What is with all the hype
about exercise supplements? Do they actually help and what do they do that is
so great? Through some research I have done there were mixed signals on if
energy supplements help during exercise. Or if they are just all in your head.
Also, another question that I have thought about is if they are harmful to your
body. One article mentioned that there are some supplements and gels that you
can take for energy before, during, and or after working out. Some of the so
called energy supplements just have a little bit of sugar to give you a little
boost so you are able to keep going.
There was a study done where there were multiple male
participants and they took supplements and then going to work out. The people
conducting the study wanted to see if the two different supplements would make
a difference in muscle mass and endurance. In the end they could not really
tell a difference, so in my mind I think the supplements did not really do
anything. Then there was another article that mentioned certain supplements
that could help give you the energy that you need during a workout.
I also looked at what protein shakes would do for
workouts and why they have become so popular. Some people drink protein shakes
to use it as a meal replacement because they may not have enough time in the
day to get the nutrients that they need. So by having a protein shake it could
give them a fast way to get those nutrients. In my opinion, they smell really
bad and I have tried one. They do not taste the best either so I do not know
how people would be able to drink one potentially every day.
There are even exercise supplements out there that have
crazy titles. What make people pick up a bottle with such a name on it and
think it will help them with what they are trying to accomplish. Some of the
bottles even have the word poison on it and people still buy and use the
supplements. Also why do the people creating these supplements think people
will buy this product when a word that usually means harmful on their bottle.
That is the first word that the customers see because it is in a big font and
just jumps out at the person looking for a supplement.
My opinion on all the hype on taking supplements to
either “get big” or for energy is not the best way to go about doing it. Not
many people understand what they are putting into their body. They could just
read the bottle and think what it says on there is good enough. They need to
talk to a physician and make sure they what they are taking is not going to
harm them in the future. Also many people could become addicted to what they
are taking. They may not think so because it is may just be called a vitamin
and they would be okay. But people get addicted to soda, so there is still a
big possibility they could become dependent on this pill or pills. Also I think
it is in your head on if it is actually working or not. You may be working
harder or even more often, but that does not necessarily mean that the
supplement is actually working.
References
Evans,
Julie. (2010, February 1). Muscles in a
Bottle. Retrieved from http://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/muscles-bottle
Schuna,
Carly. Do Protein Shakes Really Work? Retrieved
from http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/protein-shakes-really-work-7372.html
Schwarz, N., Spillane, M., Willoughby, D. (2014, December
1). Heavy
Resistance Training and Peri-Exercise Ingestion of a Multi-Ingredient Ergogenic
Nutritional Supplement in Males: Effects on Body Composition, Muscle
Performance and Markers of Muscle Protein Synthesis. Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.proxy.sau.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=5&sid=bf1be7da-0558-4440-862c-e58842f85afb%40sessionmgr114&hid=115
Voss,
Gretchen. Alternative Energy: Do Energy
Gels and Supplements Really Work? Retrieved from http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/mind-body/supplements/do-energy-gels-and-supplements-really-work/
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ReplyDeleteI really like this topic! Supplements are a huge part of many lifters diets. I feel they are more common in men but are becoming a more well known topic to women as well. I know many people who basically live off of protein shakes, they have them before they work out and as or with their dinner. You cannot help but think how unhealthy that must be for their body but some individuals swear by it. I think that to enhance the blog a good thing to think about would be what is really in these supplements that people are taking when they are unable to have a meal or when they are trying to gain muscle mass. This is an interesting topic that could really go a lot of directions. Good job.
ReplyDeleteI have also noticed the increased conversation involving supplements, especially for the purpose of weight lifting and building muscle mass. I definitely agree that a majority of them are basically filled with junk. While consumers may experience immediate and short-lasting improvements in energy and performance, a majority of these gains are ultimately lacking in health benefits. Someone I know used to use protein shakes while working out for football, and I remember him telling me that they did help him quickly gain muscle mass, but he really didn't like how they made him feel overall. He shared that it is tempting to go back to using the protein shakes again while lifting, but he won't because of the negative impacts on his well-being. He also said that he noticed a quick decrease in his muscle mass when he stopped religiously using the shakes. He felt like the gains were a tease because they easily dwindled if he did not keep a strict lifting schedule. He told me that in the future, he would rather gain muscle naturally without the use of protein shakes. Based on this personal experience about which I heard, I could understand how the use of supplements can become addictive. In my opinion, it is best to stay away from these supplements and stick to fueling your body with wholesome sources of energy from food.
ReplyDeleteAll this makes me wonder about the exact ingredients in these supplements. What in these makes people gain muscle so fast? And what are the benefits and risks of these supplements? It seems that using them to replace a meal would not be healthy and sparks the risk of not getting enough nutrients. I also wonder about the packaging and advertising of these products. It seems that their major audiences are men, but how do they get people to ignore the possible risks, like you said "poisons", and take these supplements every day? This topic is very interesting, and it seems very relevant to our school and age group.
ReplyDelete