The effect of steroids and sports nutrition on the body: what is better for an athlete to choose?

Hello dear readers. Alexander Bely is with you. Today we will touch upon a very relevant topic: the harm of steroids on an athlete’s body. There are many opinions on this matter. Are they so harmful and do they have serious side effects? Could it cost lives? Or is it quite possible to allow yourself to indulge in pills and thereby calmly and easily build muscle mass? Such questions arise often. Therefore, now we will try to understand them.

Anabolic steroids in bodybuilding

At one time, these drugs had the effect of a bomb exploding in the world of sports. No one thought about the dangers of anabolic steroids - athletes without fear used any new products to amaze competitors at competitions with their strength, speed and endurance. As a result, in the middle of the last century, almost all medals were in fact obtained illegally. Today, before competitions, all athletes undergo special testing for the content of such substances in the blood.

In bodybuilding, steroids are especially loved and popular. These hormonal drugs allow you to achieve maximum muscle hypertrophy in a short time. Bodies entwined with veins and muscle tissue, which we see at numerous competitions such as Mr. Olympia, are the result of taking such drugs. In our country, many guys who are passionate about strength sports also use anabolic steroids, the harm to health of which is enormous.

Anabolic steroids for women

Girls are no exception. In recent years, such a sports direction as body fitness has become widespread. The female body, due to its anatomical features (in particular, low levels of endogenous testosterone), is not able to produce sufficient amounts of substances that are responsible for the growth of muscle tissue. As a result, girls take a lot of steroids and anabolics to participate in competitions, the harm of which is even greater for the female body than for the male body.

There are soft drugs for women. For example, Oxandrolone or Turinabol. But do not underestimate their effect on the body: these tableted steroids, when taken continuously, cause irreversible changes in the female hormonal system.

About sports nutrition

Sports nutrition is a special nutritional supplement that has nothing in common with anabolic steroids. They are based on natural substances that are present in ordinary products. They are presented in a more concentrated form, which provides:

1. An easier way to take sports nutrition medications.
2. Accelerates the absorption of nutrients.

These effects ensured that sports nutrition became widespread among professional athletes. The time that previously had to be spent on planning a diet can now be spent on training and other more important things. The required dose of nutrients is provided by supplements that can be purchased immediately for a long period.

Main classes of sports nutrition:

1. high protein foods (proteins);
2. fat burners (L-carnitine);
3. amino acids;
4. carbohydrate-protein mixtures;
5. energy drinks (caffeine);
6. vitamins, minerals and their complexes;
7. BCAAs, phosphatidylserine and creatine.

How does sports nutrition work?

The mechanism of action of sports nutrition is completely different, it is different from what steroids do. Supplements produce the same effect as food entering the body through the esophagus. Passing through the digestive system, nutrients in the right quantities are absorbed into the blood and provide nutrition to cells and tissues.

Yes, there is a sports nutrition that affects testosterone synthesis. But here there is a big difference with anabolic steroids. Sports nutrition stimulates the production of your own testosterone, and steroids replace it, which is why the body stops producing this hormone. Conventional supplements do not cause this effect, but only increase testosterone levels without exceeding safe values.

Effect on hormonal status in men

When taking anabolic steroids, men's production of their own hormones decreases, which inevitably leads to a decrease in the size of the testicles and problems with erection. To partially avoid such consequences after the course, so-called post-cycle therapy is performed. This is taking other medications, which are designed to somehow solve the problem with the production of one’s own hormones.

For women, post-cycle therapy is not necessary. The harm of steroids for females is irreversible.

The most popular anabolic agents

Today, the most common drugs for hypertrophy of muscle fibers are:

• "Turinabol" is positioned as a relatively mild anabolic steroid. Often brings serious liver problems.
• "Oxandrolone" is an anabolic steroid for women; for men its effect is weak. It affects the hormonal system and can subsequently lead to many years of treatment at the gynecologist and infertility.
• Anadrol is considered by chemist athletes to be one of the most powerful anabolic steroids. After a course of use, muscle mass increases by ten to fifteen kilograms. It has a destructive effect on the hormonal system and internal organs.
• Primobolan is an injectable testosterone drug.
• “Stanazolol” is a drug for burning subcutaneous fat, the so-called “drying” for high-quality drawing of the relief. Used by both men and women. Has a deadly effect on joints.
• Phenobolin is a very strong anabolic steroid that promotes rapid muscle growth. Available in the form of an oily solution, which is administered intramuscularly.

General effect on well-being and psyche

The harm and benefit of steroids go hand in hand. For all the negative consequences, there are also benefits. Due to an increase in testosterone levels in the body, a person’s psycho-emotional state changes:

• self-esteem increases;
• social significance in one’s own eyes increases;
• a person wants to compete with someone, he feels the need to be better than those around him;
• motivated (and sometimes not) healthy sports aggression appears;
• feels the need for everything around him to be the way he wants.

Increased muscle mass, strength and endurance

This factor cannot be ignored when describing the benefits and harms of steroids. After only two weeks of prima, the athlete feels completely different, not only psychologically, but also physically. In particular, body weight increases (subject to proper nutrition and proper training) precisely due to muscles, while the fat layer decreases. A person's appearance changes before our eyes.

Endurance becomes greater, this is facilitated by special drugs that are intended for use during the drying period. These are Stanozolol and Oxandrolone. Increased endurance makes it possible to perform cardio training for one and a half to two hours.

Pills and injections also have a positive effect on strength gains. Reviews from athletes indicate that already ten days after the start of the course, working weights increase by at least five kilograms. So the harm and benefits of anabolic steroids are like two sides of the same coin. You can’t talk only about the harm, forgetting about the benefits.

Tips for beginners

Do not buy drugs that are not officially used in sports pharmacology. Be wary of medications that can alter hormonal levels and disrupt the balance of androgen and estrogen. Corticosteroids are not one of them. They contain hormones produced by the adrenal cortex.

Completely avoid products that contain testosterone ester. Instead, it is better to use medicinal herbs that are “natural” anabolic steroids. For example, golden root or pink radiola.

If you are determined to use anabolic steroids, use “soft” drugs. For example, Nandrolone. It is relatively safe and has virtually no side effects if the dosage is observed.

In this case, use our tips:

• Don't delay your appointment. Limit course time to 6 weeks.
• Start with a reduced dosage (3 tablets per day) and gradually increase it to 6 closer to the middle of the course. After this, begin to reduce the dose back.
• Increase your nutrition. To get the effect you need to consume more calories than usual.
• Train! Otherwise there will be no effect.

Note! It is better to increase the rate of creation of androgen receptors than to increase the dose of testosterone. To do this, use protein and regular strength exercises.

Corticosteroids and their effect on the body

Corticosterone and aldosterone are hormones produced by the human adrenal glands. Some athletes take aldosterone in tablet form.

Corticosterone helps synthesize carbon, while the body receives the necessary energy reserves and can function normally. In this case, a large amount of glycogen accumulates in human muscle tissue.

Aldosterone is a steroid that is considered essential for human life, since it is it that regulates the amount of potassium, sodium and electrolytes. Thanks to this, the distribution of fluid in the body occurs normally.

Androgen and estrogen are the main hormones

Androgen is produced by male testicles, and estrogen is produced by female ovaries. These are essentially two different hormones that represent femininity and masculinity. Androgen contributes to the appearance of a low voice, stubble, and body hair. Estrogen promotes the formation of female body fat, a high-pitched voice, fragility and feminine character traits.

When you try to create an imbalance in the hormonal system, a malfunction begins, which inevitably leads to disruption of the entire system. As a result, women begin to visually display masculine features, and men – feminine features. In some cases, this property is even useful. For example, when changing gender among transvestites. But athletes usually have completely different goals, and they don’t need side effects.

Types of anabolic steroids

Natural steroids are produced by different internal organs, so they can be divided into several types:

• Corticosteroids are hormones produced by the adrenal glands. The most well-known corticosteroid active hormones are: aldosterone, hydrocortisone (not to be confused with ointment) and corticosterone. Aldosterone regulates electrolyte levels in the blood, which is important for the proper distribution of fluids within the body. Hydrocortisone is considered one of the main hormones that maintains blood pressure; in addition, it breaks down fats, and also, by increasing blood glucose levels, protects our body from stress. Actually, it is produced during stressful situations. Well, corticosterone promotes a more efficient conversion of amino acids into carbohydrates (carbohydrate synthesis), which helps provide an additional boost of energy.
• Anabolic steroids - their purpose is approximately similar to the properties of testosterone, however, if such hormones are taken artificially, then women may well have them. They provide muscle growth and play an important role in the production of cholecalciferol, although, by and large, they are more harmful.
• Estrogens are sex steroids produced by the male testes and ovaries in males and females, respectively. The main male estrogenone is testosterone, which gives men a masculine and brutal appearance: a strong body structure, a low bass voice, hair on the body, with their frequent absence on the head, etc. The main estrogen in women is estradiol, which supports the favorable course of the menstrual cycle.
• Synthetic - as their name implies, they cannot be produced by the body on its own, so they are taken artificially and only for medicinal purposes. They are also prescribed for men for muscle growth, but also for the treatment of many inflammatory diseases. For women, it may be useful during the recovery cycle after various hormonal imbalances. These kinds of steroids, as a rule, are prescribed only after a full examination, otherwise their use can have a very negative impact on health.

Expectation and reality

As we can see, there are quite a few types of steroids, however, whatever they are, in the minds of most people, this word is strongly associated with drugs for muscle growth, which are taken by almost all avid bodybuilders who are overly keen on improving the relief of their body.

Only one result is expected from such anabolic steroids: a sharp acceleration in muscle growth. In reality, it often happens somewhat differently, and the main changes begin to occur more in the state of health than in the beauty of the body.

When the body fails

Young inexperienced athletes who, in pursuit of beauty, having not had time to use all the resources and capabilities of their body, have already started taking steroids, are at great risk of their testosterone practically ceasing to be synthesized normally in their blood. This can lead to serious internal and external changes: a man begins to show signs of effeminacy, his voice acquires a higher pitch, his potency and sexual desire for women decreases or disappears altogether.

In addition, with long-term use of steroids, and after a sudden cessation of use, the built-up muscles begin to “deflate” after a while. Visually it looks, to put it mildly, ugly.

And returning to previous forms is much more difficult. There is only one conclusion: if a person has decided to take anabolic steroids, this means that they need to be taken throughout their entire life, while spending a lot of time in the gym.

Synthetic and anabolic steroids: what is the difference

Synthetic steroids are not produced by the adrenal glands themselves, but are taken orally in tablet or injection form. Representatives of the fairer sex use such substances to restore and normalize the menstrual cycle, and men use them to gain muscle mass and treat certain inflammatory processes and diseases.

Anabolic steroids can also be obtained from the outside; according to the principle of action, they are most similar to endogenous testosterone, only they have a slightly different structural formula. These are the classic steroid drugs that are most often discussed among professional athletes.

Addiction treatment

Existing addiction requires psychiatric help. It can be provided most effectively by specialist narcologists . In most cases, hospital treatment is not required . Except for situations with suicidal episodes, thoughts, psychoses. In this case, special monitoring is required for patients during the first period of therapy.

Discontinuation of anabolic steroids can be immediate or gradual. The refusal option is considered individually, taking into account all the characteristics of a particular patient, his age, habits, character, temperament, anabolic experience.

With emotional instability and choleric type of behavior, sedatives are required. The duration, dose and frequency of taking tranquilizers are determined. In case of severe depressive conditions, an antidepressant is selected.

Please note: the basis of therapeutic intervention is psychotherapy.

Repeated explanatory and motivational conversations are conducted with patients, in which the emphasis is on persuasion methods. When the initial stage of misunderstanding between the patient and the doctor is overcome, and the patient fully understands his problem, then it will be possible to move on to the practice of suggestion. This goal is best served by hypnotic influence.

Role therapy and rational forms of persuasion are of great importance. Especially in groups that contain participants at different stages of treatment, from beginners to those already freed from addiction. The former receive powerful support from the results they see, while the latter consolidate their success with the desire to help people with a similar problem.

It is very important to find ways for patients to remain physically active and stay fit.

Aggressive types of thinking require the participation of a psychologist who, with the help of aesthetic influences, can help a person find his true essence, “suppressed” by the abuse of anabolic steroids.

For preventive purposes in the future, patients should periodically undergo consultation with a psychologist and non-drug types of maintenance therapy - laser puncture, acupuncture. The prognosis after qualified treatment is favorable.

Lotin Alexander, medical columnist

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Harm of steroids and anabolic steroids for women

Representatives of the fair sex with regular use of tablets or injectable steroids experience the following changes in appearance and character:

• the voice sits down and becomes rougher;
• a desire for competition and rivalry appears;
• there is a desire to engage in extreme sports;
• characteristically dangerous behavior on the road when driving a car;
• body hair begins to grow according to the male pattern;
• stubble begins to grow above the lip, and then on the cheeks;
• the clitoris and genitals enlarge.

All these processes in the body due to changes in hormonal status are called virilization. They are typical even when using the relatively safe and mild steroid “Oxandrolone”, the synthesis of which uses special raw materials, and the cost of which is several times higher than conventional testosterone-based steroids.

What other steroids do athletes use?

Most anabolic steroids taken by athletes neglect testosterone. It is much better to produce synthetic steroids that will not have a direct effect on the endocrine system.

A cocktail of three steroids was prepared for the Russian Olympic team: oxandrolone, trenbolone and methenolone. The latter two are considered illegal black market drugs in many countries, both are related to testosterone and are considered powerful tools for muscle growth. Oxandrolone is not as strong and is still available as a prescription drug. Its effects are more specific to muscle building, and less related to secondary sexual characteristics, so it is prescribed to patients who need rapid muscle building or healing. This choice is also popular among athletes.

Reviews from bodybuilders and weightlifters about injectable testosterone

Despite the harm of steroids to humans, many amateur athletes were satisfied with the effects of the drugs. The reviews are not all negative - some men first carefully read the principle of action and instructions, and this ultimately allowed them not to cause severe harm to their own health.

In positive reviews, people emphasize that it is very important to correctly compose the entire course - from the first day until the start of post-cycle therapy. Injectable testosterone is often injected not on its own, but in combination with other drugs. Experienced athletes love to experiment. For example, a combination with the same Turinabol, which is considered a rather weak drug, allows you to achieve significantly greater results. Reviews indicate that with such a combination within a month, with proper training, you can gain about three to five kilograms of pure muscle mass, practically without fat.

Is it possible to buy them without breaking the law?

Yes it is possible. Anabolic steroids are sold legally in pharmacies. But it is impossible to buy them without a prescription from an endocrinologist, venereologist or gynecologist. In judicial practice, there are many examples of unlucky athletes trying to buy anabolic steroids illegally through unscrupulous pharmacists. As a result, both participants in the process were given real terms to serve in a colony for the illegal purchase and sale of potent substances.

In order to legally obtain a prescription for anabolic steroids, you must suffer from incurable hormonal disorders for many years. Regardless of gender, age and purpose of use, it is impossible to obtain a fake prescription.

An anabolic steroid is... The harm of anabolic steroids to the body on Diet4Health.ru.

Our life consists of everyday little things that in one way or another affect our well-being, mood and productivity. I didn’t get enough sleep - my head hurts; I drank coffee to improve the situation and cheer myself up - I became irritable. I really want to foresee everything, but I just can’t. Moreover, everyone around, as usual, gives advice: gluten in bread - don’t go near it, it will kill you; A chocolate bar in your pocket is a direct path to tooth loss. We collect the most popular questions about health, nutrition, diseases and give answers to them that will allow you to better understand what is good for your health.

Reviews from bodybuilders about steroids during the cutting period

During the period of fat burning, when athletes are preparing for the beach season or competitions and are trying to get rid of the subcutaneous fat layer as much as possible, slightly different drugs are used. Winstrol and Stanozolol are popular. By the way, they can also be purchased at the pharmacy - either foreign originals or structural analogues of domestic production. But such drugs are sold strictly according to a prescription. Therefore, unlucky athletes have to buy steroids of dubious quality from dubious “sellers”. The harm of steroids on the body is the same both during the drying period and during the period of mass gain.

Reviews of drugs with anabolic effects during fat burning vary. They helped some people achieve their dream body and perform well in competitions. But there are even more negative reviews from people who were not allowed to compete at all and who undermined their health and were forced to undergo treatment for many months and even years.

Victims of anabolic steroids

There are many famous bodybuilders in the world who sadly said goodbye to their careers or even their lives at the peak of fame. For example, professional American bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman, an eight-time winner of the Mr. Olympia title, as well as a winner of many prestigious competitions, developed real female breasts at the age of 50. In addition, the former athlete suffers quite seriously from intestinal diseases.

His Austrian colleague Andreas Münzer, at the age of 31, developed severe stomach bleeding when he was brought to intensive care, doctors discovered that his body was completely dehydrated due to taking anabolic drugs, as a result of which the blood was very thick and viscous, and the liver and other organs are practically destroyed. The heart could not withstand such a load, and the athlete died in 1996.

The life of 17-year-old Briton Matthew Dear, who so passionately wanted to join the British Navy, ended with an approximately similar end that, in order to gain the necessary physique, he resorted to the help of steroids, and after only 3 weeks of their intensive use, he found himself in intensive care. the reason for this was swelling of the brain of the head and complete failure of most organs. Unfortunately, the guy could not come to his senses.

A not very funny, but quite interesting story happened to a fragile, blond native of London - Candice Armstrong, who, due to excessive “love” for anabolic drugs, in all respects practically turned into a man. As a result of crazy steroid dosages, hair began to grow rapidly all over her body and face, her once feminine breasts disappeared, turning into large stone muscles, and her genitals began to look like something from the “hermaphrodite” category.

Small doses

It is wrong to believe that if anabolic steroids are taken without fanaticism, it will do much less harm than systematically. In both cases, a condition such as hormonal stress will come out, which is very difficult to overcome, both mentally and physiologically. This is why these types of drugs are so dangerous. And you need to understand well that the degree of this danger does not depend on the frequency and intensity of their use.

It is interesting to quote Arnold Schwarzenegger himself, who, as many people know, began his career with bodybuilding. Even at that time, “Iron Arnie” said the following phrase: “If you seriously decide to take up bodybuilding, during your life you should save a lot of money for rehabilitation in old age.” Wise words from a wise man.

Steroid replacement

The best solution would be to abandon the use of anabolic steroids, replacing them with some natural alternative, for example, in order to build muscles, a properly balanced diet that includes a lot of protein is often sufficient for these purposes. In addition, it is recommended to drink only distilled water, eat more greens, nuts, meat and dairy products. Of course, muscles will increase much more slowly than with anabolic drugs, and you won’t be able to achieve relief with them, but it will be great to maintain health, and this is definitely much more important than a pumped-up body!

Reviews of steroids subject to the use of post-cycle therapy

If an athlete, before starting treatment, assessed the possibility of the consequences of using steroids, correctly calculated the dosage required for himself, donated blood to identify the exact clinical picture of hormones, and drew up a plan for post-cycle therapy, then the harm will be minimal. You should also remember to evaluate the condition of your liver. Typically, such a course involves a huge number of tablets and injections - as a result, the liver suffers greatly, and toxic hepatitis can begin.

The harm of steroids for men, first of all, lies in changes in hormonal levels, which, without drawing up a course of subsequent restorative therapy, are deprived of the opportunity to be restored. In recent years, men have begun to take a thoughtful approach to course design. Thanks to this, it was possible to avoid the consequences of long-term use of steroids.

Reviews on amateur bodybuilding forums confirm that more and more men are using anabolic steroids to achieve muscle tissue hypertrophy without harming their own health. But no one has yet studied the long-term consequences of such complex courses.

How to cleanse the body after a course of steroids?

To overcome addiction, minimize and prevent side effects from a course of steroids, you need to cleanse the body. The process will take you 4-6 weeks (depending on how long you have been taking them).

Let's get off the hook

Let us immediately stipulate that you will not be able to stop taking steroids in one second. This is fraught with even more serious hormonal disorders, physiological and psychological problems. Proceed as follows:

• Slowly begin weaning off highly androgenic (strong) steroids. In 3-4 weeks, completely eliminate them by switching to lighter analogues.
• For the next 3-4 weeks, try to get rid of soft drugs. Start using Proviron.
• Take a course of gonadotropin to restore testicular function.
• After a course of Primobolan.

Don't skip protein shakes or protein foods while you are coming off steroids. On the contrary, increase your protein intake.

Restoring liver function

Hepatoprotectors will help us with this: Essentiale Forte, Legalon or Karsil, Hepatostan, etc. To normalize liver function, you can eat pumpkin seeds and artichokes.

Homeopathic preparations for normalizing liver function contain cassia, celandine, cinchona, yarrow and much more. So, do not use homeopathic medicines or what they are made from.

Note! The degree of dilution of the active substance in a homeopathic medicine is so high that it simply will not work. And many medicinal plants have undesirable effects. The same yarrow increases the likelihood of blood clots. This is generally inappropriate for a person who has just used steroids.

Restoring the cardiovascular system

To restore the cardiovascular system, we will need cardioprotectors: lipoflavone, quercetin, corvitin, vitamins C and E, potassium and magnesium.

Cardioprotectors regulate the supply of oxygen to the myocardium. Their effectiveness is low, the course is very long (starting from several months). Maral root or Leuzea safflower will help to partially normalize the state of the circulatory system.

Reviews from doctors about anabolic steroids

Doctors are unanimously against self-administration of steroids. Medical professionals can understand: no appearance is worth disrupting the functioning of the hormonal system once and for all. As a result of a thoughtless choice of drugs “on the advice of a friend from the gym,” a person may remain disabled.

Yes, testosterone and other hormones are indeed vital for many people. But guys who go to the gym do not need to take such drugs for the sake of an extra few centimeters in the volume of their biceps. This is the opinion of doctors. And if we add to it the possibility of initiating a criminal case for the acquisition and possible distribution of prohibited potent substances (which include anabolic steroids), then the event seems too risky.

Myths about taking such drugs

People far from professional sports treat anabolic steroids as if they were drugs. In fact, despite some toxicity and equating these drugs with potent ones, they do not pose any obvious threat to the health and life of the athlete.

Here are the most common “popular” myths about anabolic steroids:

• Anabolic is a guarantee of a beautiful body. This is a myth: no matter what an athlete takes, it is impossible to achieve a beautiful athletic body without grueling training and a strict diet.
• By taking medications, you can eat whatever you want and not gain weight. It is a myth. During a course of steroids, appetite greatly increases due to the acceleration of metabolism. And you often have to control yourself, sometimes remain hungry, so that fat tissue does not accumulate along with muscle tissue.
• Women are strictly prohibited from taking steroids. For the fairer sex, anabolics are a one-way ticket: the virilization process will trigger a hormonal shift. This is a myth - with the right drug and dosage, women successfully take steroids and achieve excellent results in sports.