Dangers of Weight Gaining Supplements

Written by Freddie Scott on Aug 18, 2008 10:35 pm

Read More: Discipline | Personal Development

In today's era of instant satisfaction, people tend to want to see an improvement quickly. People tend to forget that physical fitness can not be achieved through a special pill, or a 30 minute workout done for a short time period. Physical fitness is the result of a life style of a combination of diet and working out. If you eat the right things, and have a consistent workout routine then you have the foundation to help your body develop naturally. The problem is that in today's era, there is so much pressure put on athletes at all levels, that athletes feel that they have to take supplements in order to be able to compete.

The Problem

With more and more athletes like Greg Oden, who are 18 years old, but their bodies are fully developed, athletes of all ages are being confronted with the challenge of pushing their bodies to the limits. Too many attempt to get their body to develop prematurely by taking supplements to increase their weight, strength, and stamina. There is nothing wrong with players wanting to be competitive, but the danger is when an athlete prioritizes their competitive desire ahead of what may be in the best interest of their body. Our kidneys are not made to process the abundance of protein that is being consumed for weight gain. If a person doesn't take a complimentary supplement to assist the kidney in digesting the protein, it could cause some major problems for them down the road.

The Solution

We must help educate young athletes temper their desire to "be the best" by giving them practical advice with who to train for their sport in a way that is in the best interest of the game they play, and their body. We need only to look at what is happening in Major League Baseball to see the epidemic that is now know as the "steroid era". Athletes of all ages are searching for a supplement that will give them an edge on the field. If there is an unspoken acceptance of the abuse of steroids or supplements, then it will be difficult to stop others from using potentially harmful products.

I have had the pleasure of speaking to youth across the country, and the pressure these young people have to perform at a high level is real! There is not only a pressure to achieve on the field, but also in the weight room. This is where most athletes look for an edge. They are looking for things they will allow them to gain weight, while becoming stronger and faster. This is important because they want to be able to earn a college scholarship, or maybe go directly into professional sports like Lebron James or Kobe Bryant. The danger is that if they are putting products in their body to make their body perform at a level that it was ready for, then it could cause problems for them when their careers are over.

What should they take?

If an athlete takes anything, it should be something that is all natural, whole food, and organic. If they can find products with "adaptagens" then that will give their bodies an all natural means of providing stamina and endurance by allowing their muscles to use oxygen at a more efficient rate. Knowledge is power. Athletes can take supplements that don't harm their bodies, but it should always be researched and all natural.