Have you ever looked at a bodybuilder’s body? If you see one for the first time, instead of thinking it’s cool, you might find it strange or even ridiculous. This is because their bodies are built differently compared to how normal people usually develop muscles. They use steroids, especially anabolic steroids, which are lab-made drugs that mimic the naturally occurring male sex hormones called androgens. There are many types of anabolic steroids, such as testosterone, Dianabol, and Anavar.
The most common steroid is testosterone. Testosterone is an important sex hormone for males. Its role is to treat various issues in the body, such as maintaining a stable sex drive (libido) and preventing muscle and bone loss. To grow muscles, the amount of muscle gained should be greater than muscle loss, which is known as protein breakdown. Testosterone binds to androgen receptors inside muscle cells, causing ribosomes to produce more muscle proteins. With its use, muscle recovery becomes faster, leading to an increase in muscle mass.
Additionally, nitrogen is essential for muscle growth. Testosterone helps maintain nitrogen levels, ensuring that the body remains in an environment conducive to building muscle. If nitrogen levels drop, the body enters a catabolic state, in which it breaks down stored energy, leading to muscle loss. Testosterone prevents this, keeping the body in a healthy, muscle-producing state.
Not only does testosterone aid in muscle gain, but it also helps burn fat. For bodybuilders, maintaining a very low fat percentage is highly recommended, as their muscles need to be more visible to compete in higher-class divisions. This steroid restricts the body from storing additional fat, particularly in the belly area. Low testosterone levels may result in higher estrogen levels, which increase fat storage. Additionally, steroids boost Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). In one experiment with testosterone, the subject’s BMR level increased significantly over 12 months, meaning his body burned fat without requiring extra exercise.
Bodybuilders use testosterone to increase muscle mass, speed up muscle recovery, prevent fat storage, and enhance workout performance. Regulating nitrogen and estrogen levels, activating ribosomes, and increasing BMR are the key functions of steroids. However, steroids are not recommended for normal people, except for those who need them for medical treatment. Overall, testosterone is one of the most important hormones that plays a crucial role in bodybuilding.
References
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1730811/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15472231/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/sexual-health/in-depth/testosterone-therapy/art 20045728
https://www.numan.com/low-testosterone/symptoms/muscle-mass-testosterone-link https://www.livescience.com/3349-steroids-work.html
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/understanding-how-testosterone-affect s-men
https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/steroids
By. James Yoon