Often we see headlines about sportspersons testing positive for banned drugs. This is what they—knowingly or not—use steroids for upping their performance. This is unfair to other participants who depend on their own hard work and supplements. This means there should be a world of difference between steroids and supplements, the ones athletes can include in their diets and the ones that need to be shunned.
What does the above tell us? Steroids are banned as far as sports is concerned, whereas Supplements are most welcome, that aid in all your hard work that you put in.
The question is why steroids are banned, whereas supplements not? We delve deep into this topic today and soon you will see why it is so.
What Are Supplements?
True. Many people believe supplements contain steroids and hence are bad. Whereas both are different types of helpers. Supplements simply aid what is missing in your diet, like Whey Protein helps athletes meet their daily dosage needs and help get bountiful muscles.
Types of Supplements athletes can depend on and expect good results
- L-Carnitine
- Whey Protein Bars for in-between meals
- Whey Protein in different varieties
- Fish Oil Supplements
You can even create some lip-smacking, tasty and delicious shakes that are fully legal even if you gulp in big quantities.
Benefits of Supplements
First and foremost, supplements have no side effects.
There are Many Benefits of Supplements
Nutritional deficiency is the root cause of many diseases and athletes need every drop of nutrients to ensure their hard work pays off. Modern day foods and vegetables are marred with pesticides and have poor nutrients. Supplements provide adequate quantities of superior quality of nutrients, manufactured with a specific combination of nutrients which are recommended to be consumed on particular times for maximum benefit.
Supplements Contain Essential Nutrients
Nutritional supplements are packed with concentrated forms of naturally occurring food nutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, omega 3 fatty acids, etc. Proteins, in turn, have BCAA (Branched Chain Amino Acids) which are vital for muscle growth. If you work your time in a gym, along with a protein supplement, you should also try out the BCAA supplement which will help increase your endurance, in a totally safe and ethical way!
What Are Steroids?
Steroids are synthetic or man-made chemicals similar to the male sex hormone, testosterone. Steroids are performance enhancers which cause an increase in muscle mass and physical strength, the sole reason why athletes find ways and means to consume them.
Ethical use of Steroids
Steroids are helpful in the treatment of many severe medical issues such as:
- delayed puberty in boys,
- sexual dysfunction in men,
- breast cancer in women, and others like
- osteoporosis, anemia, endometriosis and other conditions which involve hormonal imbalance.
In these extreme circumstances steroids work like godsend gift and welcomed throughout the world.
Unethical use of Steroids
Many athletes’ abuse anabolic steroids to build muscle mass, prolong endurance and enhance performance. Steroids are converted into testosterone in the body, beyond normal levels and help athletes grow their bodies abnormally, and this is unfair.
Steroids do not form part of your diet and the names often resemble drugs, like:
- Androstenedione,
- Dehydrochloromethyltestosterone (Turinabol),
- Methandienone (Dianabol),
- Methyltestosterone (Android),
- Nandrolone (Durabolin),
- Oxandrolone (Oxandrin),
- Oxymetholone (Anadrol), and
- Stanozolol (Winstrol)
Side Effects of Steroids
This sudden increase in muscles and bones often leads to serious side effects like organ damage (liver disease, kidney disease and heart disease), gynecomastia (man boobs), severe acne, hair fall, stunted growth in teens, shrinking of testicles, azoospermia (total absence of sperms in the semen), excess facial or body hair in women, menstrual irregularities, depression or suicidal tendencies.
Most of the steroids are addictive and once your body starts depending on them for normal day-to-day activities, it leads to addiction. Then the person needs more of these steroids, which leads to serious consequences.
How to Ensure Bodybuilding Supplements are Free of Steroids?
Steroids are regulated by government bodies and if any supplement does contain a steroid, it will be mentioned on the pack. Ensure you read everything printed on the container and be especially wary of consuming anything with a “Proprietary Formula” which is a way of hiding unwanted ingredients.
Conclusion
Those who want their bodies to last long should consume Supplements which not only provide essential nutrients not available from regular foods, but prevent from developing many diseases. In today’s age of synthetic manufacturing, supplements are the tried and tested way of nurturing your body, enhance performance and never get any side effects whatsoever. And this can never be said about the competitors, the dreaded chemicals which we talked about in this article. Be healthy, be safe and live happily.
