HGH vs Steroids: Understanding the Key Differences and Benefits

Human Growth Hormone

Within the following passages, we have covered:

• What is HGH?
• Benefits Of HGH
• Side Effects of HGH Abuse

What is HGH? 

HGH is an abbreviation for human growth hormone, giving us a hint of what its function may be. 

Generally, when people hear ‘HGH,’ it gets put into the bracket of ‘valve and injection’. Believe it or not, HGH is a naturally occurring hormone that is produced within the brain’s pituitary gland, sending signals to various tissues of the body. 

This is not to say that many people do use artificial forms of it to maximize the benefits.

Prices vary depending on many different variables, but artificial HGH is a very expensive substance compared to other performance enhancers. 

Benefits Of HGH 

During this journey of what we call ‘life’, in our younger years, we show an abundance of HGH. This is for the purpose of developing our body structures. 

As the years pass us by, HGH levels begin to decline, approximately at the rate of 15% every decade after adulthood. 

Rewinding back to those younger years, we look youthful and fit, with a more rapid rate of recovery from injuries like sprains and strains. 

Why so?

One of the key responsibilities of HGH is to repair and regenerate cells (collagen and cartilage) which are present within our skin, joints, tendons and bones. 

For those of you who workout, you know how much beating these tissues can take through heavy lifting and strenuous exercise.  

We have all witnessed how younger athletes and ‘gym goers’ recover from injuries and training sessions so much faster than their older counterparts. 

More often than not, HGH is referred to as the ‘Fountain of Youth’ as it upholds a youthful and strong image. For this reason, many actors and celebrities rely on it in their older age.

I do not want to drop names but have you seen how jaw droppingly MAGNIFICENT Pamela looks on the tailend of her 50s, she’s still able to rock the bikini on the beach. 

Side Effects Of HGH Abuse

On the other hand, it is not all sunshine and rainbows! There is a dark side to abusing HGH injections. 

Some of the side effects of HGH abuse include insulin resistance/diabetes, cancer growth/acceleration, and organ enlargement (heart, lungs, kidneys, intestines). In turn, lowering the quality of life, as well as ramping up the risk of organ failure and even death. 

Have you ever seen one of those competitive bodybuilders with a huge rounded gut? This is the result of organ intestinal growth from HGH abuse. 

Anabolic Steroids 

We covered something the following for Anabolic steroids:

• What Are Anabolic Steroids?
• Benefits Of Anabolic Steroids 
• Side Effects of Anabolic Steroid Abuse

What are Anabolic Steroids?

Anabolic steroids are artificially synthesized drugs in the laboratory setting. These drugs come in the form of oral tablets, creams, jells, patches, and injections. 

They are supposed to be prescribed by doctors to those who suffer from illnesses that are related to muscle wasting. 

However, anabolic steroids are commonly used recreationally by many in the realm of sports and fitness. 

If you have ever overheard some of the ‘gym rats’ in the weights room, you may be familiar with terms like roids, juice, gear, pumpers, maal… 

Price-wise, Anabolic steroids are cheaper on a per-cycle basis if we compare them to HGH. 

Benefits Of Anabolic Steroids

Steroids have been shown to mimic the male sex hormone androgens. For this reason, they promote rapid muscle/strength gains, weight loss, and overall athletic performance.

They can have you lifting and sprinting like a bull, but they are most definitely NOT recommended in drug-tested sports as they will likely show up during drug tests. This can result in a ban and/or disqualification. 

A famous example is Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson, who broke the 100m sprint record in the Summer Olympic games of 1988 with a time of 9.79. Unfortunately, Johnson tested positive for stanozolol only a few days later, resulting in a disqualification. 

But this just shows the kind of performance enhancement steroids can draw.

Side Effects Of Anabolic Steroid Abuse 

Anabolic steroid abuse has countless negative physiological and psychological side effects that you need to watch out for. 

This does not apply to everyone, but anecdotally, we see some ‘gym goers’ turn into complete egotistical A** holes, and at times, can become really aggressive and have mood swings. 

On the physical side, If you are prone to skin conditions and start taking steroids, chances are that you will get acne and oily skin. These effects can be irreversible. 

Furthermore, another unwanted side effect is hair loss and thinning, especially if you are genetically prone to these. 

On the other hand,  your hormones can go out of whack, causing gyno (man breasts) and testicular shrinkage. These side effects are especially likely if you do not put any post-cycle therapy in place.  

The more life-threatening effects of Steroid abuse can spike blood pressure and cholesterol, which are major risk factors for heart attack and cardiovascular disease. 

Similarly, liver damage is probable from oral ingestion of steroids from having to break down the foreign toxic substances. 

Steroids can cause muscles to grow and strengthen rapidly without corresponding with ligaments and tendons. This can cause these tissues to sprain or strain from being put through forces that can not be tolerated. 

Key Differences Between HGH And Steroids (Conclusion) 

I have put together a simple table that illustrates the key differences between HGH and anabolic steroids.