Anyone involved in the world of bodybuilding, and competitive sport in general, will understand the pressures that come with striving for optimal performance. Athletes sometimes feel that they cannot peak without artificially enhancing their recovery powers from intensive training. One way to speed up this process is through the use of anabolic steroids. In this article we will examine what anabolic steroids actually do. In a second article we will focus on the dangers associated with steroid use.

The main active ingredient in steroids is testosterone, known as the main male hormone. Testosterone affects the body in two ways, either as an anabolic or an androgenic effect. Anabolic action helps build body tissue by increasing lean muscle mass and bone density. Androgenic actions are those that affect secondary sexual characteristics in men.

In recent years, research has provided interesting information regarding testosterone:

1. Affects muscle size through hypertrophy of muscle fibers with increased cross-sectional area of ​​muscle fibers.

2. A dose of at least 300 milligrams of testosterone is needed to raise the body’s level above normal.

3. It acts directly on the muscle itself.

4. Stimulates the release of growth hormone.

5. It has an anti-catabolic effect.

From these facts we can deduce that testosterone is an effective aid for muscle building and that it must be taken in significant amounts to have this effect. When it comes to bodybuilding, the science beyond this is somewhat limited, as most users base their steroid regimens on little more than trial and error or the advice of “veterans.” Due to the illegal nature of steroid use, there is little scientific data to confirm the effectiveness of the many steroid supplements in use.

It is perhaps the tendency of some bodybuilders to use a combination of powerful steroids and other drugs that presents very real dangers that have sometimes led to tragic conquests.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *