high in cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli. (DIM is produced when these vegetables are metabolized).
- Limit the consumption of alcohol.
Cortisol
Cortisol is a stress hormone that may burn body fat. This is the reason some bodybuilders over train themselves to boost the production of this hormone. However, the effects are mostly not desirable. In fact, cortisol can shrink the thymus gland, the major immune system regulator, thus, signaling the shutdown of immune cells. As a result, the body becomes susceptible to diseases. Also, cortisol can promote muscle wastage, diabetes and fat gain, not to mention depression, insomnia and moodiness. The prevent cortisol accumulation, it is important to reduce stress, decrease caffeine intake, maintain a stable blood sugar level and get a good night’s sleep.
