“Cortisol use in Body Building” – Delna Pooniwala.
Cortisol is a steroid based hormone and is synthesized from cholesterol. It is made in the adrenal cortex of the adrenal gland.
Cortisol affects many different body systems like Metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and protein. When your cortisol levels are high, the body actually resists weight loss and hence, some aspiring body builders choose to use this catabolic steroid to bulk their bodies.
To increase muscle size and correspondingly reduce body fat, one needs to ensure that all aspects of the bodybuilding lifestyle are adhered to, with a complex balancing act of “Diet and training” which are the two variables most often discussed concerning muscle building and fat loss. Although diet and training are fundamentally important variables for any bodybuilding program there are many other factors at play.
Nutrition is important at all times of the day for bodybuilders but to control cortisol release eating first thing in the morning and directly after a workout are optimum times. This is because in these most stressful times, insulin does not have the nullifying effect it normally has on cortisol and diet must facilitate an insulin release directly. Both carbohydrates and protein are extremely important at these times.
In addition, Vitamin C and Glutamine are an absolute must. Then the Cortisol will not have to breakdown the muscle to obtain it.
Since Cortisol is at its lowest and growth hormone is at its highest during slow wave sleep (deep sleep), It is necessary to ensure that this stage of sleep is attained every night.
Although this is something used by body builders, it is not medically advised as elevated cortisol levels interfere with memory, lowers immune systems and bone density, increases weight gain, blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease and could be hazardous to the organs. A high Cortisol level converts the good peripheral fats of the body into unhealthy visceral fat (the fat in your abdomen that surrounds your organs).
Our bodies were never made to take in certain substances and we require respecting it and working on our physique with a lot of hard healthy work and diet.
