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Use energy supplements at your own riskDate: 22.03.2007
Posted by: Anabolic Info Team United States
Energy supplements that claim to boost metabolism and encourage weight loss have become increasingly popular in the past few years.
Energy supplements that claim to boost metabolism and encourage weight loss have become increasingly popular in the past few years, even among young males. Many avid gym-goers believe they can work out harder and longer if they have an extra boost from such supplements, and this very well may be true. However, just like any other supplement that has been around for less than a decade, one can never be too sure about the consequences of the numerous herbs and ingredients these miracle drugs contain.
Ephedra provides the classic example of why one can never be sure that supplements are safe just because they are legally sold in stores. The herb was formerly found in various weight-loss and bodybuilding supplements before being associated with several deaths, notably the death of 23-year-old Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler. Prior to such occurrences, ephedra was widely used by men and women of varying ages, as it was a common ingredient in several weight-loss supplements. In fact, many of these people had no idea what they were actually consuming until the 2004 ban by the Food and Drug Administration. N22 Nutrition co-owner Paul Zimmerman, this ban was later lifted, but was reinstated in August. Ephedra was popular, as it is similar to current energy supplements and drinks because it acts as a stimulant that does not provide any calories. Zimmerman pointed out that ephedra is dangerous because it “constricts blood vessels, which leads to a spike in blood pressure. Taken in advance of strenuous physical activity, this combination of effects can be extremely dangerous, even deadly.” The problems that arose from ephedra-containing supplements have caused some health experts to raise questions about other supplements that contain ingredients on which little research has been done. According to WebMD.com, a 2005 study on supplements containing bitter orange, another popular herb in many energy supplements, showed that these drugs affected blood pressure and heart rate in nearly the same level that ephedra does. Thus, one can still not be completely certain that most energy supplements are safe, and it is difficult to argue that any are particularly healthy. Zimmerman suggested altering one’s diet to gain an extra boost of energy in the gym.
“Ninety-nine percent of the time, people seeking these things feel run-down and tired because they do not give their bodies enough real energy food,” he said. “Energy supplements and drinks do not give one energy – they may make someone feel like they’ve got energy and that it gets them moving, but if you push a car with an empty gas tank off of a cliff, it will move pretty fast even though it is out of fuel, too.” Many of the energy boosters on the market have not shown any significant negative side effects, but little research has been done on many of the ingredients in these products as energy enhancers, which were virtually unheard of a decade ago. Thus, the decision lies on consumers about what risks they are willing to take.
You may consider following Zimmerman’s advice on a healthier diet, and there are various pre-workout protein/carbohydrate shakes that can be consumed without having to worry about bringing the body any harm.
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