Do you exercise? Check what tests you should do!

Bodybuilding includes a number of activities that allow you to build your dream figure. The basis is strength training, which also requires changing the diet and supplementing the body with many components necessary to build muscle mass. Sports medicine, which focuses on all processes in the body under the influence of physical activity, also includes diagnostic tests of blood, urine and semen. It is thanks to the tests that you can monitor your kidneys during increased protein supply, observe hormonal changes or exclude post steroid infertility. What tests are worth doing?

Do you "build muscle in the kitchen"? Yes but…

When building muscle mass, the most important aspect is adequate supply of macro- and micronutrients. Many people think that "muscle builds in the kitchen", while training is used to activate and stimulate them. Since the modified diet provides the body with much larger than normal amounts of protein, it is important to control kidney function. Good quality dietary supplements can be used to supplement mineral deficiencies and electrolytes (responsible for the proper conduction of nerve impulses and heart work). Diet enriched with, among others for BCAA amino acids or vitamins contained in supplements covers the body's need for increased anabolic processes. When reducing body fat, natural thermogenics will also work, for example green tea, caffeine or capsaicin found in plant extracts.

What tests are recommended for weight training?

Diagnostic tests should allow for the exclusion of diseases and a general assessment of homeostasis (body balance). In connection with the specificity of strength training, the most important tests are:

Morphology - basic blood test

Allows you to specify the number of erythrocytes (RBC), or red blood cells that transport oxygen to tissues. RBC levels below normal may be indicative of anemia, which is not commonly believed to be the result of "underfood" but may be caused by folate, vitamin B12 or iron deficiencies.

Hormone test

• TSH
• testosteron
• kortyzol
• LH, FSH, estradiol

Assessment of fat metabolism and sugar level

• lipidogram (CHOL, LDL, HDL, TG)
• fasting glucose

Vitamin, micronutrient and electrolyte testing

• electrolytes (Na, K, Cl)
• magnesium (Mg)
• vitamin D3

Examination of organs - kidneys, liver, intestines

• liver tests (ALT, AST, GGTP, ALP, BIL TOTAL)
• creatinine
• urine albumin (protein in the urine)
• CRP protein
• blood in feces

Remember! Any result that deviates from the norm should be consulted with the appropriate specialist.

Thyroid test for hypothyroidism

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), produced by the pituitary gland, regulates thyroid function. The TSH test should be performed as a screening test to rule out thyroid dysfunction. It's mainly about hypothyroidism, which is a common condition for both women and men. In the case of hypothyroidism, the level of TSH is above normal. The deficiency of thyroid hormones - fT3 and fT4 resulting from high TSH slows down the metabolism (slowing down the metabolic rate) and adversely affects many other organs. Thyroid function affects, among others, the work of the circulatory system, the proper functioning of the reproductive and digestive systems. Hormonal imbalances are also a source of psychological problems - apathy, irritability, depression and long-term depressed mood can be caused by changes in the thyroid gland.

Liver and kidney examination

It should be realized that each additional portion of the supplement, protein supplement or vitamins in tablets, in addition to the active ingredients, also contains a number of chemical compounds that must be neutralized by the liver or excreted by the kidneys with urine. Also, larger amounts of protein consumed and related amino acid degradation require the removal of large amounts of toxic ammonia. The kidneys are the second organ after the liver that should be monitored regularly. Because large amounts of protein in the diet can damage the kidney filtration barrier, it is worth doing urine albumin. The presence of too much albumin in the urine indicates kidney dysfunction, which can lead to electrolyte imbalance, hypertension or edema associated with water accumulation in the body.

Testosterone and cortisol levels for overtraining

Physical effort causes that the body naturally begins to synthesize testosterone, which is responsible for anabolic processes, i.e. growth and building. However, lack of time for regeneration and so-called overtraining causes the body to enter catabolism and increase blood cortisol levels.

It is therefore worth remembering that both before and during strength training should be monitored. Also, when using supplementation and a restrictive diet, it should be remembered that an internal balance must be maintained between the supplied macronutrients and excreted metabolites. Performing blood, urine and sperm tests allows you to assess the efficiency and proper functioning of the endocrine and organs.