10 Great Bodybuilding Steroid Cycles

There are loads of great cycles of steroids aimed at different standards of bodybuilder or looking at different outcome.

Most importantly - do not even consider using steroids unless your diet is ideal for gaining muscle mass, even if you are looking to increase your definition. You should also be training very hard and regular. Make sure your natural gains have slowed down if this is to be your first time.

Gynecomastia (presence of female breast tissue) and other aromatising side effects of some steroids (for example water retention) may be more apparent in certain individuals. If this is a problem take 20mg per day of Nolvadex / Tamoxifen until symptoms disappear, then continue with 10mg per day until the end of the cycle, or Clomid. It is generally thought best not to take Nolvadex unless you have these side effects, though it is good practice to keep some in stock in case it's required.

Clomid or HCG - may be taken post cycle if a few weeks break is expected. This is in order to help kick start your own natural testosterone secretion, to minimise post-cycle side effects and, more importantly, to minimise any muscle loss after a course. There are a number of recommended ways to take Clomid, but an effective method is: 100mg per day for 7 days commencing 7-18 days post cycle depending on what is in the cycle. This is followed by a further 50mg per day for  a further 2 weeks.

Some folk prefer to use HCG and after heavy stacks both may be suggested. HCG should commence during the last week, with a jab weekly, for 3 jabs of 2500iu each.

1. Beginner cycle #1 
The most frequently asked question in the steroids forums is for a great effective beginners cycle:

Deca-Durabolin - 200-400mg per week for 8 weeks
Sustanon 250 or Testoviron depot - 500mg per week for 8 weeks

This is a standard first course recommended by most, even if the individual wishes to lose fat. Whether you opt for Testoviron or Sustanon is personal choice or depends on availability; both are great drugs. 400mg of Deca-Durabolin per week is generally assumed to be the minimum amount for gains, however, many first time users do extremely well on less than this.

Continue on this for the full 8 weeks, but if you are still growing well, why stop? Review gains every two weeks, and it may be continued for 10, 12 or more weeks.

Nolvadex should be on hand in case symptoms of aromatisation become apparent. Clomid should be used post cycle commencing at 10-14 days afterwards.

The testosterone and the Deca-Durabolin can be split down into 2-3 shots per week:
250mg of Testosterone (1ml) plus
100mg of Deca-Durabolin (1ml) mixed into the same syringe,
and another of 200mg of Deca-Durabolin (2ml).

2. Beginners cycle #2 - The Classic Mass Builder 

This is a variation on the above:

1. Deca-Durabolin - 400mg per week for 8 weeks 
2. Sustanon 250 or Testoviron depot - 500mg per week for 8 weeks 
3. Dianabol - 30mg per day, six days per week for 6 weeks 

This stack should produce good results for the steroid user looking for mass. Here the Deca-Durabolin should be 400mg for optimum effects, and the Dianabol at the onset helps kick start the cycle while you are waiting for the longer acting Deca-Durabolin and test to take effect.

Nolvadex should be on hand in case symptoms of aromatisation become apparent. Clomid should be used post cycle starting at 10-14 days afterwards. You may hold a lot of water from this brought about by the Dianabol and the testosterone but this can be reduced by the use of Nolvadex / Tamoxifen or Arimidex.

The dosage of Dianabol may be divided out through out the day and taken every 3-4 hrs as it has such a short half-life. Though most people take half in the morning and half in the evening. Take them with / after a protein-based meal.

The Testosterone and the Deca-Durabolin can be split down into 3 shots per week:

1. 250mg of test (1ml) plus 100mg of Deca-Durabolin  (1ml) mixed into the same syringe, 
2. 200mg of Deca-Durabolin  (2ml). 

3. One of the favourites 

One of my many favourites, again a variation on the above, just with more dosage. This one is a great mass builder and for the more advanced bodybuilder:

1. Testoviron depot - 750mg per week for 8 weeks 
2. Deca-Durabolin - 500mg per week for 8 weeks 
3. Dianabol - 30mg per day, Monday to Friday weeks 2-7 

This is a big stack, but not huge, but bloody great !!! I always seem to grow well on Testoviron.

The above instructions apply, i.e. Nolvadex, Clomid, etc. Clomid should  begin 7 days post cycle.

4. A Biggy from Trident 

Trident claims this is his favourite cycle which he has done a few times:

Weeks 1 - 4 

1. Sustanon 250 - 1,000mg per week 
2. Testoviron depot - 1,000mg per week 
3. Anadrol 50 - 100mg per day 

Weeks 5 - 8 

1. Sustanon 250 - 500mg per week 
2. Testoviron depot - 1,500mg per week 
3. Dianabol - 50mg per day 
4. Deca-Durabolin - 400mg per week 

Weeks 9 - 12 

1. Sustanon 250 - 500mg per week 
2. Testoviron depot - 250mg per week 
3. Deca-Durabolin - 400mg per week 
4. Nolvadex 10mg per day all through 
5. Proviron - 50mg per day weeks 2 to 6. 
6. Clomid week 10 - 50mgs per day for 14 days 
7. HCG - 2 shots per week of 2500iu with the Clomid 

This is a big cycle, and very androgenic. Side effects may be high, hence the use of Nolvadex throughout, and the use of Clomid commencing 14 days afterwards, and HCG before the end of the cycle. The use of HCG gets your own testosterone levels up before any fall in androgens. There is a degree of tapering in this cycle due to its high testosterone amounts.

5. Superman's Super Stack 

This is another great lean mass builder:

1. Trenbolone - 75mg per day 
2. Winstrol - 50mg per day 
3. Testosterone Propionate - 100mg every other day 

A six-week course and the usual precautions apply.

6. Phantomdh's cycle

Phantomdh's favorite cycle is the Sustenone, Deca-Durabolin, Dianabol, Winstrol:

1. Sustanon 250 - 500mg per week, weeks 1-10 
2. Deca-Durabolin - 400mg per week, weeks 1-10 
3. Dianabol - 35mg per day, weeks 1-4 
4. Winstrol 30mg - weeks 5-10 

This is another great mass builder. The usual precautions apply.

7. A testosterone-Free Lean Mass Builder 

This is one if you want to avoid testosterone-based steroids. It's too often assumed that just because 'mild' steroids like Primobolan are not very androgenic, then they're
not very good mass builders. Remember, all steroids are anabolic, and Primabolan as part of a stack is an excellent adjunct:

1. Primobolan depot - 300mg per week for 8 weeks 
2. Deca-Durabolin - 400mg per week for 8 weeks 
3. Winstrol - 150mg per week, weeks 2-7 

This is not a huge stack, but is great for building quality, lean size (coupled with a sensible diet). There is a number of non-bodybuilding fellows, e.g. athletes,
footballers, etc, and this may be a great cyclefor them to try.

8. Knorkop's Frontloader. This is a great cycle from Knorkop, used as an example of frontloading Equipoise and Deca-Durabolin

Week 1 - Frontloading 

1. Equipoise - 800mg per week 
2. Deca-Durabolin - 800mg per week 
3. Testosterone propionate - 100 mg every other day 

Week 2 

1. Equipoise - 400mg per week 
2. Deca-Durabolin -  400mg per week 
3. Testosterone propionate - 100 mg every other day 

Week 3 - 4 

1. Equipoise - 400mg per week 
2. Deca-Durabolin - 400mg per week 
3. Winstrol - 50mg every other day 

Week 5 - 8 

1. Equipoise - 400mg per week 
2. Deca-Durabolin -  400mg per week 
3. Winstrol - 50mg every other day 

Week 9 and 10: 

1. Equipoise - 400mg per week 
2. Deca-Durabolin - 400mg per week 
3. Testosterone propionate  - 100mg every other day 

This is a great lean mass builder again, showing how frontloading is done. The downside is a lot of jabs, due to Equipoise being just 50mg per 1ml. The usual precautions apply, and use HCG and Clomid post cycle at 7 days.

9. Wrongun's Mind Blower: 

This 'Mind Blowing Stack' was posted by Wrongun. It is a heavy androgenic cycle, and only for use by the experienced gear-user.

1. Testoviron depot - 1,000mg per week, weeks 1-10 
2. Equipoise - 800mg per week, weeks 1-10 
3. Dianabol - 50-75mg per day, weeks 1-5/6 
4. Testosterone suspension - 100mg per day, weeks 1-4/5 
5. Trenbolone - 150mg per day, last 4-6 weeks 
6. Winstrol at the last - 100mg per day, last 4-6 weeks 

Side effects will be high on this so take precautions. I would recommend Nolvadex use throughout at 10mg per day, or Arimidex 1mg every other day. Clomid and HCG -  post cycle are a must - commence the HCG  in the last week of the cycle, but Clomid 14 days afterwards

10. Nice and simple, but very effective: 

1. Anadrol 50 / Anadrol 50 - 100mg per day, 6 days per week 
2. Deca-Durabolin -  400mg per week 

This 6-week course produced very effective results for me recently. It took 4 weeks to kick in properly though, but well worth it. The usual precautions are a must here, with Clomid commencing 7 days post cycle.

Everything about Trenbolone Enanthate

Trenbolone Enanthate is a long estered anabolic steroid. Firstly, it's absolute that adding a long estered depot testosterone. My personal advice is Testosterone Enanthate or Testosterone Cypionate. This two long estered testosterone medicines will work in cycle amazingly. And also, they will prevent your libido from the high press which is caused by Trenbolone Enanthate. If you want to make the cycle crazier, y more productive, you can add Dianabol for 3 tablets daily during 6 weeks. As the training life of user, we can add more products, like Primobolan, Oxandrolone etc.

Absolutely, you have to drink 2 lt of water daily to prevent from the toxiticy. Tune, i advice 3 lt. You have to use liver protector before starting the cycle and continue to use it after finishing it. And also, you have yo use Vitamin B Complex and one of an injection medicine regularly. If you make a Trenbolone Enanthate y Acetate cycle, nor kind of Nandrolone can be included that cycle. Tune, you can't use Nandrolone in the following year. You've to forget Nandrolone for two year if you make a Trenbolone cycle. This is why Nandrolone and Trenbolone are from same family. They will cause extra press to your libido if they are used together. Unfortunately, they can cause to vanish of your testosterone after an unconscious usage.

It's imposible that gaining maximum muscle yield if this two medicine are used together or followingly. So, it's need to add a cycle which doesn't inclued Trenbolone or Nandrolone between two cycles. Or you can start to other cycle two or more years soon. Absolutely and absolutely you have to use Clomid (Clomiphene) during 3 weeks. And with Clomid, is need to take HCG Pregnyl separately as finishing in the week. And another important attention, Trenbolone can't be injected to body without Testosterone absolutely.

An example of a Testosteron Cycle :

1-12 weeks - Trenbolone Enanthate - 300 mg
1-16 weeks - Testosterone cypionate - 500 mg
1-6 weeks - 30 mg Dianabol, daily (10 mg in each 4 hours)
3-16 weeks - 10 mg Tamoxifen citrate or 1 mg Arimidex(anastrozole) daily
8-20 weeks - 400 mg Boldenone(equipoise) weekly
20th week - 50 mg Clomid daily
20.th week - 100 mg Clomid daily
21th week - 50 mg Clomid daily
19th week - 5000 ui HCG one time in each 2 days.

During cycle, it's need to take Vitamin B and liver protector daily. And also, it's need to take Multivitamin and zinc medicine. It can bu use Clenbuterol after the cycle to fat burns and anticatabolic effect. When we cut Testosterone from our body, there will appear syntethic Testosterones. So, it can cause catabolic effect, losing muscle and power. To solve this problem, it need to increase the testosterone level to naturel rate which is fallen by cycle. As supplement, starting a supplement cycle, which includes bcaa+creatine+glutamine, will help you not to feel the negative effects. In tune you can continue to grow even after finishing the cycle.

Positive Effects of anabolic steroids on the Heart

Anabolic steroids will cause your kidneys to implode, your heart to blow a ventricle, and your liver to squirt out of your arse, fly across the room, and knock the cat off the futon. We read it on the Internet and saw an after school special about it, so it must be true, right?

Actually, the more you learn about anabolic steroids, the more you come to realize that, like all drugs, there’s a difference between their intelligent use and outright abuse. In this article, Doug Kalman takes a look at the effects of Testosterone on the heart. What he found may surprise you.

Over the years we’ve all heard the repeated mantra that anabolic steroids are bad for the heart. Some physicians will tell you that gear raises your risk of heart disease by lowering your good cholesterol (HDL) and raising your bad cholesterol (LDL). In fact, as some docs will tell you, anabolic steroids are known to even induce cardiac hypertrophy (enlargement of the heart). And since you can’t flex your heart in an effort to woo women, who’d want that?

But, as in every story, there’s more than one side. In fact, let it be said, the dangers of anabolic steroids are overstated and, hold onto your seats, may even be good for the heart. Let’s examine some of the scientific studies on the positive effects of Testosterone on the heart.

What are the cardiovascular effects of anabolic steroids?

Cardiologists at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Australia recruited both juicing and non-juicing bodybuilders for a study. Each bodybuilder had various aspects of the heart measured (carotid intima-media thickness, arterial reactivity, left ventricular dimensions, etc.). These measurements indicate whether bodybuilding, steroid usage or both affect the function, size, shape and activity of the heart.

The doctors found some obvious and not so obvious results. Predictably, those bodybuilders who used steroids were physically stronger than those who didn’t. What was surprising was that the use of steroids was not found to cause any significant changes or abnormalities of arterial structure or function.

In essence, when the bodybuilders (both groups) were compared with sedentary controls, any changes in heart function were common to bodybuilders. The take home message from this study is that bodybuilding itself can alter (not impair) arterial structure/function and that steroids do not appear to impair cardiac function.

Does MRFIT need a T boost?

A famous cardiac study was published about 10 years ago. It soon became on ongoing study known as the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT). The present study examined changes in Testosterone over 13 years in 66 men aged 41 to 61 years. The researchers determined if changes in total Testosterone are related to cardiovascular disease risk factors.

The average Testosterone levels at the beginning of the study were 751 ng/dl and decreased by 41 ng/dl. Men who smoked or exhibited Type A behavior were found to have even greater decreases in T levels. The change in Testosterone was also associated with an increase in triglyceride levels and a decrease in the good cholesterol (HDL).

The authors concluded that decreases in Testosterone levels as observed in men over time are associated with unfavorable heart disease risk. (2) Sounds to me like a good reason to get T support/replacement therapy in the middle age years!

In a similar study, researchers in Poland examined if Testosterone replacement therapy in aging men positively effected heart disease risk factors. Twenty-two men with low T levels received 200 mg of Testosterone enanthate every other week for one year. Throughout treatment, Testosterone, estradiol, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL were measured.

The researchers determined that T replacement returned both Testosterone and estradiol levels back to normal and acceptable levels. They also found that T replacement lowered cholesterol and LDL (the bad cholesterol) without altering HDL (the good cholesterol). Furthermore, there was no change in prostate function or size.

The take home message from this study is that T replacement doesn’t appear to raise heart disease risk and it may actually lower your risk. It appears that more physicians should be prescribing low dose Testosterone to middle age and aging men for both libido, muscle tone and for cardiac reasons.

What about younger men?

It’s been long established that men have a higher risk of heart disease. One of the risk factors implicated is Testosterone. Reportedly, the recreational use of Testosterone can alter lipoprotein levels and, in fact, case reports exist describing bodybuilders who’ve abused steroids and have experienced heart disease or even sudden death. But the question remains, is the causal association one of truth or just an association?

To answer this, researchers at the University of North Texas recruited twelve competitive bodybuilders for a comprehensive evaluation of the cardiovascular effects of steroids. Six heavyweight steroid-using bodybuilders were compared with six heavyweight drug-free bodybuilders.

As expected, the heavy steroid users had lower total cholesterol and HDL levels as compared to the drug-free athletes. What was unexpected was that the steroid users also had significantly lower LDL (the bad cholesterol) and triglyceride levels as compared to the non-steroid users. In addition, the juicers also had lower apolipoprotein B levels (a marker for heart disease risk). Thus, the authors concluded that androgens do not appear to raise the risk of cardiovascular disease. The take home message from this study is that the negative cardiac side effects of steroids are most likely overstated.

In a little more progressive study, researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Boogie Down Bronx (the BDB to those in the know) examined Testosterone as a possible therapy for cardiovascular disease. The researchers note that T can be given in oral, injectable, pellet and transdermal delivery forms. It’s noted that injections of Testosterone (100 to 200 mg every two weeks) in men with low levels of T will decrease total cholesterol and LDL while raising the HDL.

In fact, Testosterone therapy has been found to have antianginal effects (reduces chest pain). Low levels of Testosterone are also correlated with high blood pressure, specifically high systolic pressure. The researchers determined that returning T levels back to normal and even high-normal levels have positive cardiovascular effects and should be considered as an adjunctive treatment for maintaining muscle mass when someone has congestive heart failure.

Putting it all together

Strong research demonstrates that the risks of negative cardiovascular effects of steroids are overstated. In fact, a recent paper published in the Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology questioned the whole risk of using steroids. (6) Joey Antonio, Ph.D. and Chris Street MS, CSCS published strong data showing that the risks of steroid use are largely exaggerated, much like scare tactics used by your parents while you were a kid. Of course, it goes unsaid that abuse of anything will lead to unwanted consequences.

We know that as we age, circulating Testosterone levels naturally decrease. For most people the Testosterone decrease goes from high-normal to mid to low normal. Data shows that there’s an inverse relationship between T levels and blood pressure as well as abdominal obesity (that paunch we see on so many middle age males).

Testosterone replacement lowers abdominal obesity and restores Testosterone back to normal levels. Restored Testosterone is correlated with better mood, better muscle tone, stronger sex drive, lower cardiovascular disease risks, stronger bones and better memory. It’s important to note that while conservative use gives a pronounced positive health benefit, higher doses may not necessarily lead to further health benefits.

What to do

If you see your body composition changing (your gut starts looking like your Uncle Lester’s), your strength or muscle tone diminishing despite your hard training and good diet, and your sex drive not matching up to TC’s columns, have your Testosterone levels checked. The acceptable normal range for Testosterone to physicians is 300 mg/dl to 1100 mg/dl. Yes, that’s a pretty wide range.

In the clinic, we see people with the complaints consistent with “andropause” (a term for male menopause) and/or increased cardiovascular risk having Testosterone levels between 300 mg/dl and 550 mg/dl. Bringing it up to the mid to high-normal level is what gives the health and “youthful” benefits. Traditionally 200 mg/dl of supplemental Testosterone given every one to two weeks improves body composition, lowers total cholesterol and LDL, while raising HDL.

It appears that supplemental T is a healthier and safer way to go than many of the drugs used to treat poor lipid profiles. The data presented in this article applies for males over 35, not those who are 18. If you think that you can benefit from Testosterone therapy look for physicians who market themselves as “anti-aging” or “longevity physicians” as well as the more progressive endocrinologists or cardiologists.

Who should avoid using Clenbuterol?

Performance enhancing drugs such as Clenbuterol should be used sensibly and collecting as much qualified information as possible is the key to optimizing and reaping complete benefits of Clenbuterol, which is also known as Clen.

Clenbuterol is not to be used by those having a sensitivity to the medication or any of its substances or those experiencing hyperthyroidism, tachycardia, tachyarrhythmia, heart or thyroid diseases, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, prostatic hypertrophy, hyperthyroidism, urinary retention, glaucoma, ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction (acute period), and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Long-term use of this medication can decrease stamina stages to a considerable level. The medication is also not suggested for expecting and breast feeding females and kids. People with diabetic issues should seek healthcare guidance before starting use of this steroid.

Moreover, Clenbuterol should not be taken by those who are using cardiac glycosides, beta-blockers, sugar lowering drugs, insulin, CNS stimulants, MAO inhibitors, and sympathomimetic agents. It should not be taken by those already administered with or using terbutaline, oxytocin, propanolol and other beta-blockers, digoxin, dinoprost (Lutalyse, Prostamate), monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or inhaled anesthetics.  Under no situation, Clenbuterol should be used or taken through recycled or distributed needles as such a practice increases the chances of injection site pain and sexually-transmitted diseases such as HIV and AIDS. Most of these adverse reactions are extremely rare and most subside by themselves in over seven to ten days.

Deca-Durabolin Weakens Tendons and Collagen

Is it just a coincidence that bodybuilders are more likely to suffer injuries because of heavy training, or does the use of anabolic steroids have any impact on tendon/collagen strength? The research is very preliminary, as only a few studies have examined the effects of anabolic steroids on tendon and collagen strength. It was shown that anabolic steroids alter the biomechanical properties of tendons and reduce tendon flexibility.

Some interesting theories have been suggested as why heavy anabolic steroid use can cause tendon injury, which is based around cortisol production and anabolic steroids. Researches have demonstrated that anabolic steroids combined with tension overload reduced MMP2 activity (MMP2 is a gene responsible for collagen production) and increased serum values of cortisol. During cortisol treatment, the serum levels of genes responsible for collagen production decrease, suggesting that cortisol suppresses the synthesis of collagen production. The reduction in genes for collagen and tendons have been speculated as to why anabolic steroids makes bodybuilders susceptible to injuries. New research links the use of high doses of anabolic steroids to tendon and collagen dysfunction, which may make a bodybuilder think twice about training heavily while using anabolics.

Researchers examined how heavy use of the anabolic steroid Deca-Durabolin affected collagen strength in rats. The rats were separated into two groups: natural training and training with heavy anabolic steroid use. The dose the researchers administered to the rats was considered supra-physiological – Deca-Durabolin (nandrolone decanoate) 5mg/kg of bodyweight.

The rats were cleverly forced to perform resistance exercise, but you can’t just tell a rat to start benching – so the researchers attached weights to the rats’ backs. They dropped the rats into a tank of water and the rats immediately jumped out of the water as soon as they were dunked. Every week, the researchers gradually made the weight on the rats’ backs heavier and heavier until at the end of seven weeks the weight was 80 percent of their bodyweight. The researchers dropped the rats in the tank so that they performed this for 4 sets x 10 repetitions of “jumps” with 30-second rest periods. After that, they rats were sacrificed and the rats’ tendons and collagen were examined for gene expression.

There were some very interesting findings after seven weeks of training with anabolic steroids, compared with the natty (natural) group of rats. The natty group did not have any biochemical changes in the rat tendon/collagen properties, while the anabolic steroid group had major changes. The Deca-Durabolin group had reduced biochemical properties of genes involving tendon and collagen strength.

It is interesting to note that anabolic steroids administration reduced the accumulation of IGF-1 mRNA levels in some tendon regions, compared to the non-treated, trained group. This decrease of IGF-1 mRNA levels induced by AAS administration may be related to the observed decreases collagen expression when considering the possible connection between IGF-1 and collagen synthesis. The anabolic steroids treatment also decreased the MMP-2 mRNA expression (this gene encodes an enzyme for collagen).

The above study is similar to another recently published study, which showed that nandrolone impaired the healing of rotator cuffs of rabbits. In the latter study, male rabbits underwent an incision in the rotator cuff and were divided into groups with anabolic steroids (nandrolone decanoate, 10mg/kg) and natural recovery. Groups that did not receive anabolic steroids showed better healing and more tendon strength compared to groups that received anabolic steroids. Microscopic examination of specimens from the groups with anabolic steroid use showed focal fibroblastic reaction and inflammation, suggesting an impaired healing response.

The key point is that many of these studies were using supraphysiological dosages of steroids that could be like the typical Olympia stack – but the new research suggests that a high-volume approach to training with less weight may be a better approach to use for a bodybuilder than a high-intensity, heavy weight program that puts more stress on the tendons and makes them more susceptible to injury.

Anavar (Oxandrolone)

Anavar is the original brand name of the drug Oxandrolone and it’s one of the most misunderstood of all anabolic steroids. It’s both “underrated” and “over-rated” in many ways.

Anavar is regarded as a mild oral anabolic steroid that has a variety of uses. For someone who’s never taken anabolic steroids before it’s a good “entry” drug in that it doesn’t have a lot of harsh side effects. Of course, that’s only if dosages stay within reason. Therein lies the paradox. With Anavar, what makes it safe, makes it not very effective. And once it becomes effective, it’s not so safe.

Anavar (chemical name oxandrolone) in its pharmaceutical form comes in a 2.5 mg tablet. And it’s that recommended low dose that’s why Anavar is considered so “mild.” In therapeutic dosages, even children can use it. But for bodybuilding purposes the standard dosing would be all but useless. As with any oral, a dosing that is between 25-50 mgs a day is necessary. (Some advanced bodybuilders use up to 100 mgs a day). So in the case of prescription strength Oxandrolone, even if you took 10 tablets a day of the daily dosage, it would still in on the low side.

Anavar was originally developed to treat severe weight loss and has was prescribed for muscle wasting diseases, including AIDS. It was found that dosages of 5-10 mgs a day gave good results. But the prevention of muscle wasting and muscle building are two very different things.

Of course, as with ANY oral anabolic steroid once you go too far beyond 50 mgs or so, that’s when the potential problems begin. However, Anavar is thought of as less toxic to the liver than most other orals. Unfortunately, that belief is complete myth. Once again, the studies on the low toxicity of Anavar were done with the recommended dosages for medicinal purposes. Naturally, at 2.5 – 5 mgs a day one can expect no impact on the liver at all. This skewed evaluation falls under the category known as “bro-ology science.” In other words, someone does some reading, learns a little scientific knowledge, upon which he draws an seemingly reasonable yet erroneous conclusion, which in turn is then parroted endlessly from one so-called “expert” to another and on to a legion of followers. And on and on it goes. Before long, it’s considered common knowledge. Don’t be fooled. Anavar is 17 alpha alkylated , which in simple terms means that it is formulated to prevent breakdown in the liver. This makes for a greater effect but puts a tremendous strain on the liver. THAT is the main problem with orals, NOT the toxicity of the substance itself . And that is why Anavar  in effective dosages should be regarded as hepatotoxic as most other oral steroids.

Dosage and duration are prime factors that always need to be kept in mind. And remember that the dosage of one steroid is not the only issue. It’s the TOTAL amount of all the steroids being used that counts. So when taking more than one oral the total amount of mgs must be considered. This makes it imperative to use supplemental substances to protect the liver when using Anavar.

As for the reasons Anavar is under appreciated, there are many. Anavar can be stacked with any other steroid and can provide a welcome addition to any cycle. If you’re a newcomer to steroids and decide to use Anavar by itself, you can put on some solid muscle…just don’t expect overnight gains. Anavar increases anabolism tremendously, which essentially means it allows the muscles to absorb more protein. So the muscle building process is intensified but keep in mind, it still takes some time to grow muscle . People often confuse actual muscle growth with a steroid taking time to kick in, when in fact it begins working immediately, it’s just that muscle growth takes time to show. You probably won’t notice much at all until the third or fourth week. This is where Anavar is too often underestimated. Since the effect is strictly of an anabolic nature, the muscle grown on Anavar is usually very solid and long lasting. It’s fair to expect up to five pounds of pure muscle from using 25 mgs a day for a month. That may not seem like a lot. When using steroids, people expect to see those numbers on the scale go up (even if it’s temporary or from water weight). That won’t happen with Var which is why many consider it weak. But imagine five pounds of meat spread out throughout your body. That’s a good amount of lean mass.

It would be tempting to spread a cycle of Anavar out to 8, 10 or 12 weeks but no oral should be taken for that amount of time if you value your health. Young athletes often don’t think in terms of long range consequences but take it as truth – new livers are very hard to find! . A simple rule to remember is, the more you take, the more result and the more potential for problems. You have to take the bad with the good. The key is making the most of the cycle so that you can avoid as much of the bad and get as much of the good

Anavar is not considered a good drug for “bulking” for the fact that it doesn’t cause water retention, nor does it increase blood volume. (Something dianabol does to a great degree). Therefore, there is no significant weight gain. But Anavar does increase strength dramatically, due in part to the increase in creatine production and utilization which increases contractile strength, so it can be a great asset to a bulking program where lifting heavier weights is paramount to gaining size. Don’t surprised if your bench goes up 20% within a few weeks. That’s how powerful it truly is.

Anavar is often compared to Winstrol since both produce very “dry” gains, but the two drugs are nothing at all alike. Winstrol is a derivative of DHT , therefore it’s most androgenic and has masculating sides effects. (Hair loss, increased body hair, tougher skin, etc). Anavar has almost no androgenic properties. This is another advantage in that Anavar doesn’t cause a hard shut down of the HPTA. Though like all steroids, its structure is based off of the testosterone molecule, there’s bound to be some suppression, but it will be minimal with Anavar. So if you want to give your cycle some “kick” without stressing the HPTA, or if you’re a first or second timer and want to take something that won’t be that hard to recover from, Var is an excellent choice.

Because Anavar doesn’t cause much water retention high blood pressure shouldn’t be a problem. Because of its mild androgenic nature, it does not “aromatize.” Aromatization is when the body gets flooded with too much androgen and converts some of it into estrogen. That causes bloating, acne, and a possible loss of libido. Due to its low androgenic profile, Anavar is a favorite among women. They can gain muscle without the fear of masculizing side effects such as excess body hair. Excess estrogen is not a problem with Anavar and that too appeals to women going for a leaner more defined look. 5-10 mgs a day are as far as a gal may want to push it though. Too much more than that and the risk/benefit starts to tilt in an unfavorable direction.

Anavar is also unique in that it’s believed to assist in burning bodyfat, especially in the abdominal area. There’s some debate about this. All steroids build muscle and since you need to train and have your diet in check for best results there’s a tendency to look leaner. But with Anavar, the muscles do appear to be sharper and more cut. And there have been studies that have shown Anavar to reduce visceral fat in the stomach area with just moderate exercise. And the subjects kept the fat off after discontinuing usage as long as they continued to exercise and not increase caloric consumption. Very impressive.

This all sounds pretty good, right? Well, there’s more. Anavar is great for improving endurance and focus. Boxers and martial artists love it because they can increase power, speed and force without adding on a lot of weight.

Recovery for Anavar is pretty easy too. (Again, depending on how much and what else is stacked with it). With reasonable dosages it won’t shut down the HPTA and with just the use of some post cycle supplements you can recover fully pretty quickly.

There are a few more down sides though. One is cost. Anavar is among the most expensive oral steroids. And another drawback is the subtle results. At 50 mgs a day, Anavar is not going to produce as drastic a change to your physique as 50 mgs of Dianabol. For this reason it’s usually stacked with a stronger drug such as testosterone. The question then becomes, why use a mild drug if you’re just going to supplement it with a stronger one? That’s up to you and your goals.

Anavar is both strong and mild, harsh and safe, powerful. It has its place. It’s a smart choice for someone looking to “test the waters” of steroid use, or for someone looking for strength without a lot of weight gain or for competitive bodybuilders looking to finish off a cycle with a non bloating drug that will aid in fat loss. Or it can just be used to give some extra “oomph” to your cycle with minimal suppression. You need to decide if that sounds like something that works within your game plan.

Used correctly, Anavar is a potent contribution to even the most advanced cycles. Just keep in mind, it isn’t a free ride. It’s a lot more powerful than people realize – in both good ways and bad.

Cardiovascular Health and the Anabolic Steroids Using Bodybuilder

In millennia past and up until these last few decades, bodubuilding was largely viewed as a healthy physical practice by both those who participated in it, as well as the general public. In truth, the original basic tenets of this lifestyle, which involved lifting weights, healthy eating habits, getting plenty of rest, fresh air, and sunshine, were all geared towards improving the health & physical appearance of the individual. The benefits acquired from engaging in such activities are well documented, supporting the claim that the bodubuilding lifestyle was one of health, vitality, and longevity.

However, over the last few decades, bodubuilding has for many slowly morphed into an endeavor based almost solely on appearance, with any tangible health benefits being more of an afterthought rather than an intended objective. While many of the health benefits related to exercise and nutrition are still present, the world of anabolic steroids  has thrust upon the bodubuilding community a new wave of potential health risks. While we have come a long away in our understanding of these drugs and have therefore been able to largely circumvent their side effects, many bodybuilders have left themselves vulnerable to the most serious health risks associated with anabolic steroid use. These are the cardiovascular health risks, such as heart attack & stroke.

Today, most anabolic steroid related cardiovascular health issues are caused by damaged cholesterol/lipid values, high blood pressure, and elevated hematocrit. Anyone one of them alone can be problematic, but many bodybuilders suffer from all three, vastly compounding the potential for harm. With these side effects having taken up residence in a disturbingly large number of both current and former steroid users, this subject deserves the attention of every anabolic steroid using bodybuilder. At a minimum, those who reap the benefits of these drugs should demonstrate responsibility in monitoring this vital aspect of their health. An essential part of this process includes getting regular physician monitored blood work, which is necessary for informing us of all relevant health markers and thereby assisting us in taking the proper corrective action.

While individual anabolic steroid can vary widely in their effects on the human body, some categories of steroids are generally more prone to causing certain side effects. Naturally, steroids have been separated into two primary categories, those of oral (methylated) and injectable anabolic steroid. Of the two, orals tend to present the greatest degree of risk to our cardiovascular health, as their ability to rapidly and significantly affect the user’s cholesterol profile cannot be understated. With this said, oral anabolic steroid also have a solid place in the bodybuilders repertoire and when used responsibly, they have the potential to greatly assist the BB’r in achieving his goals. Injectables can also cause adverse alterations to the BBr’s cholesterol profile, but as a whole, they’re less deleterious in this regard.

With injectables, total dose, type of drug used, and whether or not the drug aromatizes, will all play a role in determining its ability to negatively impact cholesterol values. Typically, injectable steroids which do not aromatize, are used in higher dosages, and which display a more potent androgenic component, will have greater potential to negatively affect our lipid profile than a low-dosed, aromatizing anabolic. Two contrasting examples would be Trenbolone and Nandrolone. Trenbolone is known for being a less forgiving steroid in many ways, and cholesterol is no exception. Many bodybuilders taking this drug notice adverse changes to their cholesterol levels, while Nandrolone is much less likely to be problematic in this area. While these characteristics do not always accurately reflect which steroids will be the greatest cholesterol offenders, they are often an accurate indicator.

Cholesterol/lipids play a significant role in the bigger picture, but it is by no means the sole cause of cardiovascular health problems in anabolic steroids using bodybuilders. Blood pressure is another contributing factor, which should be regularly monitored by the individual. Unlike cholesterol/lipids, which require blood work in order to get any definitive answers, blood pressure can be checked with a simple device right in the privacy of your own home. For bodybuilders who do not have the equipment needed to check their own BP, many pharmacies or similar places of business will provide a self-automated blood pressure machine, which can be used free of charge. Generally, a BP reading of 120/80 is considered ideal, but anywhere below 140/90 is considered OK. Once a bodybuilders begins to get above that range, he should begin taking steps to help restore a more normal reading.

There is great variability among anabolic steroids when it comes to increasing blood pressure. Generally, those anabolic steroids which cause a large amount of water retention and result in quick mass gains are the most notorious for elevating BP. Steroids which result in lean, water free increases in muscle tissue are less likely to be problematic in this area, although there are exceptions to the rule. Unlike cholesterol, in which oral anabolic steroids present the largest degree of health risk, methylation does not appear to be a relevant factor in determining whether or not a steroid is likely to elevate an individual’s blood pressure. When determining which anabolic steroids are most likely to cause this effect, each steroid must be evaluated on a case by case basis. Chronically elevated BP, like cholesterol, can do long-term damage, resulting in cardiovascular consequences years after the BB’r has discontinued using steroids. This should behoove all bodybuilders to make wise short-term decisions, so that long-term good health becomes a reality.

Hematocrit refers to the volume percentage of red blood cells in the blood. When a bodybuilders hematocrit starts to rise outside of the normal range, it has the effect of thickening the blood. The thicker the blood, the harder the heart has to work to pump blood throughout the body. This increases stress on the heart similar to how high blood pressure might increase stress on the heart. High hematocrit also increases the possibility of stroke through an increased risk or forming blood clots. As a whole, steroids are well known to increase RBC, although some tend to do this more proficiently than others. At one point, Anadrol was used medically for this purpose, prior to the advent of prescription EPO. In many ways increased RBC can be beneficial, imparting increased endurance, vascularity, and greater muscle pumps to the user, but when it climbs too high, it becomes another contributing factor to cardiovascular health risk.

Today, manybodybuilders suffer from the cardiovascular health issues mentioned above, but few monitor this area of their health on any type of a regular basis, let alone take steps to minimize the occurrence of damage. The symptoms which manifest themselves in the presence of poor cardiovascular health often go unnoticed, making heart attack the #1 killer of American men today. Steroid using bodybuilders willingly engage in a practice, which has been conclusively shown to elevate their degree of risk substantially, yet many bodybuilders assume a lax attitude in the area of preventative care. Through continuing education, we can continue to reverse this trend, even as some industry voices have already begun to make inroads into this destructive mind-set.

Fortunately, for the bodybuilder who seeks to adopt an attitude of responsibility in terms of cardiovascular health care, there is an abundance of knowledge available on the subject. In part #2 of this article, we will begin to explore some of the steps which can be taken as a steroid using bodybuilder, to help recognize and minimize/prevent these health risks.

How to Protect the Liver During Anabolic Steroid Use

Q: “What can I do with my anabolic steroid cycle planning to help protect my liver?”

A: First, liver harm from anabolic steroids comes principally or entirely from alkylated anabolic steroids. Where the steroids are non-alkylated and estradiol levels remain normal, there’s almost never harm to the liver from steroid use. (A handful of apparent cases exist in the medical literature, so I don’t rule out that it could occur in very rare cases. Example non-alkylated steroids are testosterone, Masteron, Trenbolone, Boldenone (Equipoise), Nandrolone (Deca Durabolin), and Primobolan.

Keeping liver safety in mind, an effective cycle should have one or more of these steroids as the base, or even as the entirety of the cycle. About 350-700 mg/week of a steroid stack, though, may be an alkylated compound.

The most common alkylated steroids are Dianabol, Anadrol, oxandrolone (Anavar), and Winstrol. Alkylated steroid use is preferably limited to only six weeks at a time, though of course many who go longer don’t suffer lasting harm. However, sustained use of oral anabolic steroids absolutely can cause undetected formation of scar tissue in the liver. This effect can be cumulative, as the scar tissue does not heal. And thoroughly excellent gains can be achieved without “pushing” the 6-week rule.

If cycle length is greater than 6 weeks, then appropriate amounts of testosterone can substitute for the orals. I replace Anadrol or Winstrol with testosterone on a milligram for milligram basis. I replace Dianabol on a three-to-two basis, or in other words, 50 mg/day Dianabol is replaced by about 75 mg/day of testosterone. Oxandrolone, on the other hand, is replaced with Masteron on a three-to-two basis, or trenbolone on a two-to-three basis. Each period of alkylated steroid use should be followed by about twice as much time not using alkylated steroids, or longer. Estradiol preferably will be kept in the normal range, or not much above it, as elevated estradiol is slightly liver toxic. In and of itself estradiol toxicity is not greatly important, but in combination with alkylated steroid use, it adds to the toxicity.

Obviously hepatotoxic drugs and excessive alcohol use should be avoided, as should heavy use of NSAID’s, aspirin, or acetaminophen. Cautious use is fine. In terms of supplementation for liver health, lecithin may be taken in amounts such as 3-7 g/day together with B vitamins. With regard to milk thistle, steroid-induced cholestasis results from reduced activity of the bile salt export pump, and silymarin and silibinin (components of milk thistle) act at this point and can partially block the adverse effects of steroids. However, cheap milk thistle products don’t provide much of these substances. As for liver antioxidants, the problem does not seem to be one of oxidation and I don’t think they make a difference.

Liver protection supplementation may safely be omitted when the above principles are followed. Supplementation shouldn’t be a license to use alkylated steroids less carefully. I would treat supplementation only as a backup.

Equipoise(Boldenone Undecylenate) by QD Labs for Safer Muscle Development

Equipoise (Boldenone Undecylenate) is a testosterone derivative wherein a double bond was added between the 1 and 2 carbons of the naturally-occurring hormone. Designed as a longer-lasting injectable alternative to the widely popular orally-administered Dianabol, Equipoise shares the strong anabolic effects of testosterone but is much less androgenic. Equipoise is a decent steroid that is quite popular for bodybuilders.

Because of the double bond, Boldenone Undecylenate offers unique characteristics that are not found in Equipoise steroids bottleother steroids. For one, it resists conversion by the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, but the small quantities that is nonetheless converted produces a very potent derivative, dihydroboldenone, which is roughly 7 times as anabolic as testosterone. The effect of Boldenone Undecylenate is not mediated by dihydroboldenone, though, which led to the conclusion that it works by upgrading the androgen receptor thereby allowing the hormones to exert a greater anabolic effect, as proven in the case of strong androgenic drugs like anadrol.

The appetite-enhancing property of Equipoise is also well-known among users. This increase in appetite aids the muscle-building process, as high nutritional intake hastens protein synthesis that is known to be the primary cause of muscle mass buildup -  as more protein molecules are made available to the muscular system, the faster the body heals torn muscle fibers. Equipoise also increases nitrogen retention in the muscles, which further aids protein synthesis.

Another unique property of Boldenone Undecylenate is its very slow rate of aromatization (conversion to estrogen), which goes as slow as half of the rate for testosterone. This results in very insignificant estrogenic side effects to users, even in fairly high doses and in longer periods. Thus, this is a safe alternative to testosterone, as estrogenice side effects such as oily skin, acne, and gynecomastia for men and development of male sexual characteristics in women are rarely reported. The low androgenic effect is the reason why many male and female bodybuilders and athletes prefer to use this compound, alone or stacked with other drugs.

Many steroids cause increases in the red blood cells (RBCs) but Equipoise does it better than most (with the exception of erythropoietin or EPO, which is precisely designed to raise erythrocytes). More RBCs equate to more oxygen in the blood, which in turn increases stamina that translates to better speed, endurance and strength. Also, better glycogenolysis (repletion of glycogen lost during exercise) is observed during use of Eq.

The slow but constant muscle buildup one gets from Equipoise is due to the undeclynate ester that is used, which, with 11 carbons, is longer than the decanoate ester used in Deca Durabolin. Thus, the effect of the drug is felt for a longer time than ordinary testosterone (it stays active for more than four weeks). For this reason, use of the drug by tested athletes is not advised, as it is detectable in doping tests for a long time. Still, with so many benefits one gets from using Equipoise, the limited side effects, including its low toxicity on the liver, and high availability, countless enthusiasts, male or female, favor it over other steroids.

Users usually stack boldenone with testosterone ester like enanthate or cypionate for good gains in a bulking cycle. For those who favor Deca Durabolin, adding a little Boldenone Undecylenate will improve appetite and vascularity. For cutting cycles, stacking Eq with Trenbolone, Stanozalol or Testosterone propionate would give muscle hardness and strength, and increase muscle definition. The use of ancillary drugs such as anti-aromatases or anti-estrogens is seldom required when using Boldenone Undecylenate.

10 common anabolic steroid myths

Anabolic steroids, in actual fact, greatly increase endurance by creating a greater count of red blood cells. Red blood cells are one of the most important physiological components for athletes – especially endurance athletes. These cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to the body’s tissues (including muscles). On a quick note, blood doping, the practice of increasing the number of red blood cells in the bloodstream, is illegal, however altitude training, the practice of training for several weeks at high altitudes too ultimately increase the red blood cell count too, is legal.

1. Women Will End Up Looking Like Men Yes, women take anabolic steroids too, whether they are supreme athletes, bodybuilders or recreational users. But just like men, women can select the types of anabolic steroids they take so they don’t end up looking like a line-backer. Women do however suffer more side effects than men by way of clitoral enlargement, a deepening of the voice and hair growth in unwanted places, however they are reversible once the cycle is over.

2. Anabolic steroids are a Quick Fix In actual fact, athletes will testify that more intense training and regime dieting is required in order to reap the full benefits that anabolic steroids have to offer. The fact is, anabolic steroids are not a magic pill or chemical that will instantly shape, define or provide your body with the athleticism you yearn for. A healthy lifestyle that combines a healthy diet, with a recommended 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep will compliment the intense training an athlete will punish his or her body through. If anabolic steroids were the magic peel that many people make them out to be, anyone could be the supreme athlete.

3. Liver Damage anabolic steroid users will be quick to tell you that injected anabolic steroids are a better method of taking the drug than oral digestion. If taken orally, the steroid must pass through the liver and could cause high levels of toxicity, however, this is not the case with all orally ingested anabolic steroids. Yet why should anabolic steroids take such a bad rap in terms of liver side effects when millions choose to kill their liver with alcohol and various forms of prescription drugs, all of which are legal? Such a stigma exists about anabolic steroids whereby communities look down on those that take them, but why does the same stigma not exist for alcohol, even if it may be just social drinking?

4. Penis Shrinks  - No, your penis will not shrink. Your testicles might though. This is a common occurrence amongst anabolic steroid users however it is reversible – in other words, as soon as the cycle is concluded, your testicles will return to their normal size. Men, if you don’t want your significant other finding out about your anabolic steroid usage, blindfold your partner.

5. Depression - The media has built this one up a lot. Misinformation is being exploited. Every report that has linked steroids with depression has been purely anecdotal, and in most cases, the individual has had previous mental imbalances. Similar to myth #1, increased testosterone levels have been proven to increase positive moods and decrease stress.

6. Stunted Growth It -  has been suggested that anabolic steroid use in teenagers leads to the premature closure of the growth plates. Once again, there is no scientific proof to prove this claim. One needs to merely look at Arnold Schwarzenegger, who admitted taking anabolic steroids from a very young age to see that steroids do not stunt your growth. That’s not to say that Arnold should be taken as 100% proof, but that coupled with no hard scientific data to prove such a claim should make this a myth.

7. Increased Chance of Prostate Cancer - Evidence has shown that men with higher levels of testosterone are at no greater risk of developing prostate cancer than men with low testosterone. Similar to myth #2, prostate cancer is largely a genetic predisposition. What should be pushed is more human studies on the use of anabolic steroids rather than rats so that the data is clear, not skewed, and so that these myths can be cleared up and rectified, and if there are any true dangers, they should be identified, not laughable fallacies.

8. Steroids Cause Baldness - Baldness is genetically determined. Increased levels of testosterone by way anabolic steroids will not cause baldness, but it has been argued that it could speed up the process. This side effect is enough to steer many people away from using steroids however there are ways of preventing this. Hair loss shampoos are recommended as a precaution for any cycle. As a general rule of thumb, athletes in their 20s, especially those who use the drug for pure aesthetic reasons, should think twice about taking steroids as their bodies are already producing large quantities of testosterone, more than what will ever be produced during a specific period in their life. It should be a decision that is seriously considered sometime into their 30s if they still feel inclined to experiment with the drug. The health benefits of such can be amazing

9. Roid Rage -  Best described in the documentary “Bigger, Stronger, Faster*,” steroids will only amplify personality characteristics that the individual already has. The only studies to have come from steroids are those performed on rats. The difference between humans and rats? We have a better capacity to control aggression. Caffeine and other stimulants have also been included within literature as stimulants that lead to higher levels of aggression, but should coffee be blamed for all outbursts by coffee drinkers? It also has been suggested that estrogen in fact is to blame for increased levels of aggression. Testosterone on the contrary makes males feel positive and motivated.

Misinformation is skewing the truth. Controlled human studies should be performed in order to put to bed all the myths and fallacies that surround anabolic steroid use and in order to take away the stigma associated with the use. Anabolic steroids have their place within sports and other recreations. But just like any other drug, they should not be abused. Be safe.

Effects of Anabolic Steroids

Lets say you are one of those guys who have a very serious approach to the gym life, you are health and you have been training for ages and the last 6-12 months you've "hit the wall" (you don't see any changes in your physique or results) but you still feel the need to to put on some muscle mass and you've probably tried all kind of natural supplements with no dramatic changes so you finally ended with the idea of running a steroids cycle.

Also before beginning you should remember that steroids are a sacrifice, you sacrifice a part of your health to achieve your goal, that's why the first 2 point you need to check before beginning a cycle is your health and your goal.

Begin with a general test of your health condition, check the functions of the main organs - your heart, liver, kidneys, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, sexual function - If they have shown any malfunction then stay away from steroids, I hope you are smart enough to understand that your health is more important than your look; also make a general blood test and check your male hormones levels.

Finally, if your doctor made a general conclusion and it says that you are healthy you can go to the next step - formulate your goal, as this will determine the needed effect of anabolic steroids used in your cycle.

The most common goals are : bulking (gain massive muscle in a short time), cutting/lean muscle (burning fat, getting more ripped and getting more defined muscle structure).

I wouldn't like to overload your mind with scientific descriptions of effects of anabolic steroids, you can find all them on Wikipedia or any steroids site, I am giving you a short and simple description of the steroids effect and tell you at least what to expect from them.

So, functionally the effect of anabolic steroids has 2 action fields:

• anabolic effect steroids increase protein absorption in cells, which causes the buildup of tissue, especially muscular tissue.
• androgenic effect, this effect is related to the fact that steroids are synthetic hormones and taking them will develop and maintain your masculinity so your strength, hair growth, vocal cords enlargement etc.

Each steroidal product has the androgenic/anabolic ratio, it can be 50/50, 70/30, 40/60 etc. what means that the product is XX percents androgenic and YY % anabolic, what can be understood that the product is mainly supposed for strength and has more virilizating characteristics or for building muscles.
One point here should be especially mentioned - as higher the androgenic rate of a steroid as more estrogen-related side effects it has because as more androgenic is a steroid as more it suppresses your natural testosterone production.

I don't want to bore you with detailed description of all the effects of anabolic steroids because I am sure you won't that load of info and quit reading after the first 5 minutes, you are an athlete, not a swot, so I decided o list the most used anabolic steroids and their effects.

Methandienone (Dianabol) - the most famous oral steroid, it's the choice of 87% of beginners - gives massive gains in a short time, the drawbacks are the high liver toxicity, rather high water retention what results in hard-maintainable gains.

Stanozolol (Winstrol) - available in injectable and oral form - mostly has cutting/ lean muscle effect, gives strength and endurance

Turanabol (Tbol) - used for lean muscle cycles, adds muscle hardness and strength, rather inoffensive

Anapolon (oxy) - the most potent and the most anabolic oral steroid, also the most toxic, gives massive water retention, be careful with it.

Anavar (Oxan) - has one of the most inoffensive effects of anabolic steroids, promotes fat burning processes, adds muscle definition

Halotestin - has more androgenis effects and close to none anabolic, is mostly used by lifters and MMA fighters, increases strength and aggression

Primobolan (oral and injectable version) - very mild and inoffensive effects of anabolic steroids, more used in cutting cycles, adds muscle hardness and doesn;t have a pronounced androgenic effect.

Testosterone Enathate - the most used injectable steroid, it is mostly used for bulking but you should know that any testosterone may be used both for bulking and cutting, it all depends on your diet and routine.

Testosterone Cypionate - has similar effects of anabolic steroids with testosterone enanthate, a beginner wouldn't notice the difference but it is said that it retains less water.

Testosterone Blends (sustanon) - are mixes of testosterone of different esterification levels, it is mostly used for bulking, giving rather massive muscle gains in a rather short time.

Testosterone Propionate - fast acting/ short ester testosterone, used for cutting, it kicks in 24 hours after you injected (e.g. testosterone enathate or cypionate kicks in after2 weeks), but it is needed to inject it each other day.

Boldenone undecylenate - used mostly for bulking, it increases endurance, strength, vascularization and increases appetite, so it would be a good add-on to any bulking cycle.

Trenbolone Enanthate - has more androgenic effects, mostly used for cutting, increases aggression and fat burn processes, not for beginners

Trenbolone Aceate - fast acting trenbolone, also used for cutting but it has a shorter half-life so you need to inject it each other day

Masteron propionate and enanthate - adds muscle definition and muscle hardness.

Clenbuterol - it's not considered a steroid but it very often used in cutting cycles due to it's thermogenic effect, it burns the fat rather fast

I hope you've reached the end of this list and it was useful, but I am sure you can't build your cycle by yourself even after reading all this, that's why you need a real advice, so don't hesitate to contact us, trust me a ton of reading won't replace an active and real communication.

As a conclusion I would like to remind you that steroids are synthetic hormones so taking any steroids will upset the balance of your natural hormone levels and besides the effects of anabolic steroids described above you can meet some side effects of anabolic steroids such as acne, low sex drive, oily skin, gynecomastia, liver damage and so on, but if you remember at the beginning of this article I told you that steroids are a sacrifice, so you are the one who decides....

Injections & Infections

Infection can be a potential complication of any injection, due to the very nature of traversing the protective barrier of the skin when injecting. It is imperative to inject under strict sanitary and sterile conditions, to avoid transmitting infectious organisms/ foreign particles into the body. Common infective complications of those injecting Anabolic Steroids include cellulitis and abscesses.

Cellulitis
The word 'cellulitis' literally means inflammation of the cells (not to be confused with cellulite - the lumpy fat often found on thighs, and buttocks). It generally indicates an acute spreading infection of the skin (dermis and subcutaneous tissues) resulting in pain, erythema (redness), oedema, and warmth of the affected area.

Cellulitis can spread in the skin and involve the lymphatic system causing lymphangitis. Swollen glands (lymphadenopathy) may also be present. It can be caused by many different types of bacteria, but the most common are Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus. Specific oral antibiotics are given to control the infection, and analgesics may be needed to control pain. Elevating the infected area to minimize swelling and resting until symptoms improve, aid recovery which usually takes 7 to 10 days. In severe cases the patient may need to be hospitalized and receive antibiotics through the veins (intravenously).

Abscess
An abscess is a localized collection of pus in any part of the body, usually caused by an infection. Abscesses occur when an area of tissue becomes infected and the body is able to 'wall off' the infection to keep it from spreading. During this process 'pus' forms, which is an accumulation of fluid, living and dead white blood cells, dead tissue, and bacteria or other foreign invaders or materials.

The majority of abscesses are septic (i.e. caused by an infection) but sterile abscesses can also occur which are not caused by germs but by non-living irritants such as drugs. If an injected drug, especially oil based ones such as many anabolic steroids are not fully absorbed, it stays where it was injected and may cause enough irritation to generate a sterile abscess. Sterile abscesses are quite likely to turn into hard, solid lumps as they scar, rather than remaining pockets of pus.

Superficial abscesses are readily visible and are red, swollen, painful and warm. Abscesses in other areas of the body may not be obvious and may produce only generalized symptoms such as fever and discomfort. A sterile abscess may cause only a painful lump, for example deep in the buttock where a shot was given. If the abscess is small (less than 1 cm or less than a half-inch across), applying warm compresses/hot soaks to the area for about 30 minutes 4 times daily can help.

A culture or examination of any drainage from the lesion may help identify what organism is causing it. Most will continue to get worse without care. The infection can spread to the tissues under the skin and even into the bloodstream, resulting in septicaemia which can be very serious and life threatening. Unlike other infections, antibiotics alone will not cure a well developed abscess. In general an abscess must open and drain in order for it to improve. Sometimes draining occurs on its own, but generally it must be cut open by a doctor in a procedure called incision and drainage.

Once the sore has drained, the doctor will insert some packing into the remaining cavity to minimize any bleeding and keep it open for a day or two. With time the cavity will heal and one can expect to be out of action for a number of weeks. The healing process will involve scar tissue formation, and this may lead to a residual weakness in that muscle.

Searching the literature I found a number of cases of abscess complications, a few of which are mentioned below to highlight the pitfalls which should be avoided.

Two cases of thigh abscesses were discovered in male and female professional weight lifters who injected a veterinary preparation of stanozolol contaminated with Mycobacterium smegmatis.

A staphylococcal abscess occurred in a 24-year-old bodybuilder who reported, for financial reasons, reusing needles on multiple occasions.

Two case reports of staphylococcal gluteal abscesses developed in young bodybuilders 18 and 21 years of age. The steroids were injected by other weight lifters who were not familiar with sterile injection technique.

Pectoral and deltoid abscesses were reported in a 20-year-old anabolic steroid injector who had injected his anabolic steroid preparation and then returned the needle to the vial to inject into another muscle group. The patient was thought to have contaminated his multi-dosage vial with skin flora and subsequently spread the infection.

A counterfeit anabolic steroid preparation contaminated with Pseudomonas spp was responsible for a deep gluteal abscess in one anabolic steroid injector.

HIV Infection

The risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or other blood borne diseases is rare. However there have been cases reported in the literature of this occurring. Three separate cases of HIV infection occurred in male, heterosexual bodybuilders who shared needles that were used for anabolic steroid injection on multiple occasions. One of the individuals who was diagnosed with HIV infection also acquired hepatitis B through shared anabolic steroid needles.

It is interesting to note that these cases were predominantly from the 1980's and possibly the drug culture was different at the time, being much more underground. From my own experiences with steroid users and confirmed by research, sharing needles has never been prevalent in bodybuilding culture in the UK, compared with other drug users.

With needles being cheap to buy and available for free at needle exchanges, there really shouldn't be a risk of contracting blood borne infections by sharing injecting equipment. Unfortunately amongst a minority, there is still a trend to reuse needles and syringes and this should be actively discouraged in order to avoid the complications highlighted in this article.

Precautions to take:

• Inject under strict sanitary conditions
• Use correct injection technique
• Avoid sharing or reusing needles
• Ensure medication is legitimate

Testosterone Propionate Stack

As we all know, Testosterone was the first steroid to be synthesized. Now, it remains the gold standard of all steroids. First, we´ll discuss testosterone in general, and in depth, then we´ll examine exactly how (and what) the propionate ester is (together, Testosterone Propionate is often referred to as just "prop" or "test prop").

Testosterone´s anabolic/androgenic ratio is 1:1 meaning it is exactly as anabolic as it is androgenic. Actually, testosterone is the steroid which all anabolic/androgenic ratio´s are based on. If a steroid is 2:1, then it is, compared with testosterone's ratio, doubly as anabolic as it is androgenic. Hence, we see from testosterone´s ratio, it is both quite anabolic as well as androgenic.

So how exactly does testosterone build muscle? Well, testosterone promotes nitrogen retention in the muscle, and the more nitrogen the muscles holds the more protein the muscle stores, and the bigger the muscle gets. Testosterone can also increase the levels of another anabolic hormone, IGF-1, in muscle tissue. IGF-1 is, alone, highly anabolic and can promote muscle growth. It is responsible for much of the anabolic activity of Growth Hormone (GH). IGF-1 is also one of the few hormones positively correlated with both muscle cell hyperplasia and hyperphasia (this means it both creates more muscle fibers as well as bigger fibers). All of this leads me to speculate that for pure mass, IGF-1, GH, and testosterone would be a very effective combination. Testosterone also has the amazing ability to increase the activity of satellite cells. These cells play a very active role in repairing damaged muscle. Testosterone also binds to the androgen receptor (A.R.) to promote all of the A.R dependant mechanisms for muscle gain and fat loss, but clearly, as we´ve seen, this isn´t the only mechanism by which it promotes growth.

Testosterone has a profound ability to protect your hard earned muscle from the catabolic (muscle wasting) glucocorticoid hormones, and increase red blood cell production, and as you may know, a higher RBC count may improve endurance via better oxygenated blood. The former trait increases nitrogen retention and muscle building while the latter can improve recovery from strenuous physical activity, as well as increase endurance and tolerance to strenuous exercise.

Testosterone occurs naturally in both the male and female body, as insofar as drug testing for it, typical tests don´t work (i.e. testing for metabolites). Testosterone can be tested for on a testosterone/epitestosterone ratio, a failing result usually being anything over 6 to 1, but there are other more effective tests currently in use as well as being developed by the usual party-poopers in the IOC and FDA.

Testosterone, once in the body, can be converted to both estrogen (via a process known as aromatization) as well as DHT. Estrogen is the main culprit for many side effects such as gyno, water retention, etc...while DHT is often blamed for hair loss and prostate enlargement. Naturally there are ways to combat this, such as using an anti-estrogenic compound along with dosage testosterone, or even an estrogen blocker. DHT can be combated (on the scalp, to prevent hair loss) with compounds such as Ketoconazole shampoo (sold under the trade name Nizoral) as well as Finasteride. Interestingly, this shampoo can also be used topically to combat acne on the face (or even the back if you´re really flexible). Both of these methods for preventing hair loss and acne are reasonably effective. However, if you are not prone to hair loss, they may be wholly unnecessary. Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) is carried by the X chromosome, so if your mother´s family boasts men with full heads of hair, then you are probably safe (unless those full heads of hair are all mullets). Naturally, as with most other steroids, your lipid profile is going to suffer a bit while on testosterone as is your blood pressure. This, of course is nothing that can´t be controlled by watching your diet and doing your cardio, at least for the duration of the typical cycle (which for arguments sake, I´ll assume is +/- 12 weeks).

To combat the aromatization of  testosterone, you can simply take an aromatase inhibitor such as Arimidex. This and other Anti-estrogenic compounds are generally considered a must with testosterone doses over ½ a gram per week (500mgs). Also among side effects (as if acne and going bald aren´t enough) is increased aggression. For many, the increased aggression found from increased testosterone levels is often a bonus in the weight room as well as on the playing field. Let´s not get started on its benefits in the bedroom!

Testosterone is also a relatively safe steroid to use, with some studies showing no adverse effects from 20weeks at 600mgs/week! Personally, I have used up to 2 grams per week of various testosterone,  but now I prefer to keep my dose of it around ½ a gram.

Testosterone is usually attached to an ester.  The ester determines how long it takes your body to dispose of the steroid in question, and propionate is the shortest ester available with a testosterone base. There are enzymes, called esterases, in your body which have the function of removing the ester from steroids, and leaving you with just the steroid molecule with the ester cleaved off. Depending on how heavy the ester chain is, that determines how long it takes the esterase to remove it. And that amount of time determines how long the drug stays active in your body.

Check out this chart:

Chemical = Formula = Molecular Weight = Mg of testosterone
Testosterone (no ester) = C19 H28 O2 = 288.4mg = 100mg
Propionate = C3 H4 O = 56.1mg = 83.72mg
Cypionate = C8 H4 O = 124.2mg = 69.90mg

Here, we´re comparing testosterone with no ester (suspension) with Test Propionate and Cypionate (basically the longest vs. shortest esters available with testosterone).

So you see, the longer the ester on the testosterone is, the longer the steroid is active in your body, and the less actual test you get. This is because, for every 100mgs of Testosterone Cypionate you inject, only 69.90mgs of it is actually testosterone, the rest is the cypionate ester, which must be removed. On the other hand, with the propionate ester you´ll get 83.72mgs of testosterone! The advantage to longer esters is that they need to be injected less frequently (test prop needs to be injected every other day while you can shoot test cyp once a week). The disadvantage to long estered steroids is that they contain less actual steroid.

Also, as with most steroids, injected testosterone will inhibit your natural test levels and HPTA (Hypothalamic Pituitary Testicular Axis). A mere Hundred mgs of test/week takes about 5-6 weeks to shut the HPTA, and 250-500mgs shuts you down by week 2.

Realistically, every cycle should contain testosterone. Go back and read that sentence again. A beginners´ dose of testosterone (i.e. someone on their first or second cycle of anabolic steroids) would be in the 250-500mgs range. Though, realistically, I wouldn´t recommend much less than 400mgs of test per cycle for anybody, beginner or not. And guess what? The more you use the more results you get.

Testosterone Propionate Stack

What stacks well with Testosterone Propionate? Everything! Many people´s favorite´s are Eq (boldenone undeclyenate) or Deca (nandrolone decanoate), but really, anything will stack well with test prop. Tren (trenbolone acetate), Masteron, and/or Winstrol are also favorites for many on a cutting cycle, myself included. It´s important to remember that since test prop has such a short ester, most people stack it with other short estered drugs, the rational being that they need to endure frequent injections for the test prop to be effective, so they may as well be using other drugs requiring the same dosing protocol.

Finally, it´s worth noting that sometimes a strategy known as "frontloading" is employed with Testosterone Propionate, this is where double or triple the intended dose for the cycle is injected for the first two weeks, then the user switches to a longer ester. The reasoning behind this is presumably to get the blood levels of the drug up quickly in the hopes of seeing results more quickly.

Testosterone Propionate Profile

(Testosterone)
4-androstene-3-one, 17beta-ol
Testosterone base + Propionate ester
Molecular Weight (base): 288.429
Molecular Weight (ester): 74.0792
Formula (base): C19 H28 O2
Formula (ester): C3H6O2
Melting Point (base): 155
Melting Point (ester): 21C
Manufacturer: Various
Effective Dose (Men): 350-2000mg+ week.
Effective Dose (Women): 50-100mgs/week
Active life: 2-3 days
Detection Time: 2-3 weeks
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio:100/100.

Acne and Nutrition: Bodybuilding and Steroids. Side Effects and Acne

Acne is a multi-factorial disease. While each case is unique, you can greatly improve your chances of clear skin by eating whole foods; lowering inflammation and stress; getting a good fatty acid balance; and cutting down the worst offenders: wheat, sugar, and dairy.

What is acne? Our skin is the largest organ in our body, and it’s a complex ecosystem made up of several layers and components.

The skin is semi-permeable, meaning that although it’s mostly a barrier between us and our environment, some stuff can get in and out. Sweat glands and hair follicles provide openings.
Hair originates in follicles deep in the subcutaneous layer, the deepest layer below the dermis. These hair follicles are paired with sebaceous glands, which secrete sebum, an oily substance that lubricates both hair and skin. (This is why your hair gets greasy if you don’t wash it.) Human sebum is primarily composed of triglycerides (40-60%), cerides (19-26%), squalene (11-15%), and small amounts of cholesterol.

We have hair follicles and sebaceous glands all over our body, except for the palms of our hands and soles of our feet. Acne forms when pores become congested with old skin cells, which is more likely when the skin is oily and skin cells stick together. If we also have high levels of bacteria on the skin plus systemic inflammation, we have ourselves a full fledged acne party. Acne vulgaris is the form of acne most of us are familiar with and accounts for nearly all acne experienced.

What contributes to acne?

Thus, anything that clogs pores, and/or creates or worsens infection and inflammation, contributes. The major players in acne production are:

• Excessive sebum (oil) production by the skin
• Rapid division of skin cells
• Delayed skin cell separation and death
• Bacteria on the skin surface
• Inflammatory response

The food we eat and our body fat cells play a role in sebum production, hormones, and inflammation. Hormonal changes likely have the greatest influence on acne (think birth control medications, anabolic steroids and puberty).

Hormonal factors

Growth hormone and IGF-1

Acne during puberty is often associated more with growth hormone (GH) than with testosterone and estrogens. GH goes from the brain to the liver and triggers the release of Insulin Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 promotes skin cell growth/division, sebum production, efficacy of luteinizing hormone (LH) and the production of estrogens.

Insulin and glycemic response

A study described acne as “diabetes of the skin.” And as far as I’m concerned, everything from the 1950s was true.
High insulin levels and insulin resistance are associated with worse acne and more sebum (side note: more body fat can lead to more insulin resistance). Medications that lower insulin and control glucose often have the side effect of less acne.

Androgens

Acne severity doesn’t seem to correlate with total androgen levels in the body. Rather, androgens play a permissive role in priming or initiating acne. An example of this would be women with PCOS or someone starting a cycle of anabolic/androgenic steroids. These folks often experience a surge of circulating androgens and IGF-1, along with lower levels of sex hormone binding proteins.

Androgens can directly influence skin cells if the cells have high levels of androgen receptors. Also, androgens can increase growth and productivity of sebaceous glands.

Consuming a lot of food promotes androgen release in the body. Animal foods and saturated fats tend to get the biggest response. Lower fat, higher fiber diets can increase levels of sex hormone binding proteins, thus lowering free levels of circulating androgens.

Inflammation & stress

Acne is a type of of inflammatory disease. With acne, inflammatory hormones and cell signals are upregulated — the skin is a hive of inflammatory activity.

Our bodies secrete cortisol in response to stress. Evidence shows that people with acne have an over-active cortisol secretion system, one that is particularly expressed in the sebaceous glands.

Thus, stress (whether physical or general life stress) plus inflammation (whether existing or prompted by stress) make acne worse.

Nutrition: What makes acne worse?

Not enough antioxidant vitamins and minerals

Low levels of vitamin C and E, zinc, selenium, and carotenoids might contribute to acne. These nutrients help fight free radicals that break down skin elastin, produce collagen, and repair skin damage. The catch here is that you usually have to get these from whole foods for them to be of any benefit.

Processed foods

Data show a mixed relationship between processed foods and acne. Eat a big meal with lots of processed food and you have lots of insulin. Lots of insulin means lots of tissue growth and androgen production, which are both contributors to acne.

Foods that are highly processed and cooked often contain compounds that promote oxidative stress and inflammation (see All About Cooking and Carcinogens). Again, oxidative stress and inflammation almost always contribute to chronic disease.

Dairy

While there have been noted associations between dairy consumption and acne starting back in the 1800s, some data indicate no association. Milk provides a mix of growth factors, hormones and nutrients specific to offspring. As rapid growth ends and the youngster can feed themselves, milk consumption is stopped (well, not in humans).

Dairy foods produce a high insulin response, increase hormone levels in the body and alter inflammation – all factors that lead to unfavorable acne outcomes. Consuming cow’s milk can raise IGF-1 levels 10-20% in the body. IGF-1 from cow’s milk survives pasteurization and homogenization and digestion in our gut, and can enter the body as an intact hormone (cow and human IGF-1 share the same sequence).

The unfavorable associations between dairy and acne haven’t been noticed with fermented dairy products, maybe because bacteria in fermented dairy use IGF-1, leaving less for us to absorb. Some experts theorize that whey protein in particular may encourage acne, since it’s a strong promoter of insulin. A compound called betacellulin (which can be found in dairy foods) may increase skin cell division and decrease skin cell death – leading to worse acne.

Nutrition: What makes acne better?

Acne is a big deal. While genetics (mom seems to play a bigger role) and ethnicity contribute to acne, it appears that how we live each day matters too. In the U.S., people spend more than $100 million on over-the-counter products to fight acne. Yet many non-Westernized populations have no acne at all. So, you could spend a lot of money on drugs that have potentially dangerous side effects… or you could change your diet. Changing your diet is a heckuva lot cheaper and safer as a starting point.

Whole plant foods - Diets based around whole plants can lead to slightly lower IGF-1 levels and slightly higher IGF-1 binding protein levels (leaving less available IGF-1 circulating in the body). This might help reduce acne.

Calorie restriction - Less food coming into the body is associated with less sebum production.

Phytoestrogens - These substances, found in foods such as soy, may inhibit androgen-forming and acne-promoting enzymes, but don’t appear to play a major role in helping acne.

Cocoa - There doesn’t seem to be an association between chocolate (in its most unprocessed form) and acne. Studies show that dark chocolate can improve insulin sensitivity and improve blood flow to the skin and skin hydration. (Some manufacturers are even capitalizing on these studies by offering chocolate in skin products. The jury’s still out on whether this works, but it sure makes you smell tasty.)

Omega-3 fats - Skin levels of fatty acids might play a role in the development of acne. Furthermore, the pro-inflammatory Western diet (with lots of omega-6 fats) tends to negatively influence acne. Balancing fat intake and ensuring enough omega-3s seems to be important for overall skin health. 1 gram of EPA from a supplement (check your fish oil to see how much EPA is in it) might be useful for acne treatment.

GI health - As mentioned above, poor GI health is strongly correlated with acne. Whole foods, soluble and insoluble fibre, omega-3 fats, coconut, and Brassica vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kohlrabi, etc.) can have a beneficial influence on gut health, in part by improving gut motility. (See diagram below.) Fibre can also bind to and excrete excess hormones that contribute to acne.

Consider eliminating wheat, dairy, and sugar for a month to see if this helps. All of these things worsen GI tract problems, and acne is strongly connected to gluten enteropathy.

Pre/Probiotics - This might be of particular interest to anyone who has been using antibiotics for acne. Our gut is home to countless bacteria and if gut health is out of whack, this might have a negative influence on acne. Getting enough of these from foods and/or supplements can help to restore gut health and may reduce acne. Skin cells have also been found to act as immune cells that signal an over-active immune system. Inflamed skin means inflamed body, and probably inflamed gut.

Spices - Many spices (e.g.cinnamon, ginger, turmeric) and fresh herbs (e.g. basil, oregano, garlic) are anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and immune-boosting. Spices such as cinnamon can also help to regulate insulin.

Green tea - Green tea can suppress enzymes and androgens involved in acne formation. It’s also anti-inflammatory.

Walnuts/almonds - These nuts might help with blood/skin fatty acid status, and control blood sugar. Monounsaturated fats can be anti-microbial.

Dark green & purple vegetables/fruits - These contain acne fighting anti-oxidants and minerals that extinguish inflammation. They may also inhibit androgen-forming and acne-promoting enzymes.

Free-range organic (or pastured) eggs - Hens that receive nutritious feed (or even better, free-ranging pasture that includes bugs and other small animals) produce more nutrient-dense eggs (including beneficial vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids) that may help to deter acne.

Tomatoes - These may lower IGF-1 in the body.

Resveratrol - Found in grapes, red wine, peanuts and mulberries.

Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) - Supplementation with pantothenic acid (500-1000 mg daily should be sufficient) can be quite effective, and a far safer alternative to commercial prescription medications such as oral contraceptives and retinoids.

Zinc & selenium - 6% of all zinc found in our bodies is in our skin. Selenium is a potent antioxidant. It’s best to get these in food format. High-zinc foods include seafood, wild game, red meat, and nuts. High-selenium foods include nuts (Brazil nuts in particular), fish, poultry, meat, and wild game.

Who doesn’t get acne?

Observing cultural shifts in diet can also clue us into what foods might be associated with acne. Acne doesn’t seem to appear in non-Westernized populations eating traditional diets. This includes Inuit, Okinawa islanders, Ache hunter-gatherers, Kitavan islanders, and rural villages in Kenya, Zambia and Bantu. Staple foods among cultures where acne is nearly absent include:

• tubers (e.g. taro, yam)
• fruit
• fish, seafood, and marine mammals
• coconut
• vegetables
• wild game
• groundnuts and tree nuts
• traditionally prepared (fermented or ash-treated) non-wheat grains such as millet, barley, maize (corn), or rice beneficial fungi, molds, and lichen

They don’t eat processed foods, sugars, flours or processed wheat, processed oils, nor much dairy. They also get plenty of vitamin D from being outside, and/or consuming the livers of marine animals.

Summary and recommendations

• Acne is complex, and each person is unique. However, there are common factors in cultures that don’t suffer from acne. Use these ideas as your starting point and our recommendations.
• They eat whole, unprocessed foods. All their nutrients come from these foods. They don’t supplement.
• They get outside and get sunlight (or, again, consume vitamin D in organ meats).
• They often eat fermented foods — foods that are high in beneficial probiotics for gut health.
• Except for the Inuit, they eat a lot of unprocessed and/or traditionally prepared plant foods, such as fresh or fermented vegetables and fruits, and grains that are soaked/sprouted/fermented.
• They often eat many fresh herbs and spices, as well as beneficial fungi.
• They eat a good balance of unprocessed fats.
• They eat plenty of omega-3 fatty acids from fish, wild game, and even insects and snails. They don’t consume a lot of omega-6s from vegetable or seed oils.
• They eat traditionally prepared ground nuts (e.g. peanuts) and tree nuts (e.g. walnuts, almonds).
• They don’t consume much dairy; if they do, it’s fermented and/or pastured.
• They eat as much as possible of any animals consumed: dark and white meat, organ meats, connective tissues, etc.

The value of self-experimentation

If you struggle with acne, keep a food diary. Look for connections between foods and breakouts — and don’t forget that it might take a day or more for foods to stimulate breakouts.

One good experiment is to try doing without wheat, dairy, and sugar for a month to see if it helps. These foods have the strongest associations with acne. Substitute tubers, fruit, and beans/legumes for carbohydrate instead. If that seems like too much, try just one thing at a time.

Other factoids

During times of hormonal fluctuation (like puberty) excess sebum production likely occurs to protect hair follicle growth. Our skin is replaced every 28 to 45 days. Sebaceous glands have receptors for neuropeptides, like endorphins. Histamines and anti-histamines may influence sebaceous gland function.

Environmental pollutants

Environmental pollutants might bump up IGF-1 levels. Pollution — which includes smoking — also increases oxidation. Smoking can also influence acetylcholine, and acetylcholine can influence sebaceous gland activity.

Natural topical treatments

The plant extracts from Azadirachta indica (Neem), Sphaeranthus indicus (Hindi), Hemidesmus indicus (Sarsaparilla), Rubia cordifolia (Common Madder) and Curcuma longa (Turmeric) seem to be anti-inflammatory and might suppress bacteria on the skin that promote acne. Same with topical tea tree oil.

If you’re looking for a cheap vitamin A cream, try egg yolk. Dab it on your skin and leave it for 10 minutes or even overnight. (Just remember to wash it off eventually.)

Chamomile and peppermint tea can soothe skin irritation. Make a strong solution of chamomile and peppermint, swish your face in it, and let it sit for a while on the skin. Plain oatmeal will also calm skin down. (Again, wash it off eventually unless you’re auditioning for a zombie movie.)

Fruit acids and enzymes can give you a natural “glycolic peel”. Next time you throw fruit in your Supershake, wipe your face with the pineapple or squished orange rinds. Seriously. Plain yogurt also works as a topical probiotic and exfoliating acid.