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You want your children to succeed in their athletic pursuits almost as much as they do. Not only will their sports help them find friends and kids with similar interests and talents. Sports are also a way to build self confidence, self reliance, and a great self image.
Can you think of any better way for your children to feel great about themselves then by scoring the game-winning goal? Or what better prestige can they have than being captain of their varsity team?
The benefits of sports are obvious. The dangers, though, are not so clear, but they’re always there. The pressure to succeed in sports can lead children to cheat and put their body at risk.
Heck, the pressure to succeed pushes adults to cheat in professional sports. Many superstars have been known to abuse sports specialty products, both legal and illegal, in order to get that edge.
What’s stopping children from doing the same? They see their professional heroes abusing steroids, hormones, supplements, and other sports specialty products. They look up these pro athletes. It only makes frightening sense that they would emulate them, risking their bodies and their minds for a quick fix on the field.
That brings us back to you. Sure, you want your children to succeed on the field or the playing court. But you are also the main person who can stop your children from abusing sports specialty products.
Know Thy Enemy
Sports specialty products are mainly used to increase athletic performance, stave off fatigue during practice, training, and competition, and boost physique.
The downside, though, is just as bad as the upside is good. They have been linked to heart disease, emotional disorders, cancer, kidney problems, skin problems, and a host of other problems.
Frightening enough, as toxic as some of the sports specialty products are, they can be bought over the counter at many malls and supermarkets in your neighborhood.
Of course, the most dangerous substances, such as steroids, are illegal. But they are also readily available from drug dealers, friends, acquaintances, and a host of other readily available avenues.
Over the Counter Conditioning
Creatine
Creatine is one of the fastest growing popular sports specialty products on the market. In part, its success is due to the fact that it is widely available over the counter. It works. And it is relatively inexpensive for being so powerful.
It works best for sports that require rapid short bursts of energy, such as wrestling, weight lifting, and racing. It is technically a natural chemical found in everybody’s body, which helps process food into energy.
In supplement form, though, creatine has severe side effects. In the short term, it can cause nausea, stomach pain, muscle cramps, and diarrhea. Higher, and more long term, doses may even lead to liver, kidney, and heart problems, such as high blood pressure. No definitive proof is out yet. Doctors are still investigating.
The main proven danger of creatine is dehydration. Several high school and college athletes have already died because of this. Creatine works by drawing water from your body into your muscles. (That’s why weight lifters on creatine get such big muscles!) This water, though, is needed elsewhere. If too much enters your muscles, it could harm the rest of your body.
Androstenedione (andro)
Androstenedione, or andro, was made popular by pro American baseball players who linked their success on the field to this sports specialty product. They claim that andro elevates testosterone, which then boosts muscle growth, energy, and strength.
In reality, andro does none of the above. In fact, as of 2004, andro was added to the list of illegal sports substances by the Anabolic Steroid Control Act. Not only does it not work as advertises. It is also now illegal.
For good reason. It can actually decrease testosterone production in men, leading to lower sperm count, shrunken testicles, enlarged breasts, and acne. In women, side effects range from acne to the deepening of the voice and baldness. In both men and women, the supplement can lower good cholesterol.
Ephedra
Ephedra is another supplement that recently made waves. It is known the world over as a great way to combat tiredness. What people have found, though, is that ephedra is also a great way to die.
It can lead to seizures, strokes, and heart attacks, all of which can be fatal. It can make your heart beat incorrectly and raise your blood sugar.
The scary thing about ephedra is that it can be found in everyday sports drinks and supplements. You have to closely read their labels to see if its in them. But it’s well worth the look. Ephedra is serious medicine that should not be taken lightly.
These are just three sports specialty products out there. There are dozens more. When one becomes illegal, usually there’s another one ready to take its place on the market. Then there are the strictly illegal ones, such as steroids. For your children’s well being and future success, it’s important to know if they are taking these supplements, and which ones.
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