SARMs 101 – all the basics you need to know to start your research!
What Are SARMs?
A SARM (an acronym for “Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator”) is a drug that is chemically similar to anabolic steroids but with reduced androgenic properties.
The main advantages SARMs have over anabolic steroids are androgen-receptor specificity, tissue selectivity, and reduced side effects.
SARMs also have the ability to differentiate between anabolic and androgenic activities, whereas steroids do not.
They appeared by accident in the early 90s when Professor James T Dalton was busy working on treatments for prostate cancer.
Dalton identified a molecule known as Andarine which, despite being of little use in regards to treating prostate cancer, had quite an astounding effect on muscle growth.
How Do SARMs Work?
SARMs are research chemicals that activate the androgen receptors in your cells, making them grow.
Testosterone is a key hormone where it concerns muscle generation.
It’s an androgen or male hormone, but it exists in both men’s and women’s bodies.
An anabolic steroid increases the testosterone in your entire body. SARMs on the contrary bind only to the androgen receptors on specific types of tissue, your muscles and bones.
Non-steroidal Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators message your cells to build more muscle and bone. So that means more gains for you at the gym.
You will, of course, need to lift weights and follow a correct diet to see results, but SARMs can improve your muscles’ response to these stimuli.
SARMs also don’t break down into unwanted molecules that cause side effects, like DHT and estrogen, as easily as anabolic steroids.
Finally, because SARMs are less powerful than regular steroids, they don’t suppress natural testosterone production as heavily, making them easier to recover from.
Benefits of SARMs: Why Should I Use Them?
These are some of the results you could achieve with SARMs:
- Increased strength and endurance
- Increase in lean muscle mass
- Improved metabolic rate (better fat burning)
- Can increase appetite to aid in bulking
- Can increase testosterone levels
- Increase in vascularity
- Increase in muscle hardness
- Can improve immune system function
- Accelerated muscle recovery
- Increased bone density
Side Effects Of SARMs
Although the side effects of SARMs can’t be compared to the side effects of steroids or prohormones, there still are two major side effects:
- Suppression of your own testosterone levels
- Worsen your lipids panel (more bad cholesterol)
Oher side effects are less common but include liver damage, erectyle dysfunction, high blood pressure, gynecomastia (man boobs)… But these side effects are less common and almost non excistant when dosing properly.
Some Basic Concepts Half-Life
The definition of elimination half-life is the length of time required for the concentration of a particular substance (typically a drug) to decrease to half of its starting dose in the body.
- SARMs have different half-lifes going from 4-5 hours up to 36 hours.
- A SARM with a short half-life (4-10 hours) you will need to dose 3 times a day.
- When it has a longer half-life (10-20 hours) you will need to dose twice a day.
- A SARM with a long half-life (20+ hours) you will only need to dose once a day.
Dosing
Dosing of SARMs is expressed in mg. A tablet/capsule will hold an amount of mg per tablet/capsule. Liquid SARMs will hold an amount of mg per ml. So when you go for liquids, be sure to get your mathematics right! (E.g. if RAD is dosed at 20mg/ml and you want to cycle with 10mg per day you only need 0,5ml to reach your amount of 10mg!)
PCT
PCT is post-cycle therapy.
For some SARMs this is not needed in a very special way. But for all SARMs you will need a recovery time for your body.
A general rule is ‘time on = time off’: so if you do a cycle of 10 weeks, you take 10 weeks of recovery time.
Post-cycle therapy in the strict definition is a protocol you follow to make sure your hormonal levels all return to normal values.
This can be achieved by using a SERM (Selective estrogen receptor modulators). It will kick start your testosterone again and will make go these levels go to normal again.
In a PCT you can also use other compounds like milk thistle or NAC to improve liver values etc.
Most important thing is you know what a PCT is and how to follow a PCT before you start a first cycle of SARMs.
On-Cycle Therapy
On-cycle therapy is important to have the least side effects possible of your cycle with a SARM.
It’s very easy and goes from drinking enough of water, eating healthy, not drinking alcohol to keep side effects to a minimum.
On more advanced cycles you could also use other compounds like for instance a ‘test-base’ to make sure you don’t feel your testosterone suppression while on cycle.
The Bottom Line
SARMs are an alternative to anabolic steroids that deliver a portion of the benefits with fewer of the known side-effects.
They aren’t as effective as anabolic steroids, but they do boost muscle growth much more rapidly than any natural hormone supplement on the market.
If you’re looking for an extra boost to add to your training, and you’re not willing to dive into the murky depths of anabolic steroids then a SARMs supplement could be for you. They are potentially a great product that can help improve athletic performance as well as help you to build muscle and burn fat.
But do keep in mind there are some side effects. So when you start a cycle, do it well prepared and well considered.
If you do you will have the time of your life and enjoy an amazing ride on the SARMs train!
Remember that SARMs are not FDA-approved for recreational use yet, so the nutritional supplements included in them are not regulated. Also, bear in mind that they’re prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency, so competing athletes need to steer clear of SARMs.
