Are testosterone boosters steroids? Have you ever heard such a question? If you have, you aren’t alone. A lot of people confuse the two terms, thinking that they are the same or they can be used interchangeably.
You can’t really blame them. All of us have fallen victims to the jargons used by the marketers and sales. So, if you want to get your facts straight and you want to avoid further mistakes, read on.
Not only you can differentiate steroids from testosterone, but you can also learn about testosterone function and how the boosters can be beneficial for your health and well-being.
A Deeper Understanding of Steroids
Before you ask yourself, “Are testosterone boosters steroids?” you need to understand the details of the two terms. Steroids are basically a (specific) natural chemical type having some contents, including lipids.
The steroids have a specific (chemical) structure that makes them unique and different from the others. There are groups of chemicals included within this category, and they include sex hormones, cholesterol, bile acids, and other drug types.
As it was mentioned before, this chemical substance has its own specific structure. As a compound with active biological trait, this substance has four rings with primary (biological) functions.
These biological functions are cell membrane’s part that is responsible for fluidity creation within the barrier. Moreover, they are responsible for signaling molecules traveling through the body to exchange messages.
Most people think of steroids as synthetic anabolic steroids, but it’s not completely true. Our body has its own steroids production, while the synthetic anabolic steroids are often illegal.
These synthetic types are often referred to as performance enhancement products that are often being misused and abused by those who are interested in enhancing their performance.
Getting to Know Testosterone
Those who are familiar with the term and use often refer the testosterone as a natural anabolic steroid. Because it’s ‘natural’, it’s believed to be a hormone that has its own importance and use in the human body.
Testosterone is produced within the testicles, and it’s known as the male sex hormone. As you can guess, your libido or sex drive depends on this testosterone.
If your testosterone level is normal, then you should have no issue with your libido or get any erection. However, when your testosterone level is low, then getting an erection would be a difficult matter.
Testosterone isn’t only important for sexual-related matters, but it’s also crucial for your overall health. People with low testosterone level are at bigger risks of diabetes, obesity, and insulin resistance.
The problem will get worse when you have a combination of problems, such as low testosterone level and diabetes. This combo may lead to an arteries hardening problem, known as atherosclerosis. This is one of the biggest reasons to combat low testosterone level: to improve your overall health.
Natural vs Synthetic Steroids
The problem with this understanding is about the terms. You should know that when people say steroids, it’s likely they mean the synthetic type. The synthetic product is meant to imitate the effect and outcome of testosterone: the male sex hormone.
And why would companies or manufacturers be interested in manufacturing such a product? The supplement should provide testosterone influx to the body so it is stronger.
It can build muscles more effectively, faster, and without breaking a sweat. The supplement is effective enough, but it has its own health risks and dangers.
The product is believed to push the body over its limit, putting itself in harm’s way. The effect is the body isn’t only unhealthy, but it can also be deadly. That’s why most countries ban the usage of such a synthetic steroid because of the harmful effects to the body.
Testosterone Boosters vs Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Testosterone boosters refer to supplement products that are claimed to help increase testosterone levels quite significantly. If your main issue is the low testosterone level, then this supplement is believed to be handy to boost it.
So, what’s the difference with testosterone therapy? As the name suggests, it’s a type of therapy with the purpose of increasing the testosterone level. People who have undergone the treatment become more enthusiastic and somewhat more agile.
They experience better well-being and also increased libido. They experience these positive outcomes while eliminating poor focus, fatigue, depression, and erectile dysfunction at the same time.
Whereas the supplement refers mostly to the products you need to consume, testosterone therapy refers to (medical) treatments that are generally administered by the doctor. After talking to your doctor about your condition and medical complaint, they will perform examinations and tests to come up with the right diagnose.
From this description alone, it’s pretty clear that testosterone replacement is different from the booster. The replacement is a type of therapy, while the booster is a type of supplement to consume. Both are claimed to be safe and effective, provided that you do it properly and correctly.
It’s imperative that you consult your doctor. If you suspect yourself of having a low testosterone level, you should have yourself checked and then have a thorough discussion with your doctor.
Your doctor is the only one who has the right to prescribe the right product. Whether your doctor order you to have the testosterone booster or the testosterone therapy, you two need to work together.
Rest assured that it would be impossible for your doctor to prescribe synthetic steroids, so you won’t have to worry about the concern are testosterone boosters steroids or not.
Different Treatment Options and Types
After they really understand your diagnose and issue, they can come up with a solid treatment plan. Your doctor will work together with you to decide which method or therapy would be suitable for your condition.
The therapies may include testosterone topical gel, injections, or patches under the supervision of your doctor.
In case you don’t know it, the normal testosterone level should be 500 to 600 ng/dl. In the meantime, people with low testosterone level only have 300 ng/dl within their system.
In most cases, gel products are viewed to be healthier and safer. There are some testosterone pills available, but many experts discourage their use because these pills can have a significant impact to the liver’s health, mostly because it’s related to liver toxicity.
Testosterone patches are also believed to be quite effective in boosting the hormone level within the body. Don’t underestimate the seemingly simple design because the patch is truly effective. Both testosterone gels and patches can be absorbed by the skin. However, this method can cause skin irritation, especially for those with sensitive skin.
Some doctors prescribe buccal testosterone which should be applied to your gums. When applied there, it’s believed that the effect would be more potent and more effective. The outcome is somewhat stronger.
However, the possible side effect is gum irritation. Not to mention that you may experience a bitter taste inside your mouth.
Which One is For You?
You can’t take matters into your own hand. When you are diagnosed with low testosterone level, only doctors can decide which path to take. If they see the problem as a mild case, they may likely prescribe you testosterone boosters.
But if the condition is pretty serious, they may advise you to take testosterone therapy. Is it possible to have a combination of both methods? Yes, it is. But then again, it depends on your condition, the severity of the issue, and other contributing factors.
And in the event they prescribe you testosterone boosters, no need to worry. You won’t have to wonder are testosterone boosters steroids because they are completely two different stuff.
And since it’s your doctor prescribing or suggesting the method, they would definitely pick the safer option. It’s very unlikely that they would harm you by choosing a dangerous path that may risk your well-being.
Steroids vs Testosterone Boosters
We have compared testosterone vs (synthetic) steroids and also testosterone boosters vs testosterone therapy. Now let’s talk about testosterone booster vs steroids. You have probably got the clearer idea by now of how both things are different.
Steroids are dangerous. Not only it’s illegal, but it can bring bigger health risks although the results (seem) fast and promising. It’s believed to enhance your performance, especially in building muscles and strength, but it takes its own dangerous toll on your well-being.
A lot of people believe that the effect isn’t long-lasting. And since a lot of countries have banned its usages, buying it online is actually considered illegal.
Testosterone boosters, on the other hand, are considered safer. Just like vitamins and other supplements, this product contains only the safe and consumable ingredients.
The results may take a longer time to finally show, but the products themselves won’t be dangerous for your body. Moreover, this supplement is about increasing testosterone hormone levels, so it’s not particularly designed for performance enhancement.
Some doctors even prescribe this booster as a part of the testosterone therapy. So, are testosterone boosters steroids? It’s highly unlikely because the boosters have been approved by the doctors.
Boosting Testosterone Level Naturally
If you don’t really want to have the question are testosterone boosters steroids, then you won’t have to find any info about the products or you don’t need to buy one. Ever. There are actually some ways where you can crank up your testosterone level naturally, if you don’t really want to consume any supplement or booster. So, what is the natural testosterone booster to consider about?
- Work out
It’s basically a fool-proof knowledge. Exercise can improve your overall well-being and health, so you can improve your fitness entirely. If you exercise regularly, not only you can avoid many diseases related to (an unhealthy) lifestyle, but you can also improve your testosterone levels without consuming anything.
Aside from being free from obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc., you can maintain healthy sexual desire and performance.
However, you can’t just do any exercise. According to studies, resistance training is most effective when tackling low testosterone issues.
Cardio may help maintain a healthy weight in check, but if you want to increase your testosterone level naturally and healthily, focus on weightlifting and also HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). You don’t even have to worry about any are testosterone boosters steroids concern!
- High Quality Sleep
Not only qualified sleep is great for your health, but it also affects your testosterone level. When you suffer from impaired sleep, you have bigger chances of suffering from low testosterone levels.
There have studies that show that sleeping only for 5 hours a night may lead to testosterone level reduction up to 10% (15% is the max). other studies show that older men with increased (sleep) duration up to 9-10 hours show increased testosterone levels.
You probably think that you have been doing great with less sleep, but in general, you need to have at least 7 hours of sleep to achieve a good health level. If you can’t achieve that number, try to at least have a quality sleep.
- Balanced Diet
Instead of worrying about are testosterone boosters steroids, you should focus on consuming a balanced diet. It means that you should have a balanced consumption of carbs, fat, and protein.
Protein can help you achieve many things, including fat loss and maintaining a healthy (testosterone) level. When you overeat or not eat well, it will affect your health, including your testosterone level.
Don’t forget to combine it all with healthy fats so your hormones will stay in a good balance. Fats are still needed by the body but focus on the good ones.
If you can combine healthy fat and protein, you should be able to see significant improvement in your condition. Basically, you want to enjoy whole foods consumption strategies that include nutritious meals. Avoid junk foods or processed foods, if you want to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Final Words
Make sure that you talk to your doctor about the testosterone boosters. You can still enjoy the benefits while minimizing the possibility of side effects.
And by understanding the entire facts and real answers to are testosterone boosters steroids, you can take it without being worried about your own safety.
