Peptides Vs Steroids: What’s The Deal
As many people begin to seek a leg up in the gym they are led to investigate different resources for help.
There are two typical routes someone might take to improve their performance and see better results: steroids or peptides.
Peptides and steroids are both classified as performance enhancing drugs, widely known as PEDs.
However, their similarities do not go much further than this classification.
To put it in the most simplistic terms, steroids are synthetically manufactured hormones while peptides are naturally occurring chains of amino acids that your body produces for itself.
Peptides work in a way that is quite easy to explain.
They use their natural coding to tell other cells what to do.
For instance, a peptide can influence other cells to burn fat rather than glucose for energy.
More importantly to the topic at hand, peptides like growth hormone secretagogues encourage IGF-1 and MGF levels resulting in a natural increase in muscle growth and performance improvement.
How Do Steroids Work?
Steroids are more complicated.
This alone should raise some eyebrows amongst those seeking a way to improve their performance but not put harmful products in their bodies.
These products are synthesized from or derivatives of the hormone testosterone.
Most know testosterone for its impact on male tendencies but it is naturally occurring in both sexes.
Among many other tasks, it is responsible in part for muscle growth and repair.
Peptides and steroids both aim to enhance this process and accomplish the goal of improved muscular performance.
However, where peptides use elevated natural processes, steroids aggressively force growth hormone release.
The Inherent Dangers of Steroids
While putting anything in your body carries certain risks, steroids have well-documented and significant effects that can impact those who use them.
Those familiar with steroids know that they are typically used in short periods called cycles.
These short periods are designed with a purpose.
They are an attempt to mitigate or reduce the risks associated with steroid use.
These risks are significant and include physical harm like tendon injury.
Other side-effects include moodiness, sudden loss of libido, and issues with liver toxicity.
Similar But Different
As we have seen, there are certainly similarities between steroids and peptide therapies.
Both aim to and frequently accomplish the following:
- Enhanced strength
- Improved muscular endurance
- Increased lipolysis (fat burning)
All of these are things typically sought after by someone looking to improve their performance in the gym and their overall physique.
However, the risk profile of steroids is drastically more problematic when compared to peptides.
Brian Graham, Certified Peptide Specialist at the Boulder Longevity Institute (BLI) encourages people to evaluate the toll steroids may take on their bodies before committing to them as the tool they choose to improve their peak performances.
For those looking for that extra edge to get them over a plateau or performance slump, seek out the help of a professional.
Regardless of the product, it is important to know that it is sourced from an accredited, FDA vetted pharmacy like those used by BLI.
