subject: Testosterone And Performance [print this page] Both physical performance and physical appearance are related to testosterone levels in men. The use of testosterone supplements is not uncommon, as they can lead to a number of desired outcomes for the men or women who might take them, usually relating to physical performance. Testosterone is an anabolic hormone naturally made in the body's testes and adrenal glands. It is responsible for certain natural characteristics, including fitness and strength, sex drive, competitive feelings and bone density. Normally, testosterone levels are higher in men than women throughout life, even though they tend to drop off in men after their mid 20s.
Testosterone is also responsible for puberty in girls and boys, including growth spurts and normal sexual development. For some unknown reason, some produce less than others, and while this is not usually a problem, it can lead to a deficiency in some. Lowered levels, and testosterone deficiency is characterized by a loss in muscle and bone density, increase in fat weight, fatigue, a low libido, wrinkled skin, and depression.
This sort of deficiency can be relieved by using a testosterone supplement, which will reverse the effects of a deficiency. It has recently been found that increases in testosterone levels results in improved hand-eye coordination and increases in a healthy body-fat composition. This is to say that testosterone is an essential hormone which does do the body good. Athletic performance is also usually increased with a healthy level of testosterone, which is why it is often used by athletes. It helps to develop muscle and bone strength, leading to improved results.
For athletes, taking supplements which lead to performance enhancement provides an unnatural advantage. Testosterone supplementation is generally banned in most sport arenas. There are several sports leagues, and certain sport competitions which do not test for testosterone or other supplement use, including power-lifting, bodybuilding. The supplement increases muscle size, mass, and strength, increases energy levels, and intensifies certain feelings, including anger and aggressive behavior.
Outside the bounds of amateur sports, however, using a testosterone supplement is considered acceptable by doctors and other health practitioners, especially if done in a prudent and safe way. There are a number of men in the aging population who are even prescribed testosterone supplements because not only does it help with chronic cardiovascular disease control, it also makes them look and feel better. It is a good idea to use caution, as many researchers warn that not enough in-depth studies have been done on the long-term effects of taking these sorts of supplements. It would be a good idea to use caution when making the decision, do as much research as you can, and not to take it lightly when you do finally decide on what is right for you. Don't forget; always seek an experts advice and talk to the people you love!
