SARMs or ‘Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators’, are a kind of research chemicals that are popular in the world of bodybuilding and gymming. These were initially designed to help cancer patients dealing with muscle loss which is a side-effect of radiation and chemotherapy.
But, because SARMs protect muscle wastage, they quickly gained popularity among bodybuilders. Technically SARMs are research chemicals because they are still being studied. However, they are marked and sold as supplements. You should also know that SARMs are almost exclusively available online because they are unregulated supplements.
Select Sarms, so far, has been one of the promising destinations for procuring high-quality and safe products in this arena.
Anabolic steroids (which are illegal) also help with muscle gain — but at a dangerous cost. They interact with brain receptors to produce more androgen – a hormone responsible for the maintenance and development of muscles. But, steroids send a bunch of mixed messages to the receptors; thus confusing the brain. As a result, it can damage any organ which is hard to predict.
SARMs work much in the same manner as steroids. Meaning, they interact with androgen receptors to start producing more muscles. But, because they are selective, they don’t throw in a whole bunch of signals to the brain.
They work ‘selectively’ which makes them safer alternatives; something gym lovers and bodybuilders has been long waiting for.
SARMs carry several benefits, including:
As we mentioned, SARMs were originally developed as a way to cope with muscle loss in cancer patients. The research started in the early 1900s. However, it was quickly halted and the products were shelved. It was in the 90s that the research once again picked up the pace.
Ligand Pharmaceuticals was the first in history to ever make the first version of SARM. The version now famously goes by LGD 4300. It’s also called Lingandrol.
After that, several products entered the market. As of now, many leading pharmaceutical companies are busy trying to introduce their own version of SARMs.
When supplementing on SARMs, users can expect to gain anywhere up to 30 pounds in a short period (roughly a couple of months). This is just a rough estimate. The actual duration can be longer or shorter based on your experience, workout regimen, diet, dosage, and the dedication with which you work out.
If you lift weights and have good nutrition knowledge, you can expect quick and promising results from each cycle. For muscle gain, you can start with Ostarine, which is one of the oldest SARMs ever created and studied. Ostarine has also gone through the most number of trials.
If you want to gain muscles and lose fat, you can go for a cycle by stacking Ostarine, Cardarine, and LGD 4033.
Of course, not everyone can or should expect tremendous or astonishing results from SARMs. But, if you equip yourself with nutrition knowledge and overall health and fitness knowledge, you might get good results from each cycle.
This is going to vary based on your specific needs. Each SARM has different effects in terms of their strengths and weaknesses. Some are good for muscle gain while others are better for fat loss. Some are good for bulking.
For example, Testolone and RAD 140 are supposed to be ideal research chemicals for overall better strength and building muscles. MK 2866 and Ostarine are other good options in this category.
For shredding purposes, Cardarine and Ligandrol are best. Both of these interact with androgen receptors in the brain; signaling the body to start burning more fat while also avoiding many of the common side-effects linked with quick fat loss.
If you’re a beginner who wants to dabble in SARMs as supplements to see their results, RAD 140 stacked with Ostarine is supposed to be an ideal combination. A typical cycle of 90 days works best.
It’s normal to ask questions like what potential side-effects one might experience as a result of consuming SARMs. Now, this is where things get tricky. It’s hard to tell what possible long-term side-effects of these research chemicals might be; especially if you think about their long-term usage.
But, with careful dosing and right stacking, it’s presumably that the side-effects should be minimal. They are nowhere as dangerous as side-effects of anabolic steroids though.
According to one of the research papers that was published by the Boston University School of Medicine, (which spoke highly about SARMs), said that the supplements can dramatically enhance athletic perform with far fewer side-effects:
The paper also stated that “Sarms hold a lot of promise as a new class of function that promotes anabolic therapies” which could help with chronic diseases, osteoporosis, and frailty.
As opposing arguments, however, one of the articles published in Men’s Health said that bodybuilding supplements called SARMs are not as safe as you might have been led to believe.
According to the article, these research chemicals may have side effects similar to steroids. It mentioned risks like infertility and mental health issues like suicidality, aggression, and depression as possible side-effects of SARMs.
Majority users who have used and experimented with products like Ostarine have not claimed any major side-effects so far. But, understandably, it’s hard to make concrete statements at his point – given how these are still being studied/researched.
The eventuality of the effects and possible side-effects also depends on where the user sources the product from as well as dosing and stacking. So, there’s a lot to be taken into consideration.
SARMs are not illegal if we talk about the legality aspect. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has, however, warned against using them. They are particularly concerned about fake SARMs being circulated because they are an unregulated supplement/research chemicals.
If you do decide to try out SARMs, make sure to buy only from a trusted source after careful research. We also recommend that you consult with a medical practitioner first.
Photo: Anastase Maragos, Unsplash
