Anabolic steroids are the illegal substances that athletes and bodybuilders use to enhance their performance and make their bodies grow (super) big and strong. Anabolic refers to building up muscles as part of the normal growth and healing response. We need anabolic hormones to help us repair and rebuild, but too much is not good. Although bodybuilders may think they look great, they are putting themselves at risk for problems. Some men grow small breasts, and their testicles shrink. Likewise, women on steroids can develop clitoral enlargement and a variety of hormonal abnormalities. We need our bodies to make our own anabolic steroid hormones. If they do not, wounds will not heal and we feel tired and depressed.
The opposite of anabolic is catabolic, or breaking down. When you suffer excessive wear and tear or are seriously ill, you are catabolic— you are breaking down your body faster than it can repair itself. In general, we become somewhat catabolic as we get older and also when we are under prolonged or excessive stress. Our muscles become weaker and smaller, and we develop more fat around our bellies.
By measuring the ratio between your stress hormones and your well-being hormones, we can learn where you fall on the anabolic—catabolic continuum. Then we can balance these hormones through lifestyle changes and by using supplements and/or hormone replacements. These measures help to turn back the clock on the aging process.