Been hitting the weights week after week trying to get bigger, but not seeing the gains you want? It’s easy to get frustrated with a lack of progress and to start looking for shortcuts.
For many, steroids are their first port of call, but what’s the safest anabolic steroid, if any?
What are the safest steroids to take? All steroids come with potential risks and side effects – some more than others. Sorry to say it, but there’s just no such thing as a safe steroid. Hey, there’s a reason they’re illegal, bro. But if you’re on the lookout for some of the ‘safest anabolic steroids’ that have the lowest chance of side effects, here’s a quick run-down.
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Testosterone
Testosterone injections are commonly used to offset low testosterone levels in older men, but they’re also popular as a muscle-building steroid.
Testosterone injections are a form of synthetic testosterone and tend to be void of the more serious side effects caused by anabolic steroids such as liver damage. With that said, testosterone injections can lead to male pattern baldness and possible gyno-based symptoms such as man boobs if doses aren’t consistent, so you still got to be wary of the potential side effects.
2. NandroloneFound to be extremely effective as a response to muscle wasting, Nandrolone has been shown to have one of the lowest rates of side effects and toxicity.
While it’s by no means perfectly safe, Nandrolone tends to dodge the worst of the liver and cardiovascular-based side effects. The most common side effect associated with Nandrolone is breast enlargement, but this might be avoidable if you take a PCT (more on that below).
3. OxandroloneMore commonly known as Anavar, this steroid is like Nandrolone in so much as it’s used to help those who are experiencing muscle wasting due to illnesses such as cancer or AIDS.
Liver side effects are rare with Oxandrolone; however, hair loss is to be expected. And abuse of this steroid can lead to plummeting Testosterone levels after you finish a cycle, requiring several post-cycle therapy supplements. Totally the opposite of what most bodybuilders want to see happen.
2. BoldenoneOne of the more popular bodybuilding steroids, Boldenone is also known under the brand names of Equipoise and Parenabol.
Boldenone has been shown to dramatically increase muscle mass without damaging or impacting the prostate and liver. Super androgenic steroids – or those steroids that increase organ growth such as Winstrol – are the reason many bodybuilders need an organ transplant during middle age.
In comparison, the most common side effects of Boldenone include acne and hair loss.
The way you take it matters
Anabolic steroids are available in both an injectable and an oral form. As the name suggests, injectable steroids are taken via a needle into a thicker part of the body like your butt. Oral form steroids can be taken as a tablet or a liquid.
Oral form steroids don’t stay in the body as long as injectable steroids. What’s more, oral form steroids must pass through the digestive system and the liver, increasing the risk of side effects such as nausea and stomach upsets. On top of this, oral form steroids must also pass through the liver to be metabolized or broken down into a usable form free of toxicity for the body. This can tax the liver, resulting in long-term damage.
Injectable steroids are the lesser of two evils here. They stay in your blood much longer, requiring only one or two doses compared to several oral form steroid doses. What’s more, since you’re injecting the steroid directly into your body, your liver gets a break. This decreases your risk for liver damage, but it doesn’t eliminate it altogether.
Is there any such thing as a completely safe steroid? No steroid is completely safe. While you can find a steroid that produces fewer side effects, there’s always gonna be health risks involved.
Let’s say you don’t notice any immediate side effects; there’s always the chance that your body is taking a hit without you realizing. Don’t forget, some damage is silent. Think liver damage or increased cholesterol levels. With these kinds of side effects, you don’t tend to know about them until the damage is already done.
Bottom line – we don’t condone the use of steroids, because in reality there’s no such thing as safe steroids – only steroids that have fewer side effects. Another safety consideration with steroids Even the ‘safest kind of steroid’ needs a post-cycle therapy supplement, more commonly called a PCT. These supplements are designed to try to offset the damage caused by anabolic steroids. And what’s that tell you about steroids?
Steroids have been shown time and again to cause liver damage, so many PCTs have several liver-boosting ingredients such as Tongkat Ali and milk thistle. While these ingredients won’t eliminate the damage, they can help to give your liver a much-needed boost.
Another common issue with steroids involves the dive your testosterone levels will inevitably take after you’ve taken them. PCTs contain testosterone-boosting ingredients such as Tribulus Terrestris and DHEA to help restore natural levels of testosterone.
But even with the help of PCT, your body may still experience low testosterone and liver damage. In short, steroids are bad news for your overall health.
What if I want real gains without taking steroids?
