If you are new to the world of bodybuilding, it would be fair to say that you have probably heard of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS). But how much do you really know about AAS? Do you even know how steroids work in your body? Well, if you ever thought about starting a bodybuilding training program that incorporates steroid use, it would be absolutely important for you to know how steroids work. Before starting a steroid cycle, you need to understand what goes on in your body whenever you use steroids. This will help you to better experience the steroids you choose to use and also keep you from misusing or abusing the drugs because you are aware of the dangers of steroid use.
So How Do Steroids Work?
You may already know that anabolic steroids help to enhance performance and that is why they are called performance-enhancing drugs. You may even know that steroids can be used in bulking or cutting cycles and that they are synthetic hormones which replace your body’s natural production of testosterone. It is possible that you also know that anabolic steroids help to build lean muscle mass, improve strength, agility, stamina, focus and even endurance.
But how do steroids work to enhance your performance exactly?
How Steroids Work in the Body to Stimulate Muscle Growth
Anabolic-androgenic steroids are designed in a laboratory and are synthetic chemical derivatives of naturally occurring hormones in your body like testosterone which is produced by the testes (in men), ovaries (in women) and the adrenal glands in both sexes.
One key anabolic effect of steroids is muscle growth while the androgenic effects have to do with male pubescent characteristics like a deep, raspy voice, body and facial hairs.
Steroids are commonly prescribed in the management of body wasting illnesses like AIDS and cancer, as it helps with muscle mass development. However, athletes especially those in strength-based sports like powerlifting and bodybuilding make use of steroids like Dianabol to build muscle mass and Testosterone Enanthate to improve endurance, stamina and recovery from muscle damage.
Anabolic steroids will substitute the natural testosterone with synthetic hormones that are in a larger amount in the bloodstream to help with muscular hypertrophy and heal torn muscle fibres.
As AAS is administered in the body, it will get into your bloodstream, then it flows to the androgen receptors of muscle tissue. With the AAS in the muscle cells, it will communicate with your DNA which eventually results in the growth of your muscles through the process of protein synthesis.
Depending on the type of anabolic steroid that is used, the amount and frequency of drug use, steroids can have a variety of reactions in the body of a bodybuilder. Steroids may promote the development of muscle mass (bulking) or it may help in toning down the muscles (cutting) to give lean muscle mass.
AAS and Cortisol
In addition to muscle mass development, AAS helps to prevent the union between the androgen receptors of the muscle cells and cortisol (stress-hormone). When this happens, the muscular hypertrophy process becomes less frequent which means that the bodybuilder will experience much less fatigue of the muscles. This will enable them to engage in intense workout sessions at the gym as their stamina as well as endurance levels are enhanced.
In Conclusion
Steroids are normally taken in cycles. This is done to minimise the possible side effects that they can cause the user. Now that you know how steroids work in the body, you need to consult with a professional trainer before you start a steroid cycle, so that you can use the steroids that are right for the type of bodybuilding training program that you intend running.
