Bodybuilders are always looking for ways to improve their physique. This has led some people to turn to supplements to supercharge their progress. In this area, there are two prominent options to explore. Steroids and HGH. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. But which one is best for you? Let’s delve into the HGH vs steroids debate. So you can pinpoint your perfect approach.

How Steroids Affect Your Body

Let’s start by talking about how steroids can impact your body. Steroids bind to the androgen receptors. Replicating the effects of testosterone. It’s this flood of testosterone that produces the muscle gains associated with steroid use.

It should be noted that scientists can alter the type of chemicals used to create steroids. This creates a wide variety. Some will be more potent. Delivering larger muscle gains, with a greater risk of side effects. Trenbolone and Deca Durabolin, are best for the bulking cycle. Helping you add muscle mass quickly. But causing you to retain water weight. Steroids like Winstrol are best for the cutting cycle. Burning through fat rapidly, while preserving your lean muscle.

Benefits

There are plenty of reasons why you might want to take steroids, they include:

• Muscle growth. Expect to pack on plenty of muscle mass. And do it fast. You’ll notice the changes by the end of the cycle.
• Losing weight. Steroids can be ideal during the cutting cycle. Helping you burn through fat. While preserving your lean muscle. This will help you look your best before a bodybuilding competition. Getting the muscle definition that the judges are looking for.
• Lower recovery time. Steroids increase your blood flow. Getting more nutrients to your muscles. Speeding up the recovery process. Allowing you to get back in the gym faster.
• Greater endurance. Many users report that steroids give them an energy boost. Allowing them to push themselves harder in the gym.

It’s no wonder why so many athletes turn to steroids. They have the potential to improve your athletic performance. Making you faster and stronger. Letting you push yourself to the limits. Just don’t get caught on a drug test.

Side Effects

There are plenty of benefits of steroids. But that’s only part of the story. But these drugs have a dark side. If you aren’t careful, they can do a lot of damage to your body. Here are some of the things to be wary of:

• Physical changes. Steroids can have a profound impact on your appearance. You might notice that you have developed acne or oily skin. Some men can develop baldness. Your risks will depend on whether baldness runs in your family.
• Steroids used for bulking can lead to water retention. Making you appear bloated. At the end of these cycles, you’ll need to do a cutting cycle, to get rid of the water weight.
• Mental health problems. You might find that you develop mental health issues. It’s common to experience anger-related issues. Some users can develop insomnia. Lack of sleep will make it harder to focus. Other people report that users can make them feel anxious or depressed.
• Heart attacks and stroke. Steroids increase your blood pressure and raise your cholesterol levels. This can prove to be a dangerous combination. It has been linked to heart attacks and strokes.
• Female users need to consider the risks associated with virilization, due to the higher testosterone levels. This is the development of male characteristics. You might find yourself growing facial or body hair. Perhaps, you have an enlarged clitoris. Or you might develop a lower voice. The problem is that, after a while, these effects can become permanent.
• Liver damage. The dangers associated with using steroids are long-lasting. The more cycles you do, the greater the risks become. In particular, these drugs can take a large toll on your kidneys and liver. Experienced users have a significantly higher risk of developing liver cancer. These drugs have also been linked to liver failure, which can prove fatal.
• Prostate cancer. Steroids can cause your prostate to become swollen. Raising the risk that you will develop prostate cancer. The good news is that this can be treated effectively, as long as you catch it early.

As we mentioned, there are plenty of steroid varieties available. Each will have a slightly different effect on your body. Generally, the more potent the steroid, the harsher the side effects will be. This is why it’s vital to do Post Cycle Therapy (PCT). Steroids turn off your body’s ability to produce testosterone naturally. PCT lets your body return to its natural testosterone levels. Most of the time, a PCT cycle will last for six to eight weeks.

How HGH Affects Your Body

Now that we know about the impact of steroids, let’s turn our attention to HGH. Unlike steroids, HGH is based on a hormone that your body naturally produces. The pituitary gland makes this substance. Production peaks during puberty. It’s what’s responsible for the growth spurts and muscle growth that occur during this period.

Steroids come in a wide range of varieties. This isn’t the case with HGH. There is only one version of this hormone. But changing the dose will determine how profoundly you feel the effects.

Benefits

There are plenty of reasons why you might want to consider taking HGH. The biggest benefits include:

• Building your muscles. This is the biggest appeal for bodybuilders. HGH can help you add muscle mass.
• Improving muscle repair. Athletes frequently turn to HGH after an injury. This hormone can help nutrients flow through your body, making it easier to repair muscle. For bodybuilders, this means a shorter recovery time after an intense workout. Getting you back in the gym faster.
• Improving muscle definition. HGH can help you burn through fat. While building lean muscle. This improves your muscle definition, making it easier to show off your gains.
• Anti-aging. Many celebrities use HGH. They believe that the hormone can help them fight the aging process, maintaining their youthful glow. It should be noted that this isn’t supported by scientific research.

Side Effects

However, nothing is perfect. While HGH has fewer side effects than steroids, there are still a few things that you should look out for, including:

• Nerve or joint pain
• Might lead to swelling or bloating around your muscles
• Can cause your skin to become numb
• Raises cholesterol levels, which increases your risk of diabetes.
• Might contribute to cancerous growth

This substance is based on natural processes. So, it won’t shut down your body’s production of testosterone. As a result, there is no need to use it as part of a cycle, like you do with steroids. If you do start to experience harsh side effects, you just need to lower the dose.

The best way to protect yourself is by carefully controlling your dosage. Men can take up to eight IU per day to bulk. Women will need a lower dosage. Around two IU per day is a good level. As always, it’s best to start with a lower dosage. Giving you a taste of the drug and learning how it will affect you. Over time, you can increase the dose to get bigger gains.

There is the potential to overdose on HGH. This can lead to major health consequences. For example, you might become pale and flush. You can start sweating profusely. You might be left with blurry vision. If this happens, seek medical help as soon as possible.

Other Differences To Consider

There are a few other factors to consider when deciding between HGH vs steroids. These are some of the things you should keep in mind:

• Cost to acquire. Steroids can vary in price. More potent options will deliver bigger gains. But they come at a higher price. However, HGH will often be more expensive than steroids. You must be prepared to pay. Some manufacturers will try to lure you with cut-price HGH. While this looks like a great deal, it can be a counterfeit product, with potentially dangerous side effects.
• Time to see changes. Steroids are popular because they work so fast. You’ll be able to see huge gains after your first cycle. However, HGH can take a little longer to get results. You might need to take it for two to three months before you notice any changes to your muscle mass.
• Steroids might be used for a limited number of medical reasons. If used for bodybuilding, though, they are illegal. Get caught and you could face serious penalties, including fines and prison time. HGH is also illegal, with the potential of harsh legal consequences. Both these substances are screened for in drug tests. Get caught using either and your athletic career will be over.
• Available forms. Steroids come in a range of forms. It comes as a tablet or an injectable. You can even get it as a topical cream. However, HGH is only available in injectable form. This can raise some problems. Pay attention to your needles, creating a sterile environment before injecting. Using an unsafe needle can leave you vulnerable to infections.
• Ease of absorption. Your body finds it easier to absorb HGH. It replicates a naturally occurring hormone. On the other hand, it can be tougher to absorb steroids. Contributing to the harsher side effects.
• Half-life. The half-life of steroids can vary. Some will only last for a few hours. Others can linger in your system for up to 19 hours. HGH has a fairly short half-life. It only lasts for 20 to 30 minutes. But there is a word of warning. HGH can still be detectable up to 17 hours after the injection.

Which One Should You Choose?

Settling the HGH vs steroids debate can be tough. It all comes down to the type of outcome you want to achieve. For those with limited time, steroids will be the best option. Getting results quickly. You’ll also find it easier to add large amounts of muscle.

However, if you want to take a slower approach, choose HGH. You’ll still be able to get some solid gains. But you’ll have to be patient. Gains take a few months to appear. Because HGH is based on a natural substance, you won’t have the same harsh side effects. Plus, you don’t need to cycle. Allowing for continual progress, rather than the stop-start nature of steroid gains.

Can Steroids And HGH Be Used Together?

Many people think that they need to choose a side in the battle of HGH vs steroids. But this might not be the case. You can use both at the same time. HGH can help supercharge the effects produced by taking steroids. Making it easier to gain muscle. Reducing the amount of time it takes to repair your muscles.

Continue taking HGH into the PCT phase of the cycle. Protecting the lean muscle you gained during the steroid cycle. While helping you lose any water weight. There are a few things to keep in mind. First, you should only use HGH during PCT if you used it during the steroid cycle. Otherwise, the slow-acting drug won’t have enough time to build up in your system. There’s no need to change the HGH dose between the steroid cycle and PCT.

Alternative Approaches to Consider

Looking for another approach after weighing up the pros and cons of HGH vs steroids? The best option is to turn to a supplement from Crazy Mass. These combine the best of both worlds. Like steroids, you’ll be able to get results fast. Producing powerful muscle gains fast. But, like HGH, the side effects are mild. Even better, everything is monitored by the FDA. It uses all-natural ingredients, So it’s all legal. No need to worry about the consequences of failing a drug test.

Conclusion

It can be tempting to debate the merits of HGH vs steroids. But it all comes down to what you are looking for. Some people prefer the steady progress of HGH. Others want the huge gains that steroids can unlock. Or you can use both at the same time, getting the best of both worlds.