If you’re into
bodybuilding,
then most likely you have heard of the widespread use of
anabolic
steroids in your sport.
You can say that bodybuilding and
steroids
has this long-running relationship. Steroids have been already enjoying
patronage from the
bodybuilding
circuit before their potentials have been known to individuals in other
sporting fields. It is of no wonder then that in competitive athletics
the bulk of nonmedical users of steroids come from the sport of
bodybuilding.
Why
are steroids in great demand in bodybuilding?
Steroids are
known to increase muscle mass and strength, and in competitive
bodybuilding these two characteristics – muscle mass and strength –
spell the winner.
Steroids are popular in
bodybuilding because they promote muscle hypertrophy
through their anabolism and anti-catabolism effects. Steroids
facilitate hypertrophy by improving protein synthesis. As
anti-catabolic agents, steroids prevent the hormone cortisol from
breaking down muscle fibers when you’re body is under stress like when
you’re doing intense training.
In bodybuilding contests, judges not only look for shape, symmetry,
muscularity, definition, muscle separation, etc., they also look for
corresponding feats of strength to execute flexibility, hand
balancing, among others.
Steroids
work positively on this latter aspect of bodybuilding by
improving the synthesis of two primary and structural proteins which
are myosin and actin. Myosin and actin are necessary to for muscle
movement and contractions.
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