Selective Androgenic Receptor Modulators (SARMS) are the new in-thing in the supplements market. Since they only connects to androgen receptors in the muscles and cannot be converted to DHT, SARMs have a low potential for side effects (this is compared to steroids or testosterone, which connects to all androgen receptors).
As a result of this fact, many individuals consider SARMs as a ‘natural’ alternative to steroids. This is not true, as SARMs are synthetic and were made in a lab. They were created in the 1990's for the purpose of muscle development for people who have osteoporosis or suffered injuries and lost a lot of muscle.
There are not many studies done on all types of SARMs, so their safety and overall effectiveness are in the air. Since SARMs are created in the lab with no approval or FDA standards, it’s easy for illegal/underground labs to make SARMs with harmful, unapproved ingredients and sold at low prices.
These labs are usually the ones to claim that these supplements are natural and will mislabel their products. This can be dangerous to consume as it can induce harmful side effects and even cause permanent damage.
While SARMs are not actually natural, they are considered effective and safer alternatives to steroids. However, users must always purchase high-quality SARMs from a reputable source. Users must also remember that since SARMs are synthetic, they still have side effects to consider, so they must use them responsibly.