Recently in the bodybuilding community, there has been a lot of discussion about SARMs. That’s right, SARMs are currently the hot topic of conversation, rather than anabolic steroids. As bodybuilders, we know what it takes to build muscle and create a physique that you can flaunt proudly for the world to see. Whether it’s on the beach, on social media, or on stage, you want the world to see how awesome you look and how much hard work you put into achieving your dream physique. SARMs have the ability to help you do that, just as whey protein supplements do, and just as regular ole chicken breast does. A lot has been said about SARMs recently, but people are still not entirely sure what they are, and simply assume that they’re just a fancy new form of anabolic steroid. We’re here to clear things up once and for all, as we will now be taking a look at what SARMs are, how they work, and much more.
Legal disclaimer – SARMs, just like anabolic steroids, come with risks. Not enough is yet known about the safety of SARMs for us, or anybody else, to recommend them, and for now, they are still not FDA-approved. We want our readers to be safe whether using SARMs, steroids, or over the counter supplements, which is why we have created this article. We don’t recommend nor condone the use of SARMs, steroid, or anything else illegal or unapproved.
What are SARMs?
So, the local gym rat down at your gym has been telling you about SARMs and how they’re a new form of steroid to hit the streets, and you’re pretty-excited right? Well, you shouldn’t be, because the gym rat in question is very misinformed. SARMs are not steroids at all, they’re something more. SARMs stands for Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator. They are drugs which have been designed to function in a very similar way to anabolic steroids, with the added bonus of being much safer, legal, and arguably just as effective. Basically they provide numerous anabolic benefits, without the androgenic properties that most steroids tend to provide. Like steroids, there are different forms of SARMs out there, with each one providing different properties and mechanisms of action, based upon the compound that you choose to use. They work by stimulating and inhibiting specific receptors within the body, helping users to build muscle, increase their strength, burn fat, and much more besides. All of this, while keeping side-effects to a minimum. They are also consumed orally, rather than being injected, which is another benefit in most people’s eyes.
How do they work?
Okay, we mentioned how they inhibit and stimulate certain receptors in the body, but what does that even mean? Basically, SARMs are able to bind to androgenic receptors in the body and modulate them. Androgens are hormones which are responsible for sexualized characteristics. Basically, androgens are what help to make men appear masculine as they cause things like a deepening of the voice, increased facial and body hair growth, reduced fat stores and an increased amount of muscle size and strength. There’s a certain androgen that is very well known in the bodybuilding community, and that is our friend testosterone. Testosterone is a hormone by which all anabolic steroids are based, so that shows you just how powerful and important it is. So, how do androgens work? Well, first they bind directly onto androgen receptors. Next, they convert to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which then connects to said androgen receptors. Finally, they convert to Estrogen, which is then connected to Estrogen receptors. Too much Estrogen is bad as it can have the opposite effect to muscle growth and fat loss. SARMs can therefore inhibit Estrogen receptors whilst stimulating androgen ones. SARMs have an affinity for receptors found in your muscles and bones, and they tend to bypass ones found in the liver and other major organs, which is why they’re considered safer than anabolic steroids. SARMs typically do not aromatize so they don’t convert to Estrogen, which is again a very important benefit, especially when it comes to the avoidance of dangerous side effects. SARMs basically communicate with androgen receptors and tell them to produce more muscle proteins and to increase the rates of protein synthesis within the body. The greater the rate of protein synthesis, the more muscle proteins you will build and the more muscle you’ll build as a result.
Are SARMs harmless?
One of the key selling points of SARMs is the fact that they’re safer than anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS). Therefore, surely they’re harmless? Well, no, sadly not. Steroids are very dangerous as they can increase your blood pressure, shut down your natural hormone production levels, cause acne, cause infertility, damage your liver, increase your risk of stroke and heart attack, cause hair loss, shrink your testicles, destroy your libido, and much more besides, and we recommend using Post Cycle Therapy after a steroid cycle for example, Clomid or Arimidex. SARMs however, behave differently in the body and so they do not cause the same negative side effects as steroids. They do however, provide side effects which need to be monitored. Not enough research has yet been conducted on SARMs, so nobody is really sure how safe they are. What is known is that they can negatively impact a man’s natural testosterone production and can reduce a man’s sperm count, so fertility issues could arise. In large doses, SARMs also cause side effects such as acne, greasy skin, and irritability. Basically, if you remember what it was like when you went through puberty, you’ll be on the right track again if you think back.