Major Ways Clenbuterol Helps for Weight Loss and Bodybuilding
Clenbuterol is one of those substances that were created for a specific purpose or purposes but that ended up becoming popular for something entirely different.
This is a drug that was made for providing relief to people with breathing disorders, such as asthma. It is a bronchodilator and a very potent one.
But many people today know Clenbuterol more as a powerful fat burner. Its fat burning reputation has gone far and wide. Wherever the name is mentioned, people are more likely to think about its use for this purpose than it’s real purpose.
Also known as Clen HCL or, more popularly, as simply Clen, this drug features in the cutting cycles of many professional bodybuilders. It is helpful for protecting lean mass while trying to get rid of body fat.
How does it work? How exactly can this substance aid weight loss and cutting? We discuss ways by which it can deliver these benefits in this article. Do well to read on.
Improved Metabolism
There is a very popular belief that slow metabolism is a major factor in weight gain. Clen can help deal with this promoting weight loss this way.
The drug is a Beta-2 agonist, bearing some structural similarities to salbutamol. This quality is what makes it a potent bronchodilator. Agonism of Beta-2 receptors induces adenylyl cyclase activity, leading to relaxation of smooth muscle in the bronchioles. Through its effect on the Beta-2 receptors, Clen promotes greater metabolic activity. This improves the rate at which your body uses fat for fuel, thereby enhancing weight loss.
It can also promote a higher resting metabolic rate, which means your body burns fat round the clock.
Heat Generation
Clenbuterol is also useful for fat loss with regard to how it increases the temperature of the body. This is what people usually call the thermogenic effect.
With increased metabolic activity, the mitochondria raise heat production in cells within the body. The drug may cause the temperature to rise by up to 1 degree. This sort of environment encourages more efficient fat burning.
Increased Lipolysis
Lipolysis is the process by which hydrolysis breaks down fats and other lipids to release fatty acids. The body then uses the end products for its energy needs.
Clen can boost lipolysis. By inducing PKA (protein kinase A) activity, the hormone-sensitive lipase and perilipin mediate lipolysis.
Increase in Lean Muscle Mass
Because of its effect on burning fat, bodybuilders often use Clenbuterol to shred or “cut” the fats that might accumulate from the use of other substances for muscle growth. It helps to promote that “chiseled” look with impressive vascularity.
One fear about cutting supplements is that some may actually cause you to lose muscle as well. That’s what makes Clen unique. It is highly preferred by bodybuilders because of its ability to help retain muscle mass while burning fat.
Scientists do not yet fully understand the mechanism by which it guards against muscle breakdown. But research suggests that muscle preservation with the drug may further be enhanced through caloric restriction.
It has been found to actually increase lean muscle mass, although not at the same rate as anabolic steroids. It may directly stimulate muscle protein synthesis through mTOR-dependent mechanisms, according to research.
Appetite Suppression
Without a doubt, a large appetite plays a major role in the increasing cases of overweight and obesity. Controlling this can go a long way in dealing with excessive body fat issues.
Clenbuterol’s ability to help suppress appetite has been highlighted. It reduces excessive craving for food. However, not everyone will experience this.
Its effect on the beta2-adrenergic system is thought to be the reason for this possible change in feeding pattern.
Better Performance
Some people, especially athletes, also use Clenbuterol for its perceived ability to improve performance. It gives a boost in strength.
As Clenbuterol is a bronchodilator, it improves the airflow into your body, thereby enhancing the amount of oxygen available. As a result, you experience greater strength and endurance, enabling you better performance.
Research evidence suggests that it may also promote faster recovery from workouts and injuries.
Increased Stimulation
This benefit is related to increase in strength and performance. Clenbuterol is a stimulating substance – in other words, it is a stimulant. It is highly stimulatory and the half-life is long, meaning its effects in the body last for quite some time after use.
It stimulates not only Beta-2 receptors but also the central nervous system. These stimulating effects mean that Clen can increase your energy levels. It can also boost endurance when training.
Safety Concerns
There is no question about the efficacy of Clenbuterol for fat burning or preserving lean muscle mass. But like anabolic steroids, it can produce side effects, some of which can be awful or deadly.
It is not really due to lack of efficacy, but more as a result of safety issues that the drug has been banned in many places.
These side effects include sleep problems, jittery feelings, and cramping. But there are even worse side effects that one may experience. We discuss a few of these below.
Faster heart rate
It should not be entirely surprising to learn that Clenbuterol may cause your heart to beat faster. It is a stimulant after all.
Higher heart rate may lead to troubling health issues, including chronic stress and anxiety.
Cardiac hypertrophy
Clenbuterol users are more likely to experience this side effect with excessive or prolonged use. Cardiac hypertrophy is characterized by thickening of the heart muscle and reduction in chamber size. It causes low oxygen supply and can lead to stroke or heart failure.
High blood pressure
The use of Clen may expose you to the risk of hypertension. As a result of its Beta-2 and Beta-1 adrenergic effects, the drug can lead to high blood pressure levels.
High blood pressure is a serious problem to worry about. It is capable of causing stroke, heart attack, and even death.
Is There Any Better Alternative?
Clenbuterol is either banned or restricted in some countries, while people can buy it legally in some others. You cannot purchase it legally for fat burning in the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not currently approve any therapeutic drug that has the compound as an ingredient.
So, what do you do in a place where Clen is illegal? Yes, look for alternatives!
But truth be told: you may not be able to find a safer, legal alternative that is as potent as Clen at what it does.
Conclusion
No one can credibly argue that Clenbuterol is not an effective drug. It is a very potent fat burner and bodybuilders use it for cutting and retaining lean muscle. There are people who can swear by anything that it is the best at what it does.
But the compound has the potential for producing very serious side effects. And for this reason, it is illegal or only available on prescription in some countries.
References
Clenbuterol – Supplement Review on Usage, Dosage, Side Effects
Clenbuterol | C12H18Cl2N2O – PubChem
FDA warns that compounding clenbuterol is illegal
FEEDBACK: