Anabolic Steroids and Body Building

Anabolic steroids are chemically synthesized to resemble the human hormone testosterone. Using anabolic steroids in bodybuilding is favored because testosterone is the hormone which produces muscle mass by synthesizing proteins and building cellular tissue. Anabolic Steroids means Anabolic “muscle building” steroids is the class of drugs. Anabolic steroids were introduced to the medical community in the 1930’s when it was first synthesized, they are still used in the medical community to stimulate appetite, it is often prescribed in cancer patients and aids patients as a way of offsetting the wasting that is associated with these diseases. Anabolic steroids are also used in males to bring on puberty when it has been delayed.

One of the favored compounds by body builder is Nandrolone -19 commonly known as Deca Durabolin (Deca) the name brand. This ( inject able steroid) is favored by bodybuilders because of the reduced side effects it produces. Using steroids in bodybuilding produces muscle mass quicker than using simply natural methods of bodybuilding. There are a lot of body building supplements on the market but none have quite the effect that anabolic steroids do. Body building tears the body down, and the body can really benefit from some of the body building supplements available.

Most anabolic steroid compounds have to be prescribed but there are some legal steroids on the market that can be bought without a prescription the results may not be as great. These favored body building supplements can be relatively easy to obtain through various online market places.

The American College of Sports Medicine acknowledges that “AAS, in the presence of adequate diet, can contribute to increases in body weight, often as lean mass increases, and that the gains in muscular strength achieved through high-intensity exercise and proper diet can be additionally increased by the use of AAS in some individuals.”

Anabolic steroids do not come without side effects. There is evidence in increased cholesterol levels by users and potential heart damage in long time users. Other considerations and side effects are:
- Men have experienced as a side effect shrinking of the testicles, increased baldness, a lower sperm count and a higher incidence of infertility.
- For women the effects reported have been baldness, the growth of additional facial hair, problems with the menstrual cycle and a deeper tone to the voice
- Liver damage
- High blood pressure
- Renal failure
- Acne

Typically the steroid is injected, or taken orally. Cycling of the steroids is common practice. Cycling refers to the times which the steroids are taken, they are not normally taken daily but instead in cycles that are spread out over time.

The use of anabolic steroids in professional sports is strictly prohibited, it is considered cheating and is termed commonly as doping. In many professional sports testing is done to determine if steroids have been used.

Anabolic steroids have been proven safe to use, but they are considered addictive and the most severe of the side effects occur when they are abused.

There are alternatives to anabolic steroids in the form of body building supplements.
- Protein- this can come in powdered form, drinkable form and in pill form. Protein builds the muscles naturally. The formulary used depends on whether one is trying to gain weight or lose weight. There are specific formulas on the market for weight gain
- Carbohydrates - used for energy replacement when body building. These can also be in the form of a drink, or an energy bar.

These are just a couple of the options that can be used as alternatives to anabolic steroids.