We reveal from an objective point of view the bad and good sides of steroids, which will help build competent courses with maximum results and without harm. Steroids are pharmacological drugs, the active substance of which is derived from a male hormone. They are able to dramatically accelerate the production of amines, protein compounds and various enzymes, which helps to increase the metabolic rate.
As a result, athletes can gain weight, burn fat and improve their physical parameters. There are two types of effects of steroids on the body: anabolic and androgenic.
Androgenic activity leads to the development of secondary sexual characteristics in men, and anabolic activity causes muscle tissue growth. Scientists dream of creating steroids that would be devoid of androgenic properties, but at this stage this is not possible. All steroids have anabolic and androgenic properties, differing in the strength of their effect on the body.
The synthetic male hormone molecules are modified to last longer. Endogenous testosterone is excreted from the body very quickly and cannot induce tissue growth. To avoid this in the case of steroids, their molecules are supplemented with esters. Also note that the molecules of anabolic steroids dissolve perfectly in the fatty tissues of the body, where they accumulate. Gradually, the ether is detached from the steroid molecules, and they enter the bloodstream, which carries them to all organs. Once in the liver, steroids are modified and excreted in the urine.
How steroids work
Let's say right away that the mechanisms of action on the body are very complex. We will not go into all the subtleties, but will provide only basic information that may be useful to you when using the AAS.
After the steroid molecules have been delivered to the tissues, they interact with their cellular structures. At the same time, anabolic steroids can only selectively affect tissues, which became possible due to the presence of special protein structures in the target tissues - receptors.
Testosterone receptors have certain differences from other types and for this reason they can only interact with steroid molecules. After the interaction of the receptor and the steroid molecule, the resulting complex is delivered to the cell nucleus. There, the next interaction with proteins takes place, and the processes of synthesis of new protein structures are activated.
Also, an important point in the effect of AAS on the body is their ability to facilitate the penetration of nutrients through cell membranes. This leads to an improvement in the nutritional quality of the cellular structures of tissues and stimulates the production of ATP. As you know, this substance is the main source of energy for the cells of the whole organism.
ATP is necessary for muscle contraction or, more simply, for any human action. It is due to the increase in the rate of ATP production that athletes can train with greater intensity for a long period of time after using steroids. Steroids improve blood flow and, as a result, tissues receive more oxygen. This leads to an improvement in the functioning of the vascular system. Scientists are now aware of the presence of free radicals in the body, which can accumulate during prolonged physical activity. These substances limit human performance if not eliminated. It is this ability that is inherent in the steroid, and it is called antioxidant activity. You've probably already heard about antioxidants, since now the topic of fighting free radicals is quite popular. The very fact of the existence of free radicals has been known to scientists for a couple of decades, but only recently their negative effect on the body of athletes was established. It should also be said that steroids can reduce the activity of cortisol, whose task is to destroy tissues for energy. AAS block its production, which helps to protect muscle tissue from decay.
Effects of steroids
Some anabolic steroids are able to affect the body for several weeks, while others only for a couple of days. In addition, AAS differ in their effectiveness and the tasks they perform.
The effectiveness of steroids depends on a number of factors, for example, the regimen of use, dosages, characteristics of the athlete's body, etc. Those drugs that have high anabolic activity are more conducive to muscle growth. However, they can perform their task with varying degrees of efficiency. The most powerful mass-gaining drugs are, for example, methane, testosterone, nandrolone, etc.
No less important in this matter are the individual characteristics of the organism. For example, in athletes with a highly developed biotransport system, steroid molecules are delivered to target tissues faster and come into action earlier. The number of receptors is also important, since it depends on how many AAS molecules can work simultaneously.
Thus, we can say that anabolic steroids, subject to high-quality nutrition and proper training, can accelerate the growth of muscle mass, increase a person's physical performance, accelerate the burning of body fat and improve the quality of tissue nutrition.
Due to the ability to accelerate blood flow, thereby having a positive effect on blood vessels, as well as accelerating mass gain, steroids are actively used in medicine. Actually, it was for this that they were originally created.
But deciding to start using AAS, you should also remember about their negative effects on the body. Only by knowing well the dark and light sides of anabolic steroids will you be able to use them effectively and safely.
You can get acquainted with the dark and light side of taking anabolic steroids in these stories by Denis Borisov:
