Right now, SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators) are very popular with the fitness world. They talk about many people about them as a safer alternative to steroids for building muscle, burning fat, and improving athletic performance. But what exactly are SARMs? What are they, and why are so many people into them? In this post, I’m going to take a closer look at SARMs, what the science is behind them, how they work, and the benefits and risks of using them.
What Are SARMs?
SARMs are a type of supplement that affects androgen receptors in the body, at their most basic level. These receptors are present in muscles and bones. Hormones like androgens are a big part in muscle growth and strength. These androgen receptors are what SARMs were designed to attach to, in a way that will boost muscle growth and avoid some of the harmful side effects of traditional steroids.
SARMs are also different from anabolic steroids in that they affect the whole body, and can result in a multitude of side effects (acne, hair loss, liver damage, etc.). They mostly target muscle and bone tissue and assist to enhance muscle mass and strength without doing too much damage to other parts of the body.
Types of SARMs
SARMs are of different types, and each has its own benefits and affects your body. Some of the most well-known SARMs include:
Ostarine (MK-2866)
Ostarine is often one of the most researched and safest SARMs, and it’s often used for muscle building and fat loss. It’s well known to encourage lean muscle mass without producing any large amounts of water retention.
Ligandrol (LGD-4033)
Because this SARM is often used by bodybuilders and athletes for increasing muscle mass and strength, it is this SARM. Ligandrol has a reputation for potency, but it comes with greater side effect potential than many other SARMs.
RAD-140 (Testolone)
Another popular SARM is RAD-140, known for its powerful muscle building properties. It’s usually used in bulking cycles and is preferred for how well it promotes large strength and size gains.
All of these SARMs work differently, but they all hit the same target: the androgen receptor, to build and recover muscle.
How SARMs Affect the Body
SARMs when you take them, they bind to androgen receptors on your muscles and bones. This forces your body to make proteins in your muscle, strengthening them and building them up. This gives you more muscle growth and faster recovery from workouts.
In other words, SARMs are more selective than steroids. They don’t have the same kind of wide-reaching effects as steroids do. For instance, steroids can lead to side effects like more hair, acne, or worse like liver damage. However, SARMs are engineered to hit only muscle and bone, thereby reducing the risk of those pesky side effects.
SARMs vs. Traditional Steroids
The question, however, is how SARMs compare to traditional anabolic steroids. Selectivity is the key difference. SARMs and steroids both will help promote muscle growth, but SARMs are specifically meant to hit only certain receptors in the body, which may result in less adverse side effects than steroids.
Steroids are synthetic versions of testosterone, and can impact the entire body, with a whole range of side effects including hormonal imbalance, liver damage, and cardiovascular problems. Unlike SARMs, however, they are designed to be more selective, affecting only the muscles and bones without the same effect on other organs.
However, SARMs aren’t completely risk-free. But they can still have side effects such as testosterone suppression or liver strain, depending on how high the dose and for how long you take it. In other words, they are safer than steroids, but not necessarily risk free.
Who Uses SARMs?
Bodybuilders and athletes that want to increase muscle mass, strength, and performance are most commonly using SARMs. SARMs are marketed as safer than steroids and have a following from people looking to improve their physique without the nasty side effects of traditional anabolic steroids.
SARMs are also being studied for medical purposes; in addition to fitness enthusiasts. Researchers are studying whether they might be used to treat conditions such as osteoporosis, muscle wasting and other diseases that cause muscle loss. SARMs would be an important treatment option for people with these conditions if they work.
Are SARMs Right for You?
Before buying SARMs, you should consider the potential benefits versus risks. Although SARMs may help you build muscle, they are still fairly new and not fully understood. SARMs are not completely safe, and we don’t know the long term effects of SARMs.
If you’re thinking of using SARMs, it’s best to consult a doctor or healthcare professional. They can inform you if you are a good candidate for SARMs and if the risks associated with them are acceptable.
At the same time, it’s important to realize that it is possible to build muscle and improve performance in natural ways, through proper diet, exercise and rest. They might be tempting with supplements like SARMs, but it’s not a short cut to fitness.
Conclusion
SARMs are an exciting supplement in the fitness world as they promise muscle growth and fat loss without the side effects of traditional steroids. But they also carry their own risks and further research is needed to fully understand their longer term impact. If, however, you’re thinking about using SARMs, then be sure to talk to a healthcare professional and consider the potential benefits versus the risks.
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