Since time immemorial, man has tried to take evolution by surprise. We have always wanted to be bigger, stronger, faster and more beautiful! Didn’t we? In order to improve ourselves, we have discovered some of the most advanced supplements. These compounds, in this case sarms, have the potential to completely change the appearance, performance and aging of our bodies. But, are they safe? Can they be used legally? That’s what you’ll find out in the rest of this article.
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SARMS: a word that makes the buzz!
S.AR.M.S are in vogue among bodybuilding enthusiasts. Many professional athletes, and even amateurs attending gyms and other sports halls, each have a bottle of this product in their kit. Some of the claims are bordering on the impossible: lean muscle growth, fat reduction, improved endurance, reduced lifting plateaus and faster recovery, all with minimal or no side effects.
However, the general rule of thumb in bodybuilding is that if something sounds too good to be true, it is not. But when you have serious professionals with years of practice who support these claims, you begin to wonder if you haven’t missed out on something.
Today we’re going to decode MRSA, one of the latest buzzwords in the bodybuilding supplement world. We will review the research, the supposed uses and help you understand the potential benefits and risks associated with their use.
What are SARMS?
Originally developed for medical applications
Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMS) are a group of androgen receptor modulators that have a very similar action to anabolic steroids.
Originally, these compounds were studied and developed for potential medical applications, in particular for the prevention of muscle wasting caused by various diseases such as cancer, hypogonadism and osteoporosis.
Compounds with selective actions
However, as with many substances, these compounds have been found to act selectively on body tissues by chance. This characteristic would allow them to provide the benefits of an anabolic steroid, while being free of the harmful side effects associated with steroid use in the bodybuilding world.
In other words, their limited androgenic properties would make them highly desirable for use as supplements to enhance performance, boost lean muscle growth and accelerate fat loss.
Let us make it simpler. In medical applications, when administered at recommended doses, these products can help prevent muscle wasting in cancer patients. For a bodybuilder on a cut cycle, this could mean preventing the loss of hard-earned muscle.
Very beneficial with little or no adverse effects
At the same time, these compounds may not cause the typical side effects associated with other cutting agents. There would be no palpitations, anxiety or extreme energy fluctuations.
Similarly, they would allow the bodybuilder to gain clean muscle mass without the typical side effects associated with steroids. There would be no damage to the liver, no acne, no gynecomastia, no heavier voice and no hair growth on the face and body. Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it?
How does it work?
We hate technical terms as much as you do. But to help you understand how Sarms work, it is important that we use some scientific jargon. We promise, however, to be reasonable.
Let’s start with how the hormones in our bodies work. Hormones are among the most important chemicals in our body, each with a very specific function.
Think of each hormone as a chemical messenger that carries a very specific message to our cells. Each cell in turn has a receiver that receives this message and transmits it to the cell to carry out that command.
Anabolic androgenic hormones
Testosterone, also known as the male hormone, belongs to a group of hormones called androgens. It helps you gain muscle (anabolic effect) but also helps you grow hair and make your voice sound heavier during puberty (androgenic effect).
Androgens work in different ways in your body. They can bind directly to androgen receptors on cells, be converted to DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which binds to androgen receptors, or be converted to estrogen, which then binds to an estrogen receptor.
Under normal circumstances, your body is ready to automatically regulate the production of androgens. It will only produce the amount needed to function normally. But sometimes normal is not enough for the bodybuilder. Bodybuilders therefore look for external sources of androgens called anabolic steroids.
Anabolic steroids
When you inject an anabolic steroid, your body is suddenly overloaded with androgens that saturates all androgen receptors. Each receptor then carries this response to the cells, inducing both anabolic and androgenic changes.
After saturating your cells, the body still has an excess of androgens that it cannot use. So it goes ahead and converts some of it into estrogen and you start to experience some of the unpleasant side effects such as enlarging breasts.
Some of the excess androgens can also be converted to DHT, which will shrink the hair follicles and cause them to fall out. Some side effects, such as shrunken testicles, are temporary and can be reversed once you stop taking steroids. However, some changes, such as hair loss, heart problems and liver disease, are permanent. This is the trade-off you make for a better body.
In addition, once you use an anabolic steroid, your chances of becoming addicted or dependent are very high. So let’s face it.
The Special Case of SARMS
SARMS, on the other hand, are non-steroidal and selective in their action on tissues. In other words, they transmit their anabolic messages only to androgen receptors located on bone and muscle cells. As a result, your liver is spared the horror, your hair follicles will be grateful and your heart will pump longer.
Steroids are like a flood of hormones in your system. They give you 50% benefit and cause 50% damage. To limit the damage, you’ll need to use supplements to protect your liver.
MRSA will only target the cells that matter. They will send the message to your muscles to start growing or to your body to start burning fat. All other irrelevant messages will be ignored.
It will only attach to cells in muscle and bone tissue. Your other vital organs such as the liver and prostate will be spared. They will not break down into other compounds such as estrogen and DHT, which causes some of the worst side effects associated with steroid use.
What are the benefits of using these products?
As mentioned earlier, these compounds were initially studied and developed for their therapeutic benefits in preventing diseases such as cachexia, which is responsible for at least 20% of cancer-related deaths. However, their use in bodybuilding and professional sports has completely different reasons.
Many bodybuilders and athletes do not want to use steroids for obvious reasons. SARMS allows them to dip their toes into synthetic compounds without the risk of taking steroids. Also, the results are much better than using herbal supplements and multivitamins.
The ability of these compounds to prevent muscle wasting helps retain the muscle mass gained during training cycles. There is no bloating due to water retention. Nothing but hard muscle!
What are the best SARMS?
We have gathered the most promising ones for you. These molecules that we present are the most extensively tested. We count them among them:
- andarin (S4-GTX007)
- Ligandrol (LGD-4033)
- cardarine (GW-501516)
- ostarine (MK-2866)
The andarine
This first generation SARMS is renowned for its ability to boost performance. In simple terms, it will give you enormous gains in strength. But that’s not all. Andarin also improves bone density. It will help you gain lean mass, burn fat faster and help your body recover faster.
To be honest, it’s a dream compound that should be part of your diet. One of its innate abilities is to stimulate your libido and reduce spermatogenesis. So, if you thought MRSA would lower your fertility levels, andarin is your best choice.
Ligrandrol
Ligrandrol is affectionately called Anabolicum. If you wanted a product close to the effects of testosterone, Ligandrol is exactly what you need. This extremely useful compound can help you build lean muscle in a very short period of time. It is also associated with whimsical strength gains and a flawless look. It provides no water retention and will also increase your libido and overall well-being.
Cardarin
Cardarine is the ultimate cutting compound that is often present in weight gain programs. It improves gene expression and allows the body to tap into its stored fat reserves. If you’re struggling to get rid of a potbelly, cardarin is your best bet. In addition, it accelerates recovery and improves endurance.
Ostarine
In the bodybuilding community, ostarine is known as a recovery elixir. Therefore, it always finds a place in every program. But its benefits go far beyond muscle recovery. Ostarine stands out as one of the only MRSA that has undergone extensive clinical testing. These studies have shown an increase in lean muscle mass and a reduction in tissue degeneration. It is anabolic even at very low doses. Most bodybuilders use up to 25 mg/day for loading cycles.
Is SARMS safe?
This brings us to the big question: how safe are these products? We will be brutally honest here. We just don’t know enough to say they are 100% safe. We wish we could say they are safe, but we are not here to peddle lies.
SARMS is still in its infancy. They have only been studied for the last two decades and research has been limited to rodents. For the uninitiated, we share 98% of our DNA with rodents. But at the end of the day, we are not rats. So we don’t know the long-term effects of some of these compounds.
What we do know is that research is very active. Some studies have also been extremely positive. But that’s clearly not enough, is it?
Are there any known side effects?
Yes, the use of SARMS can cause side effects. However, most of these side effects have been observed at higher than recommended doses. For example, the maximum recommended dose of Cardarin (GW1516) is 10 mg/ml per day. But many bodybuilders use up to 50 mg/ml per day. This is an incredibly high dose that accelerates the effects. Thereafter, it can also cause side effects. Possible side effects include :
- moderate virilization;
- hair loss;
- gynecomastia;
- vision problems.
Are these compounds legal?
SARMS have been prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) since 2008. They can be misused to enhance performance in sport because of their anabolic properties and their ability to stimulate androgen receptors in muscle and bone. They are currently classified as “other anabolic agents” as defined in section S1.2 of the WADA Prohibited List.
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