Steroids a Nutritional Perspective by Sarah Twomlow

With the many hazards associated with taking steroids why do some athletes still risk taking them or their ‘safe alternatives’?

Our ancestor exercised because they had to, it is built into our genes, in order to survive. Gym workouts and achieving the perfect body however, are a phenomenon of modern culture.

Unless you are an endurance athlete training for 10 – 35 hours or more per week, you are unlikely to need performance enhancing supplements.

What are steroids?

The body produces steroids naturally to support functions such as stress control, immune function and for growth and development. Supplementing with steroid pills, gels, creams, or injections became popular due to the belief that steroids can improve sports performance or body shape.

With so much documented evidence to the physical and mental dangers of steroid use they are now illegal. However there is still an unhealthy obsession with the use of steroids, to achieve the perfect body, or to improve performance.

With so much controversy surrounding the safety of steroids, more and more athletes are looking for steroid alternatives.

Alternatives to Steroids

Anabolic steroids also pose health risks and their performance benefits are unproven. Most are illegal and are banned by professional sports organizations and medical associations.

Anabolic steroids are artificially produced hormones having a similar action to, androgens, the male sex hormones. There are hundreds of anabolic steroids, which some athletes take for their testosterone-like effects.

Steroidal supplements, containing dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and/or androstenedione are weaker forms of androgens. There is still very little research into the long-term effects of these substances on the body.

DHEA is not recommended as a supplement, without professional guidance, as too much can over-stimulate the adrenal glands. An adrenal stress test is recommended to assess your DHEA status.

Human Growth Hormone

HGH is only available on prescription for individuals with growth hormone deficiency. Like steroids, there is little evidence to suggest that HGH improves athletic performance and yet it is being increasingly abused as an athletic supplement.

Alternative Healthy Solutions

As a Nutritional therapist I cannot advocate the use of steroids or their alternatives, I can only educate responsible health and training alternatives. I would ask all athletes, using steroids or their alternatives however, to consider; ‘is harming your body or the possibility of disqualification for life, worth the risk’? There are smart alternatives to outshine the competition and to improve your performance.

Some alternative healthy strategies include:

• Proper nutrition – seek nutritional support to learn how to eat
  • Before exercise
  • During exercise
  • Post exercise recovery
  • Long-term recovery
• Strength training – seek the support of a personal trainer or gym instructor
• Positive mental attitude – seek support to keep you focused on your goals.
• Yoga - for strength and muscle definition
• Relaxation exercises – stress can damage health and reduce performance

One of the most important things, when it comes to achieving your health goals is to focus on a healthy eating regime, maintaining a regular exercise program that allows for a combination of cardio, weight, and strength training.

When attention is focused on overall health, athletes at all levels will benefit from their naturally enhanced performance. They will no longer worry about their body image but feel proud of their body the way it is and their sporting achievements.

Copyright 2008 Sarah Twomlow Dip ONT, Optimum Nutrition Therapist. Phoenix Nutrition aims to provide a friendly, professional and non judgemental environment to support its clients to achieve the benefits and results they are looking for. We aim to provide the latest cutting edge nutrition science, to enable individuals to make informed decisions regarding their own health, diet and lifestyle. Phoenix Nutrition believes that to restore optimum health we need to return to a more natural way of eating and living. Phoenix Nutrition Therapy ~ Renew Health & Vitality Email | Online Nutritional Consultancy Service | Read another article by Sarah.