Let's talk about hormones today. Yes, steroidal hormones. Remember when I blogged about cholesterol last month and how important it is for our body? Steroid hormones are derived from cholesterol. Cholesterol is the precursor for all steroidal hormones.
Steroids are some of the most intriguing of all hormones. Unlike other classes of anabolic or fat burning hormones, the steroid group exhibits diverse and sometimes contradictory actions. In general, the main function of steroid hormones is to develop and maintain a mature and vigorous body. Some steroids are responsible for stress reactions and regulation of blood sugar, where others are responsible for the regulation of minerals. But, the most 'notorious' steroids are the sex hormones androgens and estrogens.
Androgens, are regarded as the most potent libido enhancers and muscle builders. Nonetheless, it is the balance of all steroid hormones, including female hormones, stress hormones and mineralocorticoids, that determines how the body reacts to stress, builds tissue, and sustains life.
Androgens have a long lasting impact on the body. Their actions can be prolonged for hours or days, making them the most effective anabolic agents. However, as steady and potent as they are, the impact of these anabolic steroids is not as immediate as other hormones such as growth hormone, adrenaline or insulin. In fact, their impact on the body occurs in a delayed fashion. Often, people can't gain muscle or lose fat because of certain hormonal imbalance or deficiencies. Let's discuss a bit more on steroid hormones' actions and their practical application to muscle gain and overall health.
Now, the switch that turns on steroid hormone synthesis is cellular factor cAMP. cAMP and its related enzyme induce the release of steroid-stimulating hormones from the pituitary gland. These peptides stimulating hormones signal the gonads and adrenal glands to synthesize the steroid hormones.
Steroid production depends upon cholesterol synthesis in the mitochondria cells that manufacture steroid hormones, typically located in the gonad and adrenals glands. The conversion of cholesterol to steroid hormones involves producing steroid hormone called pregnenolone, 'the mother of all steroid hormones'.
Steroidal activity can be stimulated by fasting, undereating and exercise, all of which are cAMP inducers. Here is how this process works. Lack of food and hunger, increase the level of cellular cAMP, which then induces steroid hormone synthesis. cAMP catalyzes as enzyme that increases available cholesterol concentration, the substrate to steroid hormone synthesis. cAMP also increases the activity of steroid producing enzymes by binding to specific genes that increase levels of these enzymes and therefore enchance steroid hormone synthesis.
I would like to take chance to share with you guys, about the relation of high mitochondrial capacity, which is required for proper steroidal impact. The mitochondria are energy producing organelles inside the cell, responsible for energy production, particularly from fat. High mitochondrial capacity increases fat utilization and thereby helps promote steroid hormone synthesis. The first critical stage of steroid hormone synthesis involves the conversion of cholesterol into pregnenolone in the mitochondria of steroid producing cells.
Mitochondrial damage caused by toxicity, aging, or lack of essential nutrients and antioxidants can lead to lower mitochondrial capacity, which may result in steroid hormone decline, loss of muscle mass, general weakness and overall metabolic decline as well. Bear in mind, there is positive correlation between essential antioxidant and detoxifying nutrients and the capacity to develop a healthy and muscular body.
Next, lets talk a bit about how dietary fat and cholesterol could affect steroid hormones. Consumption of fats and carbs should then be intelligently manipulated to ensure proper utilization and to prevent insulin resistance as well as over accumulation of lipids that may impair steroid hormone synthesis and potential muscle gain. Prolonged low fat low calorie diets may suppress steroid actions because of a lack of dietary fat, cholesterol and energy needed for steroid production. In fact, in healthy individuals, a high fat meals can help promote steroid production as long as calorie supply is sufficient.
In times when eating in moderation is considered to be healthiest, it may seem wrong to advise people to overeat. Nervertheless, overeating if done properly, can be the most effective way to boost steroidal actions, enhance libido and maximize growth potential.
Moving on, I would like to share with you of how we could take advantage of steroid hormone actions. Anyone heard of androgen? For men reading this right now, SHOULD know about androgen. Well, androgen production depends on the rate of energy production. High energy turnover is a metabolic state that involves high energy intake and high energy expenditure. High energy turnover forces the body to mobilize fat with its cholesterol carrier through the blood to the muscles and liver, where it converts to energy, thus depleting cellular cholesterol levels while enchancing steroid hormone production.
Any exercise method that forces development of muscle with high mitochondrial density, will naturally increase the body's capacity to absorb and spend energy. Again, improvement in fat and cholesterol utilization by virtue of improved energy utilization will most likely help sustain peak steroidal activity.
Sex hormones! Yes, almost everyone loves to read or listen to topics or discussions which relate to sex. But guys, I'm not revealing any secrets on how to cure ED or how to maximize arousal or pleasure levels, but the following discussion will be about our sex hormones and how we can take advantage or its steroidal actions.Sorry to disappoint the male readers out there, but if I have the time one day, I may write about the cause of reproductive dysfunction, which involve erectile dsyfunction, infertility in both men and women, low libido levels, etc.
Now, sex hormones have a profound impact on the body, defining gender, body composition, virility and tissues regeneration. For instance, androgens are considered to be the most anabolic tissue building hormones. The names 'testosterone' and 'estrogen' are perhaps the most familiar of hormones among the general population, with the exception of well known adrenaline hormone. But how much do you know about testosterone and estrogen?
There is still much of confusion about the biological functions of both these hormones. It is clear that both hormone levels decline with age, leading to loss of muscle and bone mass, gain and retention of fat, overall metabolic decline, and increased vulnerability to disease.
Male and female produce both hormones. Testosterone, the male hormone, plays a critical role in women's bodies, as does estrogen in men. The female hormone estrogen is necessary for regulation of critical metabolic actions in men's bodies. Do you know that sex steroid hormones can convert to one another? For instance, testosterone can be converted into estrogen, and this process can cause feminization of the male body, including stubborn fat gain, declining testosterone levels, loss of muscle mass and impaired physical and sexual performance as well.
This very process, can be devastating to female's body too. When occurring in excess, it can lead to hormonal disorders, undesirable weight gain, and formation of tumors. Taking advantage of steroid hormone actions, requires more than just an increase in their levels. In fact, too high of testosterone levels may adversely affect its anabolic actions. To manipulate anabolic steroid hormones, you should first try to understand how they are regulated in your body.
To be continued...
Steroidal activity can be stimulated by fasting, undereating and exercise, all of which are cAMP inducers. Here is how this process works. Lack of food and hunger, increase the level of cellular cAMP, which then induces steroid hormone synthesis. cAMP catalyzes as enzyme that increases available cholesterol concentration, the substrate to steroid hormone synthesis. cAMP also increases the activity of steroid producing enzymes by binding to specific genes that increase levels of these enzymes and therefore enchance steroid hormone synthesis.
I would like to take chance to share with you guys, about the relation of high mitochondrial capacity, which is required for proper steroidal impact. The mitochondria are energy producing organelles inside the cell, responsible for energy production, particularly from fat. High mitochondrial capacity increases fat utilization and thereby helps promote steroid hormone synthesis. The first critical stage of steroid hormone synthesis involves the conversion of cholesterol into pregnenolone in the mitochondria of steroid producing cells.
Mitochondrial damage caused by toxicity, aging, or lack of essential nutrients and antioxidants can lead to lower mitochondrial capacity, which may result in steroid hormone decline, loss of muscle mass, general weakness and overall metabolic decline as well. Bear in mind, there is positive correlation between essential antioxidant and detoxifying nutrients and the capacity to develop a healthy and muscular body.
Next, lets talk a bit about how dietary fat and cholesterol could affect steroid hormones. Consumption of fats and carbs should then be intelligently manipulated to ensure proper utilization and to prevent insulin resistance as well as over accumulation of lipids that may impair steroid hormone synthesis and potential muscle gain. Prolonged low fat low calorie diets may suppress steroid actions because of a lack of dietary fat, cholesterol and energy needed for steroid production. In fact, in healthy individuals, a high fat meals can help promote steroid production as long as calorie supply is sufficient.
In times when eating in moderation is considered to be healthiest, it may seem wrong to advise people to overeat. Nervertheless, overeating if done properly, can be the most effective way to boost steroidal actions, enhance libido and maximize growth potential.
Moving on, I would like to share with you of how we could take advantage of steroid hormone actions. Anyone heard of androgen? For men reading this right now, SHOULD know about androgen. Well, androgen production depends on the rate of energy production. High energy turnover is a metabolic state that involves high energy intake and high energy expenditure. High energy turnover forces the body to mobilize fat with its cholesterol carrier through the blood to the muscles and liver, where it converts to energy, thus depleting cellular cholesterol levels while enchancing steroid hormone production.
Any exercise method that forces development of muscle with high mitochondrial density, will naturally increase the body's capacity to absorb and spend energy. Again, improvement in fat and cholesterol utilization by virtue of improved energy utilization will most likely help sustain peak steroidal activity.
Sex hormones! Yes, almost everyone loves to read or listen to topics or discussions which relate to sex. But guys, I'm not revealing any secrets on how to cure ED or how to maximize arousal or pleasure levels, but the following discussion will be about our sex hormones and how we can take advantage or its steroidal actions.Sorry to disappoint the male readers out there, but if I have the time one day, I may write about the cause of reproductive dysfunction, which involve erectile dsyfunction, infertility in both men and women, low libido levels, etc.
Now, sex hormones have a profound impact on the body, defining gender, body composition, virility and tissues regeneration. For instance, androgens are considered to be the most anabolic tissue building hormones. The names 'testosterone' and 'estrogen' are perhaps the most familiar of hormones among the general population, with the exception of well known adrenaline hormone. But how much do you know about testosterone and estrogen?
There is still much of confusion about the biological functions of both these hormones. It is clear that both hormone levels decline with age, leading to loss of muscle and bone mass, gain and retention of fat, overall metabolic decline, and increased vulnerability to disease.
Male and female produce both hormones. Testosterone, the male hormone, plays a critical role in women's bodies, as does estrogen in men. The female hormone estrogen is necessary for regulation of critical metabolic actions in men's bodies. Do you know that sex steroid hormones can convert to one another? For instance, testosterone can be converted into estrogen, and this process can cause feminization of the male body, including stubborn fat gain, declining testosterone levels, loss of muscle mass and impaired physical and sexual performance as well.
This very process, can be devastating to female's body too. When occurring in excess, it can lead to hormonal disorders, undesirable weight gain, and formation of tumors. Taking advantage of steroid hormone actions, requires more than just an increase in their levels. In fact, too high of testosterone levels may adversely affect its anabolic actions. To manipulate anabolic steroid hormones, you should first try to understand how they are regulated in your body.
To be continued...
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