Testosterone, Growth Hormone, Insulin, IGF-1 and Cortisol. Would you like to boost these hormones naturally, based on your genetics results?

The above are the most crucial hormones when it comes to bodybuilding. Getting the levels of these hormones within optimal ranges is a key consideration for recovering from exercise, building muscle, and burning fat.

Although different stimuli result in the individual alterations of some of these hormones, the only thing I know that improves the levels and/or function of ALL of them is boosting nitric oxide (NO).

Nitric Oxide is crucial for the proper function of insulin

‍By boosting nitric oxide levels, this improves blood flow and supports insulin effectiveness, especially in people where the hormone has been suppressed.

Insulin also boosts levels of Growth Hormone

‍Because Growth Hormone increases levels of Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) and they both work together in concert in the body, this increase in insulin indirectly heightens levels of IGF-1. These both work together to naturally produce nitric oxide, and thus further increase its benefits.

Nitric oxide stimulates testosterone production‍

Specifically, in vitro studies demonstrated that NO increases Gonadotrophin secretion, which is an initial hormonal step in producing the Big T.

Nitric Oxide inhibits cortisol

‍As we know, cortisol is substantially responsible for causing muscle breakdown. And in studies when NO inhibitors were given to lab animals, cortisol levels rose dramatically. When this process was reversed with L-arginine, cortisol levels came right back down. Therefore, by preventing this increase in cortisol, NO yet again helps tip the hormonal pendulum in the direction of muscle growth.

So there you have it: five hormones that have effects on muscle growth all influenced in exactly the direction you’d want them by NO!