TRT and natural ways to boost testosterone

UFC middle weight contender Vitor Belfort

In today’s world of sports, athletes are always seeking a competitive edge. This can be a legal or illegal edge based on the rules and regulations of a sport as well as the sports overseers. One such edge which is always making a buzz in MMA is TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy). This has been brought back to the forefront of the sport thanks to Vitor Belfort asking for a TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption) in Nevada for his upcoming contest vs UFC middle weight champion Chris Weidman.

TUE exemptions have been given to various MMA fighters such as Vitor and Chael Sonnen. Similar therapies were administered to Lamont Peterson, junior middle weight boxer, without commission approval. Athletes believe that just because they are diagnosed and treated by a medical professional that they are exempt from following anti-doping rules. It is up to the athlete to be aware of what is and what isn’t legal in their sport. If they have any questions on a treatment or product they should consult their local commission and promoter to prevent any problems.

Lamont Peterson IBF jr middle weight champion

Getting back to TRT and its use in pro sports, it is my thought that most of the doctors who administer this treatment aren’t looking at the whole picture. They may not be asking the right questions or even administering the proper tests with care.

I’d like to inform you to how training can effect testosterone and also that there are natural ways to revitalize and reinvigorate your testosterone levels so as not to need these medical treatments.

Exercise when done excessively, hence over training, can cause a number of hormonal, physiological and psychological changes to an individual. This is no different for a pro athlete. Our bodies are meant to produce a specific amount of hormones to aid in balancing the chemical reactions that occur throughout the course of our daily lives. The important thing to note, is training is only a fraction of the whole when training. Training hard is nothing without the proper nutrition, and rest. Even more so, training needs to be done in a specific rotation to minimize the stress on joints and muscles in order to ensure an athlete maximal performance during an event.

While I am not close enough to the stories to know the all the details I will say, I believe athletes like Belfort and Peterson had nothing but their own health and interest when taking the TRT. I will also say that a banned substance is a banned, whether it be for performance enhancement, increased healing or medically prescribed for a hormonal deficiency.

It is up to the athlete and his people to seek out knowledgeable medical personnel with a sound background in Sports medicine and physiology. It is also important that the athlete bring to the medical persons attention any banned substances or treatments that will cause him to fail not only a drug test but also a sport related physical.

Below I have added links to articles speaking of how over training in various sports can cause a low testosterone level on a blood test.

http://www.acsm.org/docs/current-comments/overtrainwithresistance.pdf

http://www.exrx.net/ExInfo/Overtraining.html

http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/overtraining.html

http://www.livestrong.com/article/552447-excessive-body-building-low-testosterone-levels/

Natural ways to increase testosterone through nutrition.

http://www.libido-increasing-food.com/

http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Guide-To-High-Testosterone-Foods&id=159720

http://ifitandhealthy.com/how-to-increase-testosterone-levels/

Remember, keep your team and physicians in the loop when making changes to your routine. If you’re going to take supplements, make sure they are from a reputable company (what’s on the label may not always be what’s in the product). It is up to you the athlete to be well informed. Ask the proper medical and nutritional experts any questions you may have.

Please stay informed and be on top of your game both physically and mentally in order to reach your goals.

Yours in Health

Dr. Pietro Baio

Performance Edge Chiropractic