RAD 140 is without a doubt one of the most popular sarms available today. It’s known for being a bulking sarm thanks to it’s reputation for providing rapid mass gains.
With that being said, there’s been some debate on whether or not RAD 140 is a “dry” or “wet” sarm. Many potential sarms users will be turned off at the idea of having a bloated, puffy look during their cycle.
This article will look at whether or not RAD 140 causes water retention or not. We will look at the science, then we will share some real user reports.
What causes water retention during a SARMs cycle?
Bloating on SARMs
When discussing anabolic compounds such as sarms or steroids, water retention is caused by one of two things:
- Aromatization of the parent compound into estrogen. Select anabolic steroids such as dianabol are known to convert to estrogen at a much higher rate than others. The increased estrogen levels lead to a bloated, puffy look.
or
- Increased glycogen storage. All anabolics, sarms included, will do this. The anabolic effects of sarms allow your body to utilize carbohydrates more efficiently. This can make you look and feel “full” but can sometimes be mistaken for bloating/water retention.
Does RAD 140 Convert to Estrogen?
Because RAD 140 is a SARM, it does not have the ability to aromatize. In fact, taking RAD 140 will temporarily lower the natural estradiol counts in your body. Even still, there are some people who claim that RAD 140 gave them gyno.
The likely explanation is that the sarms they had purchased were actually mislabeled steroids or pro-hormones. This is the sad reality of the current state of the sarms industry, and it’s why we built our verified source program to make it easy for people to find reputable sellers.
Can RAD 140 cause water retention?
The Facts
Because RAD 140 does not convert to estrogen, it does not cause water retention.
It will, however, increase your body’s ability to hold glycogen across your body, which can be misinterpreted as water retention by some people who are not familiar with anabolics.
Personally, I’ve found that RAD 140 stacks nicely with Test, and if anything it dried me up more than a test-only cycle would.
The two are entirely different things, and should not be misinterpreted for each other. More glycogen storage will equate to a pumped up, slightly softer look, so it’s understandable if you want stay as dry and lean as you can.
Reducing Water Retention From RAD 140
My suggestion is to see how your body reacts to RAD 140 before changing anything. If you notice any sort of bloating, consider switching to a low salt, low dairy diet. For many people, this does the trick. I’ve personally had no issues staying lean and vascular during my runs of RAD 140, so you shouldn’t have much difficulty either.
Another Option: Diuretics
I’ve seen people get great success by using a mild diuretic to reduce on cycle bloating and water retention. Dandelion root is the most popular option, and you can even find it locally at CVS, walgreens, and even walmart.
I don’t personally recommend diuretics for those who aren’t competing or needing to cut weight for an event. You’re much better off just using a different sarm rather than taking extra support supplements to counteract the water retention.
Is it possible to stay dry while taking RAD 140?
Staying Dry
Over the years I have done my fair share of sarms cycles, and I’ve learned quite a lot. One thing that I’ve been doing lately is focusing on recomping instead of bulking or cutting.
I achieve this by adding cardarine or SR9009 on top of a bulking sarm like RAD 140 or LGD 4033. This allows my body to burn a little more fat than usual, and when combined with a high protein diet I am able to gain muscle mass while staying the same weight.
If I’m really trying to turn up the intensity, I’ll add in another fat burning compound such as a thermogenic or clenbuterol.
Looking for pure Testolone? Buy high purity RAD 140, YK 11, MK 677 and LGD 4033 from one of the stores in the Verified Sources list.
Final Word
In a nutshell, RAD 140 does not cause water retention, regardless of what people on the internet say. People reporting bloating from RAD 140 are likely referring to increased glycogen storage, or they got sold fake sarms.
It’s always important to do your homework and buy from a reputable seller, which is why we developed the sarms.io Verified Source List. With over 70 stores in our database, it’s easy to find a source that fits your needs.
Sources
Miller, Chris P., et al. “Design, synthesis, and preclinical characterization of the selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) RAD140.” /ACS medicinal chemistry letters/ 2.2 (2011): 124-129.
