The Dark Side of Bodybuilding 

What are Anabolic Steroids?

Anabolic steroids are the synthetic version of testosterone, a male anabolic hormone that occurs naturally in the body. The full name, anabolic-androgenic steroids, has Greek origins – anabolic means ‘to build’ in Greek and androgenic means ‘masculinizing’.

The natural androgenic effects of testosterone cause the appearance of many masculine traits including increased aggressiveness, deepening of the voice, acne, increased facial hair and increased body hair. The anabolic effects of the hormone include improved strength, enhanced muscle recovery and accelerated growth of bone and muscle as well as red blood cells.  It is this anabolic nature of steroids that is their prime attraction to athletes and bodybuilders who take them to improve stamina and increase muscle strength and size.

How Anabolic Steroids Work Anabolic steroids are chemically designed to maximize the anabolic, tissue building traits of testosterone, while minimizing its androgenic, sex-linked effects. Anabolic steroids increase levels of testosterone in the body by adding testosterone directly into the bloodstream, bypassing it’s normal synthesis in the body. The specific androgenic or anabolic side effects felt or benefits acquired depend on which steroid is being used. Increased levels of testosterone hormone in the body do not create chemical reactions; they just magnify reactions that are already present and exist in the body. However the anabolic and the androgenic properties are interlinked and the steroids that have the strongest anabolic effect would also have the greatest androgenic effect.

 Benefits of anabolic steroids

Anabolic steroids add power to your bodybuilding workout and significantly increase strength and size of muscles. In addition to these gains in muscle mass and strength, anabolic steroids also provide you with increased energy levels as well as increased aggressiveness. Athletes, mainly those involved in American football, weight lifting and other track and field sports such as throwing events take anabolic steroids in the hope of acquiring speed, strength, endurance, aggressiveness and power. Though studies are divided regarding the benefits of anabolic steroids, athletes who have used it unanimously endorse their beneficial effects.
Bodybuilders take anabolic steroids for four compelling reasons:

1. To increase the level of energy during strenuous physical workouts.
2. To enhance muscle strength and size during weightlifting.
3. To accelerate recovery time of muscles that have undergone the trauma of a
   heavy workout.