In the bodybuilding world, 86.8 percent of men report using supplements to help them improve their performance, support their immune system, and maximize their health.
The same is true of 11.2 percent of women.
Are you thinking about using bodybuilding supplements? Are you having a hard time choosing between SARMs vs prohormones?
As you might know, I’m a healthy eating expert and wellness research geek.
I wrote a bestselling health boosting book called Life is Long, which shares a wide range of cutting edge health information for protecting against disease and living as your healthiest, most energetic self.
In this article I will be sharing health research about the pros and cons of SARMs vs prohormones and why could they be steroid alternatives
What Are SARMs?
Before we dive into the specifics of the prohormone vs SARM debate, let’s define each of these supplements.
What are SARMs? SARM is short for Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators.
These supplements contain therapeutic compounds that make them similar to anabolic steroids. The big difference, though, is that they have reduced androgenic properties.
Anabolic steroids bind to androgen receptors throughout the body. SARMs are more selective (hence the name) and only bind to androgen receptors in certain tissues.
What Are Prohormones?
Prohormones have a similar purpose to anabolic steroids and SARMs. They are converted via enzymatic processes into anabolic hormones. After their conversion, they help to speed up protein synthesis and increase muscle growth.
Are SARMs and Prohormones Legal?
It is legal in the United States for bodybuilders (and anyone else, for that matter) to buy SARMs and prohormones. There is a catch, though.
If you’re a competitive athlete, you will be penalized by most major organizations if you’re drug tested and found with either supplement in your system. It’s up to you to decide if it’s worth using these supplements, as they will increase your risk of being disqualified (and possibly banned from future competitions).
SARMs Pros and Cons
When it comes to deciding between SARMs vs prohormones for beginners, it’s important to know the pros and cons of each supplement. Outlined below are some of the most noteworthy benefits and drawbacks of SARMs:
Pros
SARMs offer several benefits for bodybuilders, especially when compared to traditional anabolic steroids. For example, they can help you to increase your lean muscle mass in specific areas while also reducing your body fat percentage.
SARMs support increases in muscle strength, too, and they make it easier for you to recover after tough workouts. Some researchers have also found that they can protect against muscle wasting and increase users’ bone density over time.
Many people also prefer SARMs over steroids because they have a shorter-than-average half-life. This means they don’t stay in your system for as long as some other supplements. As a result, you may be less prone to side effects when you include SARMs in your supplement regimen.
SARMs are generally more affordable than steroids and prohormones, too.
Cons
Most people don’t notice significant side effects when they start using SARMs. There are some potential effects you might experience, though, including the following:
- Oily skin
- Increased acne breakouts
- Increased LDL cholesterol (also known as “bad cholesterol”)
You should note, too, that there hasn’t been any long-term research on the effects of SARMs. Since this is a relatively new supplement, it’s unclear how it will affect your health if you use it regularly for a long time.
Due to the lack of research, some athletes feel that the potential benefits of SARMs don’t outweigh the risks. You’ll need to decide for yourself whether or not this is the case for you before you start using them.
Prohormones Pros and Cons
Now, let’s touch on the pros and cons of prohormones. Here are some factors to consider when deciding if prohormones are the right bodybuilding supplement for you:
Pros
When it comes to the debate about SARMs vs prohormones results, it seems you can experience similar benefits from prohormones as those offered by SARMs.
For example, many people who use prohormones see increases in muscle growth and muscle strength. You may also notice improvements in your overall body composition, as well as faster recovery after your workouts.
Prohormones offer some limited medicinal benefits as well.
One study found that patients dealing with hyperparathyroidism, a condition that results from impaired kidney function, saw modest improvements when they were treated with prohormones. However, this was only true of those who were in the early stages of the disease.
Cons
One of the main differences between SARM and prohormone benefits is the half-life. Prohormones have a longer half-life than SARMs, which means that they’ll stay in your system longer.
Prohormones also come with more potential side effects, too. The following are some of the most common ones:
- Oily skin
- Increased acne breakouts
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Bloating and water retention
- Lower libido
- Mood swings
- Gynecomastia (increased breast tissue)
- High blood pressure
- Hepatotoxicity (chemical-induced liver damage)
Prohormones are also often more expensive than SARMs. When you consider the increased risks associated with many prohormones and tack on the extra cost, it makes sense that more people are turning to SARMs instead.
Can You Combine SARMs and Prohormones?
For some people, especially those who are having a hard time choosing between the two supplements, stacking SARMs with prohormones might seem like a better option.
Technically you can stack prohormones with SARMs. However, if you are going to combine supplements like this, you need to exercise caution. Don’t throw everything at your body at once and hope for the best.
In general, it’s best to start with just one supplement and stick with it for a few cycles. If you don’t notice any adverse effects and want to up the ante, you can then add in a low dose of another supplement to your stack.
Be sure to monitor how you feel after doing this and stop if you start to notice negative side effects.
SARMs vs Prohormones: Which Will You Choose?
Now that you know more about the differences between SARMs vs prohormones, which supplement do you think is right for you? Do you want to try using both at the same time?
No matter what, keep the pros and cons outlined above in mind so you can make the best choice for your unique needs.
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