Many athletes, sports persons, weightlifters and bodybuilders consume steroids to increase their muscle mass or to improve their athletic performance. People look up to these public figures and aspire to be fit like them. And thus, they also start consuming these anabolic steroids without taking medical advice or collecting all the information and properly researching about bodybuilding supplements that work like steroids are available out there.

Anabolic steroids (not to be confused with corticosteroids, which are prescribed for a variety of conditions) are drugs manufactured with the purpose of producing the same effects as the male hormone testosterone. They are prescription-only drugs and can cause serious side effects and addiction if abused.

Is it possible to build muscle without exposing yourself to the risk that these dangerous (and often illegal) steroids pose? Of course, it is. Here is a list of 5 bodybuilding supplements that work like steroids, but are not harmful for you.

1. Ostarine

This compound stirred up the entire fitness industry when it was discovered that medical experts were using it to stop the breakdown and promote the growth of muscle tissue. As it is a SARM, Ostarine seeks out and attaches itself to selective androgen receptors in the body. It then stimulates the production of anabolic, or muscle promoting compounds.

As it stimulates the release of anabolic compounds, Ostarine is used mainly for bulking.
A famous study even showed that subjects gained an average of 3 pounds of muscle with Ostarine, without the inclusion of an exercise program. The results will only improve when you hit the gym regularly. It can also be used as a great recovery SARM because it protects lean muscle tissue from breakdown.

To see how your body responds to it and to make sure there are no side-effects, you can start a cycle at 3 mg and gradually increase the dosage to 12-15 mg. If you want to see some serious gains, you can increase the dosage to 25 mg. But do not exceed this limit in any case. Please note that intra-cycle support and PCT supplements are required at this dosage. Also, your cycle should be no longer than 6 weeks and followed by a 4 weeks break.

Read More: What Are SARMs And How Effective Is SARMs Bodybuilding?

2. Cardarine

Cardarine is a PPAR modulator, it stimulates what is known as the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) in your body. The PPAR is found in muscle and fatty tissue and helps to regulate fat burning, cholesterol, muscle development, and recovery. Cardarine promotes benefits such as muscle growth, enhanced recovery, and fat burning by tapping into the properties of the PPAR.

Cardarine promotes muscle building, but its specialty is cutting & recovery. If your goal is only size, you should choose Ostarine over Cardarine.

The average dose recommended by users and brand alike is 10 mg every day for 4-6 weeks. Once your cycle has finished, give your body a break of 4 weeks before beginning another cycle. In your second or third cycle, you can gradually increase the dosage to 20 mg, but do not go beyond that. No intra or post-cycle support is needed with Cardarine as it doesn’t promote androgenic side effects.

Read More: Best SARMs for Cutting! Get Ripped Fast and Efficiently Without Any Side Effects

3. Nutrobal

Also known as MK-677, Nutrobal is a Growth Hormone Secretagogue, or HGH-S, which are an injection-free way to stimulate the production of growth hormone. They are basically peptides that seek out and attach themselves to the growth hormone receptors, and stimulate its production. Nutrobal is unique because it has the ability to bypass the somatostatin barrier. This results in more growth hormone production than your average HGH-S.

Due to the direct production of growth hormone, Nutrobal is an ideal steroid alternative for building serious muscle mass. It’s also an excellent way to boost recovery and protect your current levels of muscle mass. Over-training or high levels of cortisol may cause catabolic breakdown, which Nutrobal prevents.

Most side effects that people report are minor ones such as a bigger appetite, occasional numbness in the hands, and fatigue. These are nothing to worry about. Other side effects include heartburn, mood swings, and insulin resistance. Although these are rarely encountered.

You should start with 5 mg of Nutrobal, to see how your body reacts to it, and you can gradually increase this amount to a maximum of 25 mg. Use as directed but under any circumstances, do not take Nutrobal for more than 10 weeks, followed by a 4-week break.

Read More: Best SARMs For Lean Mass! Quickly Lose Body Fat Without Side Effects

4. D-Anaoxn

D-Anaoxn is a non-steroidal supplement, which functions similar to the steroid, Methandrosteonolone, commonly known as Dianabol. It is just a combination of DHEA, amino acids, and whey protein. But that doesn’t mean you should skip this one.

The combination of leucine, isoleucine, and valine has been proven to promote protein synthesis and muscle recovery while whey protein, as we all know, triggers muscle growth. DHEA can promote athletic performance while increasing levels of free testosterone. For best results, D-Anaoxn should be used with a resistance training program and a muscle-focused diet plan.

When used as directed, there are no reported side effects with D-Anaoxn. One capsule contains 25 mg of DHEA, and it’s recommended to take one capsule three times per day, exceeding which might result in acne, hair loss, and mood swings.

Read More: 10 Health Lies and Fitness Myths Gym Trainers are Spreading

5. T-Bal 75

T-Bal 75 is marketed as a non-steroidal alternative for the steroid, Trenbolone. T-Bal 75 contains an herbal-based formula with its two superstar ingredients, Beta Sitosterol and Samento Inner Bark.

Beta Sitosterol is known as a phytosterol, which contains a chemical structure very similar to that of cholesterol and hampers the conversion of testosterone into DHT. This helps to improve free testosterone levels while avoiding DHT-based side effects like pre-mature balding and prostate issues. Whereas Samento Inner Bark is a great recovery compound, shown to boost immunity and improve DNA.

As a supplement for cutting and bulking, T-Bal 75 would be best suited for someone looking to lean out while maintaining their current levels of muscle mass. Since it is a natural supplement, when used as directed (one capsule three times daily) there are no reported side effects of T-Bal 75.

If you’re looking for harmless & effective bodybuilding supplements that work like steroids (and if you’re not, you should be), the ones listed above should do the trick for you.