What are Anabolic Steroids?

Anabolic steroids have received much of their notoriety because they have been used by professional athletes and body builders. Anabolic steroids have been credited with making people faster, stronger, able to leap tall buildings (not really just slipped it in there) they have been given credit for creating super human abilities. Anabolic Steroids is a generic name that is given to a certain type of chemical that enhances certain other chemicals in the body. Steroids refers to the class that the chemical belongs to. Anabolic comes from a Greek word and means to “build up”, so the actual definition of anabolic steroid is a drug that builds up. What does it build up? Well an anabolic steroid works on a molecular level. It encourages certain synthesizing between cells. See below.
Anabolic steroids are usually a compound of various hormones, hormones that influence cellular synthesis. This cellular synthesis occurs in muscles to repair and rebuild them after they have been damaged through a work out or other strain through activity like throwing a baseball at one hundred miles per hour over and over again. The muscles tear and depend on cellular synthesis for repair an increase in one of the natural steroids in the body will quicken the process.

How Are They Taken

Anabolic steroids like other supplements come in various delivery methods. They can be taken orally, by injection and are also available in patches. The least effective method is orally, it is estimated that only 16% of the active ingredient is absorbed. Anabolic steroids that are synthetic in nature can be purchased over the counter in any health food store or vitamin shop, these are usually labeled as a dietary supplement, although there is zero nutritional value in steroids.

Are They Worth The Risk

There is a lot of negative news in the media when it comes to anabolic steroids. Of course only the most extreme side effects are reported it makes good news. Steroids have been used for many years by the medical industry to treat many different ailments successfully, with minimal side effects. Athletes are tempted to use them to be able to sustain the brutal beating they give their bodies everyday, maybe with more testing and better options steroids will find there way into the realm of acceptance. For now building the body is left to high protein diets, resistance training with weights, protein/carbohydrate rich diets and supplements.