Exploring the danger of supplements

'feature 4', Sports - By Ricardo Pitones on Thursday, February 24, 2011 - 05:02

Supplements are known to enhance people’s strength, ability and health but if they are not used in moderation they can cause serious harm. According to Livestrong.com the purpose of bodybuilding supplements is to help people gain muscle mass but the side effects that come with them might be dangerous.
Supplements come in the form of bars, shakes or capsules with ingredients like protein, amino acids and creatine. Depending on the amount of a particular enhancer taken, the effects and results vary.

“The only way to up your level in a competition is to use supplements but people who use them understand the side effects,” sophomore rugby player David Banuelos said. While some athletes do use supplements, they understand the associated risks that come with them. “Protein, you definitely need if you work out but you don’t need steroids; they are bad for your heart,” sophmore football player Joshua Callanan said.

Testosterone boosters, creatine, fat burners and pre-workout supplements are enhancers associated with bad side effects most often according to Livestrong.com.

Small increases in levels of testosterone can lead to more muscle mass and a decrease in body fat. While these are some of the desired goals when taking this particular supplement, it can have many side effects. When taken in the form of anabolic steroids and pro-hormones gynecomastia, hair loss, prostate enlargement, testicular atrophy and increased estrogen levels might occur consequently.

“I think that protein shakes are fine but leave the steroids out,” first-year volleyball player Adriana Moore said. The repercussions of steroid use make students think before using supplements that have these effects.

Jerry Brainum’s book Natural Anabolics talks about the side effects substances like arginine and creatine have on the human body depending on their usage. As well as how these supplements are used for building up organs, tissue, and in athletes’ case, muscle.

“Personally I don’t use supplements. I like to do everything naturally, Many of the same results can be achieved without them,” first-year basketball player Marissa Bruce said.

Creatine has negative effects when used improperly, for example not taking the supplement with the right amount of water or taking too much of it. This might lead to kidney stress, dehydration, stomach and muscle cramps as well as nausea.

Pre-workout and fat-burning supplements are frequently used to aid the muscle gain and weight loss of users as well. But these supplements contain high levels of caffeine and other stimulants.
Side effects of supplements with these add-ons are insomnia, addiction, hallucinations and convulsions, which may lead to heart attacks.

Many students are wary of these effects and instead opt to avoid taking them completely.

“Athletes should do things the natural way, because supplements have negative side effects,” first-year softball player Courtney Delano said.

Whittier College students have a similar view in that supplements have negative side effects as well as goals can be obtained without extra help. Next time when thinking about taking a swig of that shake, look at the ingredients and be cautious of the side effect they might have.