The Main Benefits of Natural Bodybuilding

It is generally agreed that enhanced bodybuilding is a relatively unhealthy or dangerous sport, mainly due to the rife use of performance-enhancing drugs. Natural bodybuilding, on the other hand, is a movement within the bodybuilding world where the use of performance-enhancing drugs is banned in the process of building muscle mass to achieve a certain physique. Excluding the use of PEDs makes natural bodybuilding far less risky as the long-term health complications are significantly reduced. This is one of the key benefits of going natural. Today, this is an article on presenting you some of the benefits and convince you that natural bodybuilding can be a fulfilling activity in your life.

Is natural bodybuilding healthy?

In order to classify natural bodybuilding as ‘healthy’, you must first define what healthy means to you. For example, to some people being healthy means very rarely getting sick and your organs functioning as efficiently as possible; for others it is a question of physical ability, such as training to boost your performance, increase strength, push your limits and achieve peak fitness levels. Another definition of healthy is in terms of well-being and mental health, feeling confident, happy, and content. Body image plays a large role in mental health and can also feed into perceptions of health as a physical state.

Below, we’ll look at the different benefits of natural bodybuilding in supporting a healthy lifestyle!

1. You learn about nutrition

When embarking upon a natural bodybuilding journey, you will inevitably have to learn about nutrition and follow a healthy, balanced diet in order to make progress and achieve your goals. A healthy diet is vital for supporting efficient organ functions, lowering cholesterol, ensuring your body receives all of the nutrients it needs to fight illnesses, managing weight, and providing you with energy. There is a lot of learning involved in natural bodybuilding as you must understand what your body needs and how to fuel it in the most efficient way for growth, recovery, injury prevention, etc. We found this great guide from Natural Flex which will help you understand the basics of nutrition and how to make up your diet plan.

2. You are learning about self-development

This leads us to another healthy aspect of natural bodybuilding: personal development and mental health benefits. It requires determination, dedication, self-discipline, and a wide range of knowledge to be successful. Many people think that bodybuilding is all about lifting heavy weights but there is so much more to it than that and bodybuilders are incredibly committed to the sport. You must understand nutrition, be able to create and implement a routine of effective exercises, have the knowledge to identify and minimize weaknesses and be able to minimize the risk of injuries. It is also fair to argue that natural bodybuilding is more challenging than enhanced bodybuilding as you must be more patient, plan your program more efficiently, etc.

Natural bodybuilding can also benefit mental health in terms of boosting confidence, improving body image, and creating a mindset of caring for your body. It is well known that physical activity results in an increased level of endorphins, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters. Physical activity also stimulates the release of norepinephrine and serotonin. These hormones support a happier mental state and motivate you to continue training regularly as it makes you feel good.

It is important to be aware of your mental state and your motivations for pursuing bodybuilding as people often begin their journey due to feelings of insecurity and dissatisfaction with their physical appearance. If you do not address these feelings, then bodybuilding may actually amplify mental health issues and lead to things such as body dysmorphia. However, the knowledge that comes with getting into bodybuilding can help you to tackle these issues and form a happier, healthier relationship with your body and fitness in general. The sense of accomplishment when you reach your goals and the confidence you gain from being in control of your health and building a physique you are proud of is incredible!

3. Natural bodybuilding builds an attractive body without major health risks

Natural bodybuilding also gives you a very different physique to enhanced bodybuilding and it is generally thought to be more aesthetically pleasing. There are no side effects like acne, redness of the skin, balding, sexual dysfunction, etc. You might not have such huge muscle mass but that is a small price to pay to avoid the serious physical side effects of PEDs! For years, many bodybuilders who used steroids heavily during their careers have been facing the consequences later in life.

4. Keeps you injury-free

Stronger muscles and a generally more active lifestyle can also help with injury prevention as your body is more physically capable and you work to actively protect your joints. Natural bodybuilders understand the importance of warming up thoroughly and improving mobility to avoid injuries which will limit their training. Lifting weight with consistency will prevent injuries and feeling chronic pain. Being stronger also reduces the risk of day-to-day injuries such as pulled muscles from carrying heavy objects or moving furniture, for example. Your strength and all-around fitness are also transferable to other sports and can increase your performance. You will benefit from bodybuilding in combat sports such as judo or jiu-jitsu, for example.

5. The principles of natural bodybuilding stick with you the rest of your life

Muscle memory in natural bodybuilding is a real thing. If you have been training consistently for an extended period of time, you will maintain muscle mass and fitness levels for much longer when you stop training so intensively. Your strength may decrease, but if you were to begin training again you would progress much faster than you did when you first started out.

There is no magic solution or quick fix in natural bodybuilding. Some bodybuilders may have genetics better suited to growing muscle mass, but at the end of the day, your results are proportional to the effort you put into the bodybuilding lifestyle as a whole, from diet to training to recovery. It is a challenging sport and many people are not willing to make the sacrifices necessary to excel. You can be proud of it.

6. Natural bodybuilding is a social sport

Finally, natural bodybuilding is a social sport, contrary to what many people may think. At first, it may seem that it is a very solitary activity, training alone and on a competitive level, competing as individuals against each other. However, going to the gym is a sociable experience for many. In any gym, there are people from all walks of life who share a common passion for health and fitness. You can meet a diverse range of people to learn from and share experiences with whilst still practicing an individual sport.

Conclusion

This article has presented some of the benefits of natural bodybuilding. We hope it is clear to see why starting the natural bodybuilding path can improve your life. Although there are still some risks such as injury and heightened mental health issues, these very much come down to an individual’s understanding and proactive prevention rather than an inevitable issue tied to the sport. There are numerous benefits to natural bodybuilding and it is a great way to learn about living a healthy lifestyle and taking care of your body. The only question remaining is, do you have the self-discipline, motivation, and dedication to pursue your goals and see what your body is capable of?