Steroids: Propoganda or Need of the hour?

This article has been researched and written by Arelang Naturals^® in-house writers.

Age-old propaganda has pushed muscular and strong men as the archetype of masculinity in India and beyond. Muscular men have become the poster boys for macho-ness, strength, and attractiveness. That is the biggest reason behind the ‘steroids for the muscle-building industry'. But do steroids work? Do they do more harm than good? Let us evaluate.

Getting a spot on the pedestal while competing in sports is everyone's dream come true, and that competition has led to people wanting to win at any cost. Even, that of your health and wellness. Clinically prescribed steroids, or anabolic steroids, have become an indispensable part of athletes' diets today.

Before we delve into why they have gained popularity, let us see what steroids are and why people use them.

Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) are synthetic versions of steroidal androgens like testosterone that are structurally related and have similar effects to the testosterone hormone. It is the primary male sex hormone, and help increase protein within cells, enhance virility, and is responsible for giving men all their manly features like a husky voice, stamina, strength, muscles, beard, and hair, and protecting them from illness and diseases like prostate cancer, reproductive issues, etc. The testosterone hormone in men peaks from puberty to the age of 30.

As men age and enter their thirties and forties, the testosterone levels in the body start dwindling. It becomes harder for men to have the same stamina and energy levels, the same sexual drive, muscle-building takes a back seat, pot bellies & hair fall become a real deal. The key here is to understand that this is because of improper nutrition and dietary practices and does not need anything but good food and nutrients to bring back the much-required balance.

But like most things we do, we tend to want to find easy solutions to all our problems. To feel more energetic, get an edge over their competition, and get a less than a natural boost in testosterone, strength & stamina, and an answer to 'how to build muscles fast', men started to resort to steroids. Anabolic steroids are prescription medications (drugs) to help with delayed puberty and hormonal problems in men. However, they are gaining popularity for all the wrong reasons. Taking Anabolic steroids has side effects and makes your body pump testosterone in excess to enable lean muscle building and increase body mass. Excessive production of testosterone in the body and regular use of unprescribed anabolic steroids can damage the body in more ways than one. It can cause high blood pressure, increase the risk of heart disease, cause liver damage and cancer, increase possibility of blood clots, infertility, altered sex drive, shrinkage of the testicles, reduced level of natural testosterone, hair loss and more. It can also cause psychological issues like mood swings, aggressive or violent behaviour, depression, addiction, and psychotic episodes. Anabolic steroidal use, or rather abuse, has become an epidemic and needs to be curbed. Chemicals and supplements that alter the normal functioning of your body will always be detrimental to your health. So what can athletes and sport-persons do instead to ensure they are strong and energetic throughout?

As with all other issues, we believe good quality nutrition is the best fix to any ailment caused by deficiency. Healthy diets that are rich in nutrients and vitamins are key to ensuring that your body functions at full capacity. Studies show that the right nutrients or the lack thereof determine the production and balance of testosterone in the body. Natural testosterone-boosting foods like ashwagandha, ginseng, dark chocolate, and eggs help kickstart natural testosterone production in the body. However, keeping track of the food that goes into your body is difficult, making it imperative to take supplements made of natural plant-based ingredients to make your body work how it should, like Rekindle For Men. These candyceuticals made of potent plant-based extracts like ashwagandha, ginseng, and 7 other potent plant-based phytosterols, help kickstart natural testosterone production in the body. These candyceuticals are safe with ingredients that help increase stamina, convert fat to lean muscle, improve strength, mood & cognitive function, and build stamina & endurance.

All that an athlete needs is good protein-rich food like chicken, eggs, and fish and a Rekindle for Men every night to perform better.