"Supplements" to Exercise
Are you someone who is trying to maximize the effectiveness of your fitness regime? Many people are. And many OTHER people are trying to sell you stuff to make you bigger, faster, stronger or skinnier than a healthy diet and sensible exercise will give. If you find the lure of supplements to be an interesting topic, see what is being offered out there, and pick a supplement. Do a little research on whether or not these supplements are actually safe and effective. Hint: if the website is selling the stuff, you'll need to look elsewhere for an honest opinion on its use.
21 comments:
Tonalin CLA (Conjugated Linoleic acid) is a dietary pill that is best known for its abilities to fight cancer, reduce body fat, and increase muscle. Since the CLA can influence on body fat which is the major reasons for the increasing level of obesity. Many research and experimentations on animals have proven that CLA promotes muscle growth, prevents muscle loss, lessens fat accumulation and also increases energy expenditure. However, there are few side-effects. It sometimes cause stomachache and diarrhea in some participants; however, very few. To maximize the result, you have to have to eat good nutrient meals and regular exercise routine.
Here is the web-site for the above comment:
http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/weight-loss-etc/CLA-side-effects.htm
I think one of the most popular supplements out there is the "Stacker" products such as stacker 2 and the new stacker 3, that claim the pills will help you lose weight rapidly quick. I picked this supplement because I always see the commercials on TV and in magazines.
Here is the link to the site: www.stacker2.com
Whats funny is that on the website itself it says "Stacker 2's proprietary blend is designed for those who are in search of a powerful fat burning diet supplement. This formula when taken as directed and combined with a reduced calorie diet and exercise program may help burn fat, cut cravings and combat diet fatigue." I think it is funny that it says MAY HELP. It then goes on to warn at the bottom of the page that the product claims HAVE NOT EVEN BEEN REVIEWED BY THE F.D.A.! CRAZY!!
http://www.fitness-events.com/stacker-diet-pills.htm
This website did a great job in evaluating the product. It explained how Stacker used Ephedra, which was deemed illegal, and once banned simply replaced it with more caffeine which can overburden the nervous system, leading (in worst cases) to stroke, heart attacks, and seizures, and "bitter orange" which has shown to not help weight loss at all.
I first learned about Hoddia when I was watching a 60 minutes report by Leslie Stahl. Stahl went to tribe in Africa of Kalahari Bushmen who ate a plant called Hoodia Gordonii in order to keep themselves from going hungry. Pharmaceutical companies of course saw Hoodia as the perfect dietary supplement that could potentially curb people's hunger. After spending 20 million dollars on Hoodia research, scientists at Phytopharm, a british drug company, isolated what they believe to be the active ingredient in Hoodia, steroidal glycoside that has been called p57. Although Hoodia is now a popular supplement, there are no published randomized controlled trials in humans to show hoodia is a safe or effective pill form.
Phytopharm has cited a clinical trial involving 18 human volunteers that found Hoodia consumption reduced food intake by about 1000 calories per day compared to a placebo group. But, the study hasn't been published or subjected to peer review process, therefore, the quality of the study can't yet be evaluated.
Furthermore, there are many reports of counterfeit hoodia products on the market. It is estimated that 80% of Hoodia products are counterfeit. There is no way for consumers to know if pure Hoodia is the active ingredient unless it has been tested in an independent laboratory.
Hoodia hasn't even been approved by the FDA. And it may cause unwanted effects in the liver; people taking other medications for blood pressure, cholesterol, depression, etc. are in danger of experiencing unknown side effects as well.
I can't believe that this product is out on the market when such little research has been done about it.
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/popularhealthdiets/a/hoodia1.htm
Nuphedragen is marketed as a high performance weight loss formula. Its website http://www.nuphedragen.com/?gclid=CP6C2NTkqZMCFSahiQodLkbG5w proclaims that it is the world’s first chemically altered diet pill designed to stimulate the cocaine amphetamine regulatory transcript (C-A-R-T which increases your metabolism, reduces your appetite, and increases insulin to deliver energy to your muscles) and inhibit neuropeptide-y (NPY which decreases metabolism, causes body temperature to drop, and increase appetite). The website is a tad ridiculous because it starts to describe how Nuphedragen in this manner: “The reason you are overweight is because there is a YIN-YANG battle going on deep within your brain, inside the satiety center of your hypothalamus. The battle is, CART vs. NPY… or Good vs. Evil.” The website also states that it is very safe and no adverse effects have been reported when Nuphedragen is taken as directed.
Yet this website http://www.consumerpricewatch.net/?gclid=CLSTnrfjqZMCFSq7iQodCRBd5g
states that Nuphedragen is the most controversial and powerful diet pill they have ever reviewed. It certainly helps customers lose massive amounts of weight but has a low safety score of 79%.
And this website http://consumerhealthdigest.com/nuphedragen_answers.htm finally unveils that Nuphedragen contains herbs and supplements with stimulant properties containing both synephrine, phenylethylamine and caffeine which seem to significantly increase the risk of hypertension and adverse cardiovascular effects (stroke, heart attack, and sometimes death). It can lead to anxiety, jitteriness, irritability, heart palpitations and insomnia
I don’t believe that people should take a chance on these supplements to help them lose weight. The risk is too great in my opinion.
My ex-boyfriend was one of those guys who take supplements prior to working out and it seemed to work. But he was not proud of taking them, he would hide the supplements in his room and told me not to tell anyone . I wondered why he was ashamed of it so I did research back then and I remember reading something about how some supplements were illegal like ephedra. Now, it seems scarier reading more into supplements. There is a dietary supplement called 1,4-butandediol or BD. Several bodybuilders take them to build muscle and improve athletic performance. Some take it for better sexual performance. BD is now under investigation because there are about 110 reported deaths for taking them. The sad part about it was that none has been proven to improve athletic performance, even it promoted to reverse baldness and reduce stress! BD is said to be toxic, addictive and potentially lethal instead. FDA has declared BD to be an unapproved drug. But, the market continues to sell them over the internet. Be careful when buying supplement! BD are found in products and can be listed under the name – tetramethylene glycol, buylene glycol or sucol-B :
1. Thunder nectar
2. Amino flex
3. Liquid gold
4. X-12
5. N-Force
http://www.acefitness.org/healthandfitnesstips/healthandfitnesstips_display.aspx?itemid=158
There is an infamous story of a young man in Sacramento who has the ability to "see with sound." Recently, there has been a controversy on his undertaking of Glyconutrient supplements. Glyconutrients are a part of a class of sugars that cells use to make specific proteins. Glyconutrient supplements have been found in various dietary supplements used for a daily fitness regimen. Some consumers think that these supplements may help prevent cancer and other diseases. But the American Cancer Society responded, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that capsules can prevent, treat, or cure cancer."
In addition, Ben's Kaiser doctor also says that there is no proof that these supplements are effective and they might be dangerous because there can be many unknown ingredients in the capsules. Despite these claims, Ben and his family has decided to double up on the pills due to the failure of chemotherapy that led to the loss of both of his eyes. To get more information on Glyconutrient supplements and Ben's treatment, go to:
http://www.sacbee.com/health/story/921449.html
Chitosan claims to be able to act as a fat inhibitor that works miracles for people who want to lose body fat. It is taken from chitin and is processed by removing the shells from shellfish such as shrimp, lobster, and crabs, and is made into a powder. It is a special fiber that can “soak up” or absorb anywhere from 6 to 10 times its weight in fat and oils. It claims to being able to affect the fat before it reaches the stomach and therefore not letting the fat a chance to be metabolized. It then becomes some kind of “grease ball” that is too large to be absorbed into the body so it then gets exerted in the stool. There are no severe side effects to taking Chitosan. The chitosan-bound fat leaves the intestines without ever entering the bloodstream, but there is no real or clear evidence that shows how exactly all of this happens. Chitosan may be too good to be true, but there are no clear studies that prove it to be true or not, so it cannot be taken too seriously. In the ARS Medicina 1994 report showed that test subjects lost 8% of their body weight in four weeks after the use of chitosan. As for now, it is seen as a healthy alternative to the expensive and possibly dangerous diet drugs sold today.
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/ans/psychology/health_psychology/chitosan.htm
Hydroxycut is a highly publicized weight loss supplement that claims to help lose more weight than with exercise and diet alone. I always hear the ads on late night television and in magazines everywhere so i decided to research this product. On their web site, the provide some case studies that they claim are double-blind and randomized and placebo controlled but these studies are biased because studies were done on ingredients used in formula, and not the actual product. Hydroxycut can supposedly help dieters control hunger cravings, increase energy levels and burn calories, especially with exercise. The ingredients to this pill are:Garcinia Cambogia to reduce fat mass, Green Tea Extract to burn fat, and Gymnema Sylvestre to balance blood sugar levels but studies show that Garcinia Cambogia did not have an affect on weight loss.
Hydroxycut has not been reviewed by the FDA yet.
The side effects of this product is heartburn, indigestion, insomnia, increased heartrate, and jitteriness. This product cannot be proved effective because their case studies had so little subjects in them that it might have all just been chance. A site even stated that most of those who submit success story testimonials said that they started to rely on themselves and didn't need hydroxycut later on. The scarry part is that it hasn't even been reviewed by the FDA!!
Sources:
http://weight-loss.emedtv.com/hydroxycut/hydroxycut-side-effects.html
http://www.weknowdiets.com/Hydroxycut.html?cp=101&KEYWORD=hydroxycut&gclid=CJCav_7jqpMCFSQtagodsg_MoQ
http://www.hydroxycut.com/
100% whey protein is a dietary supplement used by athletes to bulk muscle and get the best workout during exercising. It also carries lactase and aminogen digestive enzymes to enhance absorption. This supplement uses branched chain amino acids that helps preserve glycogen in muscles and reduce the amount of protein breakdown. After reading a couple reviews, i have not found anything bad that this protein supplement can induce. i did however, look up glutamine and it turns out that this non-essential amino acid can help reduced recovery time after surgery (Wikipedia: Glutamine). Overall, this dietary syupplement is used by millions of opoeple, some of which i know, and they have no complaints. They take their supplement before their workout and said that it does help them build muscle a little easier.
http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/protein/100-whey-protein-review.htm
The supplement ornithine is an amino acid manufactured by the body when arginine, another amino acid, is metabolized. Ornithine is said to improve results of strength training while combined with arginine. Ornithine in large amount (170 mg per 2.2 pounds of body weight per day) helps raise the level of growth hormone; small amounts does not help. If taken over 10 gram per day, the side effect may include gastrointestinal distress. There is no other side effect reported.
The website is
http://www.supplementinfo.org/index.php?src=directory&view=HealthNotes&srctype=detail&refno=124&category=HealthNotes
SizeOn is a supplement for bodybuilders and for athletes I found advertised in http://www.massnutrition.com/products.cfm?cur_man=GASPARI%20NUTRITION&item=GA022.
It is a supplement containing creatine and it allos fast, sustained and maximal muscle volumization. Creatine is used to increase high intensity athletic performance, so many athletes use creatine. Creatine supplements are safe and effective because is a naturally occuring supplement that exists in our body.
http://www.powersupplements.com/creatine.htm
Xenomine is the latest supplement on the market that burns fat without side effects. It basically has the same effect as Ephedra. This effect is that Thermogenesis, in which the body temperature rises and uses more body fat for energy, is increased.
While, the website that sells Xenomine makes a good claim, it seems impossible to me that any supplement that is not natural could possibly work without side effects. Further research has shown that this supplement may very well be a rip-off or scam, like previous similar ones.
I would love to have more evidence about the effects of this item, but the only thing I can find involves a person that bought the supplement.
Advertisement
http://www.anabolicsecrets.com/xenomine.htm
Testimonial
http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/diet-bodybuilding/diet-suppliment-538485.html
My brother uses NO-explode, so I decided to find out if he is at risk. NO explode claims to be an energy and performance igniter. Articles also say that NO explode enhances training by elevating physical and mental energy. Nitric Oxide is a gas created by the body, a molecule containing nitrogen and oxygen. While these claims may be exaggerated, medical authorities say nitric oxide plays a part in controlling blood circulation. It is also used in the immune system for fighting viruses.
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2003/10_17_03.html
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/no2.html
http://www.absw.org.uk/Briefings/Nitric%20oxide.htm
Internet weight-loss supplements may actually be harmful to your heart according to the following website.
http://www.everydayhealth.com/publicsite/ShowArticle.aspx?IsP=news/615/news615417.xml&dp=2008/05/15&q1=&cen=&xid=nl_EverydayHealthHealthyLiving_20080517
Some friends I know take creatine supplements so they can gain weight. In addition to regular exercise and weight training, they take the supplements in order to gain more muscle mass.
It's been said that supplements follow the same standards as the FDA as medications, meaning, you can't be too sure what's in the supplement that you're taking.
Researchers also don't know what the longterm effects of taking creatine supplements are.
There are also negative side effects from taking too much creatine supplements including kidney problems and vomiting.
Drinking lots of water is also very important when taking supplements so it doesn't cause dehydration.
http://men.webmd.com/creatine
Just this past week my boyfriend who is kind of a fitness junkie asked that I buy him this new product called Kre - Alkalyn. Supposedly it is this great new product that "doesn't convert to creatine in liquids before reaching muscle". Basically, this product supposedly breaks down AFTER its metabolized in muscle cells not before like normal creatine supplements do.
According to this website and other websites like it (those that do not sell the product but review it) say that it can be beneficial to everyone. For athletes there is no "loading time" and it increases their muscle strength and mass; it could also be beneficial for older people to maintain their muscle tissue. In the test subjects less water retention was another benefit. From the studies and reviews, it seems to be true that Kre -Alkalyn is creatine monohydrate without the negative side affects.
Personally, I feel that there can be negative side affects to any supplement and the longer the product is on the market there will eventually be cases that pop up that show some sort of negative side affect with the product. Also, we learned in class that creatine only gives you more energy for only a few seconds - but according to theses products you end up gaining ALOT more muslce mass with the supplements. This may be because with Kre- Alkalyn your body stores it until you need it for muscle energy since it is not broken down once it mixes with liquid.
http://www.online-vitamins-guide.com/supplements/Kre-Alkalyn.htm
I currently use a weight gainer called N-Large. Before buying the product, I actually already did some research on the nutritional facts posted for the product. The supplement is a powder that is supposed to be mixed with milk. It is broken down into three primary elements: Calories (655), protein (52g), and calcium(400mg).
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/pl/large.html
According to http://www.channel4.com/health/microsites/0-9/4health/food/ydi_aba_supplements.html,
yes, weight gainers are safe. They basically up the calorie threshold intake a body can take a day. The massive protein and calcium daily values are intended for muscle recovery and bone strengthening.
Of course, personal experience has found it to be effective as well. I've gained 4 pounds in the past two weeks :)
There's is a 3-in-1 supplement out there for women called Zalestrim which promises weight loss, breast enhancement, and sexual stimulant all at the same time. I found two reviews on reliable websites that clearly states that these "miracle" pills are nothing more than an internet scam. Zalestrim contains a list of herbs and other natural agents such as Damina, ginger root, black cohosh, and green tea extract, cinnamon extract. These ingredients such as green tea and cinnamon extract can help for weight loss; however, it is not specified how much of theses ingredients are actually in the product. Zalestrim does not contain hoodia gordonii, an active appetite suppressant, so it is not really effective for losing weight. There is no clinically proven ingredient that would actually make your breast larger; furthermore, there are no clinical studies or evidence that supports any of Zalestrim’s claims. The closest thing to the list of promises that this product does is the enhancement of sexual drive in women from the herb Damina. Some of the herbs such as the black cohosh can reduce menopausal and menstrual symptoms. Since this product is only sold online and have no clinical evidence that the indigents actually works, it is very likely that Zalestrim is not effective at all and is just another scam.
The websites are:
http://www.ultimatefatburner.com/zalestrim-review.html
and....
http://www.skinnyondiets.com/Zalestrim.html?b=7924
One of the many Sports supplements that are on the market now is called Dymetadrine Xtreme. It is a mix that is made usually with water or other juices. The creators, AST sports Science, developed this project to increase energizing fat-burner WITHOUT Ephedra. It was in 2004 when the FDA made ephedra dietary supplements illegal. As a result to many side effects from these various ephedra supplements, including death, so many companies began developing different enegry boosting supplements to help with workouts of any kind.
AST Sports Science previously had a Dymetadrine Xtreme supplement that included ephedra. Now their new supplement does not contain ephedra, but instead contains "some inert ingredient with no effect on energy levels or increase in metabolic rate".
Many different reviews on the new Dymetadrine Xtreme supplement claim that it has great results and show no harmful side effects. People are seeing more energy for their workouts and see results within a week.
This product, in the end, is a safer and more effective product that was previously introduced with ephedra. There are no harmful side effects seen yet and death is no longer and issue with these kinds of products, especially Dymetadrine Xtreme.
http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/supplements-reviews/dymetadrine-xtreme-review.htm
http://www.ast-ss.com/Products/ProductPage.asp?ProdID=98
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephedra
http://www.musclesurf.com/dymxtremcusr.html
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