Fitness enthusiasts, bodybuilders, and athletes have one thing in common: they are driven to achieve a goal. In the process of achieving the goal, they employ all kinds of strategies, trainings, diets, and even taking performance-enhancing drugs, which, by the way, has become a common practice. This is especially true for athletes because they are pressured to win.
Peds for women have been a controversial topic in the world of sports for decades. Athletes have long sought ways to gain an edge over their competitors, and PEDs have become a tempting option. However, the use of these substances raises ethical concerns and undermines the principles of fair play.
One argument often put forth by proponents of PEDs is that they level the playing field and allow athletes to reach their full potential. They argue that if everyone has access to these drugs, then it becomes a matter of personal choice rather than an unfair advantage. However, this line of thinking fails to consider the health risks associated with PEDs and the potential for abuse.
Another concern is that PEDs create an uneven playing field between athletes who choose to use them and those who do not. This can lead to a loss of integrity in sports as records are broken by individuals who rely on artificial means rather than natural talent and hard work.
Moreover, allowing PEDs would send the wrong message to young athletes who look up to professional sports stars as role models. It would suggest that taking shortcuts is acceptable and even rewarding, undermining the values of discipline, perseverance, and dedication.
In conclusion, performance-enhancing drugs may offer short-term benefits in terms of improved athletic performance but come at a great cost. The use of these substances goes against the principles of fair play and integrity in sports. It is essential for governing bodies and athletes themselves to prioritize clean competition over short-term gains for the sake of preserving the spirit of sport.
However, we cannot deny that the use of these drugs can pose risks to the body’s health and physiological functions. These performance-enhancing drugs include SARMs, or selective androgen receptor modulators. These are anabolic steroids that act as synthetic hormones like testosterone or estrogen to improve muscular strength and boost energy. Fitness enthusiasts, bodybuilders, and athletes take these anabolic steroids so that even after rigorous training, they will avoid the loss of muscle mass and so that they can easily regain their strength and perform physical activities anytime. There are, however, damaging kinds of anabolic steroids. These are called designer steroids. They have not been thoroughly studied, and the government has not yet approved them for medical purposes.
Performance-enhancing drugs include SARMs. SARMs side effects are natural, especially when doses taken are higher than what is required. While anabolic steroids might be helpful in many ways, like treating loss of muscle mass, skeletal system diseases, and others, there are also adverse reactions to watch out for when taking AAS (anabolic-androgenic steroids).
In men, they may notice an increase in their breast size, a decrease in their testicle size, fertility and virility issues, and prostate disorders.
In women, they may notice a change in their voice to a lower register, enlarged clitoris, increased body hair growth, hair loss, and irregular periods.
Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) intake may also result in skin conditions like chronic acne, swelling of tendons, liver problems, high levels of LDL (low density lipoprotein), low levels of HDL, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, mood swings, anger issues, mental health problems, and many more.
If taken at a younger age, younger ones might have stunted growth and have future health concerns. These risks and possible complications led to the banning of the use of AAS in athletics.
AAS use has negative impacts on the psychological and physical aspects of women. Most of them are cosmetics and affect the reproductive system. Lack of knowledge as to its use and the overdose of AAS can cause abuse and may lead to worse complications that could be irreversible.
Recent studies show that women resort to consuming AAS so that they will not only perform well but also look good. AAS is known to enhance image by forming muscles and decreasing body fat. That is every girl’s dream.
Fortunately, there are FDA (Food and Drug Administration)-approved performance-enhancing drugs. This means that they are safe for consumption; however, one should not be too sure. These are composed of naturally occurring substances. These are the recommended Peds for women.
Examples are:
- Hydroxymethylburytrate, or HMB, is an amino acid that is innate in the body and can develop and bolster muscles and mitigate muscle wasting during rigorous workouts or training. Generally, HMB is safe to take, but extra caution must be exercised not to take it in doses higher than what is advised, or else there will be complications for the kidneys.
- Conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, aids in the faster recovery of athletes during their intense training. It is a kind of fat that assists in the lowering of muscle fat and enhances lean body mass. Adverse reactions include gastrointestinal issues and affect the body’s insulin levels. CLA must not be taken with antipsychotic medications.
- Chromium, or chromium picolinate, contributes to the normal functioning of the body daily. It is a fat-burning, energy-boosting mineral that also helps build up lean muscle mass. The downside of taking high doses of chromium is the possible effect on healthy fats and DNA.
- Carnitine enhances performance by burning fats and converting them into energy. Too much of it may lead to gastrointestinal issues.
