Do you work out, follow a healthy diet, and work hard to achieve results? Are you still not seeing the results you hoped for?
Do you drink protein shakes and use supplements like creatine and BCAAs, but still find yourself hitting a plateau in your weight loss and strength training goals?
If this is the case, it may be time to consider SARMs. However, before trying something new, it’s a good idea to learn what are SARMs, if they are good for bodybuilding, and if they are safe.
Keep reading to learn all about SARMs and what they have to offer.
Table of Contents
Getting to Know SARMs
Most people know that using steroids to enhance performance is not a good idea. While they can be effective at increasing muscle mass, steroids come with several health risks. SARMs are not steroids.
SARMs, or selective androgen receptor modulators, work like steroids without the negative side effects. Many people believe using SARMs can help someone safely improve their athletic performance.
As mentioned above, SARMs and steroids are not the same. SARMs are not anabolic steroids.
This leads to the question – what are SARMs? While SARMs bind to androgen receptors like steroids, they are a unique class of drugs that include synthetic ligands.
Originally discovered in the 1990s, SARMs improve athletic performance because they stimulate anabolism, increasing muscle strength and mass. SARMs also help with recovery after exercise, which is essential for athletes.
If you are looking for sarms for sale, you may wonder if they are legal. This is a hard question to answer, but you can continue learning about SARMs here.
How Were SARMs Developed?
SARMs were discovered in the last century as a possible solution to stimulate hormone generation and to combat cases of infertility.
Later, scientists developed SARMs to help reduce muscle loss caused by certain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, and cancer.
How Do SARMs Work?
As mentioned above, SARMs are like steroids. While this is true, they aren’t the same thing.
Both work by binding to the androgen receptors, which trigger changes in the DNA. These changes increase muscle growth.
The issue is that using steroids will impact more than just your muscles. Because of this, they can cause several side effects, including acne, hair loss, and prostate issues.
SARMs, though, are “tissue-selective.” These can target your muscles without causing this chain of reactions. You also take SARMs in pill form rather than injecting them as you do with steroids.
When taking SARMs, they will help to build bone and muscle and have been proven to prevent muscle wastage caused by disease, osteoporosis, and age. Recently, many big-name supplement brands have begun selling SARMs due to their popularity and effectiveness.
However, since SARMs are anabolic agents that work to enhance performance, they are on the list of prohibited substances from the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Are SARMs FDA Approved?
While most SARMs are considered safe, they aren’t FDA-approved to consume. More research is needed to approve these by regulatory bodies to begin using them beyond medical research purposes.
It’s important to note that there is no guarantee of how safe SARMs are. That’s because the FDA has not approved them for recreational purposes. Because of this, there is no guarantee that the ingredients list is not misleading.
Potential Side Effects of SARMs
SARMs have only been available for a few decades. Right now, there isn’t a lot of information about how these work or the possible side effects they can cause.
Also, SARMs are not approved for use recreationally. Because of this, they are not subject to any type of regulatory oversight, and quality control is often nonexistent.
While this is true, there are few side effects known related to SARMs.
SARMs vs. Steroids
SARMs are considered better than steroids for a few reasons. The most important is the minimal side effects they cause, as mentioned above.
This supplement works by activating androgen receptors in certain tissues rather than increasing testosterone levels. This helps to reduce the possibility of problems over time.
If you were to take anabolic steroids, they would stimulate muscle hypertrophy (growth) by activating the androgen receptors in the body. Unlike SARMs, this occurs throughout your body.
Not only are steroids illegal for recreational use, but they can also cause serious and permanent side effects. Some of these include:
- Deepened voice and masculinization for women
- Heart disease
- Erectile dysfunction and testicle shrinkage
- Liver toxicity
- Acne
- Suicidal tendencies
- Aggressive behavior
- Mood disorders
It is worth noting that SARMs are not as potent as traditional anabolic steroids. They also don’t have the effects that steroids do like hair growth and more, which is why most women believe they are smarter option.
Getting to Know the Different Types of SARMs
There are several selective androgen receptor modulators available today.
Learn about these here.
MK-2866 Ostarine
This is one of the most well-known and popular SARM options available today. It was first developed to help fight against muscle wasting diseases, including osteoporosis.
Because the compound has on muscle-building, many people use it regularly. It is also reported to be “highly effective” when it comes to enhancing performance.
Ligandrol – LGD-4033
LGD-4033 is also referred to as Ligandrol. Just like with Ostarine, this SARM has been used in human clinical trials.
According to early data, this SARM is highly effective at dosages of just one milligram a day. However, there were some reports of hormonal suppression at lower dosages, as well.
Some people use LGD-4033 for muscle bulking because it is believed to enhance muscle strength and mass.
Testolone – RAD140
Testolone is considered one of the most potent SARMs available. It will bind to your body’s androgen receptors and stimulate protein and muscle cells.
Based on animal studies, RAD140’s power is increasing lean muscle. While it is very potent, it comes with some side effects, which need to be understood before using it.
Andarine – S4
S4, which is also called Andarine, is a type of investigational SARM. It was created to be used as an alternative for different muscle-wasting diseases.
Andarine is mainly known for how it can improve muscle growth while increasing strength. Some people stack this SARM with MK-2866 or LGD-4033 to enhance the effects further.
However, even though it is a potent SARM, there are some potential side effects. For example, it can impact vision and cause hormonal suppression.
Ibutamoren – MK-677
Ibutamoren is a quality and effective growth hormone. It works by working in the same way that the ghrelin receptor does. This receptor stimulates the GH – growth hormone – and IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1).
Since this SARM may increase IGF-1 and GH, it is considered a possible treatment for those lacking in these hormones.
With Mk-677 being able to stimulate both IGF-1 and GH, it is popular for bodybuilders and many other athletes. With these hormones, it is possible to experience muscle growth, accelerated recovery, and so much more.
Cardarine – GW501516
Sometimes GW501516 is sometimes mistaken for being a SARM; however, this isn’t the case. It is a PPAR agonist.
This compound is beneficial at helping to enhance fat loss, metabolism, stamina, and endurance. It is popular because not many other compounds can improve endurance.
Reasons to Use SARMs
Some of the top reasons you may want to consider using SARMs include:
- Increase bone density
- Burn fat for fuel
- Building lean body mass
- Reduced recovery time
- Improved running performance
These are just a few of the benefits you will see when you begin using SARMs.
SARMs Use for Bodybuilders
Most bodybuilders opt to use SARMs thanks to the muscle-building potential they offer and how easy they are to use compared to more traditional and potentially dangerous anabolic steroids.
It is possible to use SARMs for cutting, bulking, or maintenance. However, you must find the right SARM for your desired goals.
If you choose to use SARMs for bodybuilding, make sure you follow the instructions carefully. Also, begin with a lower dose and increase slowly over time.
SARMs will impact the natural production of testosterone in your body. Because of this, you need to use them for relatively short periods (i.e., eight to 12 weeks). After the set amount of time has passed, stop using it for four to 12 weeks to ensure your body doesn’t become tolerant to the SARM.
The dose you should take each day varies based on which SARM you choose. However, it is best to take SARMs approximately one hour before your workout to achieve the best results.
It is also possible to stack SARMs to improve gains.
Women should use approximately half the dose of SARMs that a man would achieve the desired results.
Post Cycle Therapy for SARMs
SARMs may result in the suppression of testosterone in your body. This means they will temporarily shut down the natural production of hormones.
Because testosterone suppression occurs, it is necessary to engage in post-cycle therapy or PCT after a SARM cycle.
The point of PCT is to bring your hormone levels back up to what is considered normal as quickly as you can. You can use several products for PCT, and usually, this is just a matter of what you prefer to use.
It’s important to note that you will always need to engage in post-cycle therapy if you use SARMs. If you don’t plan to do this, you will lose most of the gains you achieve.
Common Questions about SARMs and SARMs Use
If you are thinking about using SARMs, you may have some questions. Some of the most common questions can be found here.
What SARMs Are Not Suppressive?
SARMs, in theory, are not suppressive. That’s because you are not supplementing the exogenous testosterone.
However, not everything is clear-cut. Some users have reported issues if they fail to undergo PCT after a cycle.
What SARMs Are Considered Least Suppressive?
If you want to avoid suppression, begin with milder SARMs and low doses. Also, use them for shorter cycles.
For most people, four weeks should be sufficient to see results.
What SARMs are Most Suppressive?
The more potent a SARM is, the more suppressive it will be. This is especially true if you use them for longer cycles.
One of the most powerful SARMs available is YK-11. It should only be used by more advanced users.
Is It Safe to Use SARMs Together?
You can stack SARMs. In fact, it is the most logical way to progress the usage of these substances.
It can also be beneficial if you hit a plateau or if you want something that provides faster results.
Stacking SARMs also means you get benefits from two SARMs, instead of just one. For example, one may be dry or lean gains, where another may be improved recovery.
Make sure that you know how to stack SARMs properly and safely if you plan to do this.
Now You Know What Are SARMs and How They Work
When it comes to the question – what are SARMs – the information above should give you some insight. Understanding what these substances are and how they work can help you decide if it is something you want to try.
SARMs are not right for everyone, but they can be beneficial if you try to enhance your gains.
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