'Roid Rage

When the media say "steroids," they almost always mean "androgenic-anabolic steroids," a collection of more than 100 synthetic drugs used by people hoping to boost muscle mass. Yet the generic term "steroids" actually covers a much larger group of substances--some of which you're "on" right now.

Along with lots of water, you're mostly made of four kinds of organic macromolecules: proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acid, and lipids. Proteins are long chains of amino acids that combine to do lots of jobs for the body. Carbohydrates are chains of sugar molecules strung together to store energy. Nucleic acid is the key ingredient in DNA. And lipids include a variety of naturally occurring steroids.

Members, read this article now

Get it as an easy-print PDF