Bigger might be better, but not healthier

By

Justin G. Ecung

            It’s another Tuesday afternoon, and Christopher Larsen, a sophomore at Utah State University, is getting ready for his daily work out at the Nelson Fieldhouse on campus. He opens a large red container and mixes a white powder with water in his plastic water bottle.

            “It doesn’t taste that great, but it gets the job done,” Larsen said.

            Like many individuals who don’t mind extra help to attain their fitness goals, Larsen consumes various workout supplements to give him the energy needed to exercise for two hours a day. However, many of these supplements have several side effects, many of which can be harmful to an individuals overall health. Nevertheless, Larsen and others continue to take these potentially harmful supplements to obtain the physique that themselves and female onlookers have always dreamed of.

            Andrew Cartwright, a former student at USU, used a daily workout routine similar to Larsen’s. Cartwright was taking a pre-workout supplement called Jack3d to help with his workouts until he began noticing several side effects.

            “The first thing I noticed was the acne,” Cartwright said. “It was all over my back and shoulders, but it was a minor inconvenience, especially since I was lifting so much more weight. That’s the hardest thing about these supplements, they improve your workouts so much it’s hard to workout without them, it just isn’t the same.”

            Cartwright continued to take the supplement and his workouts improved every week. Despite the mild side effects, he thought he was in good shape; until a visit to his doctor proved otherwise.

            “I went in for my physical for the Marines and had to provide a urine sample. In my sample they found traces of the protein lining in my kidneys. The doctor was able to determine that it was my daily use of the pre-workout supplement that was affecting my kidneys; I decided to stop taking them,” Cartwright said.

            Cartwright no longer takes any workout supplement, and made the decision to take a break from exercising to allow his body to recuperate.

            Dr. Robert Townsend, specializes in sports medicine and helps athletes with physical therapy in the greater Los Angeles area of California. Townsend has seen a steady rise in the use of supplements by athletes to improve their overall performance in recent years. Although their use can be beneficial, he cautions individuals to use them both sparingly and carefully.

            “Every athlete at every level seeks that competitive edge: something that’s going to put them ahead of the competition,” Townsend said. “But the answer isn’t all of these supplements that are out on the market. If anything the majority of these can do more harm than good, especially to the body’s bladder and kidneys. I encourage individuals not to take them. But if they feel the need to take them, to do so rarely and to stay hydrated.”

            Nevertheless, despite being informed of Cartwright’s situation and Dr. Townsend’s perspective, Larsen does not plan to change his regular workout routine.

            “I know that there are side effects from taking any pre-workout supplement, but I have been drinking lots of water everyday to flush it out of my system. But I have noticed some small side effects, like the acne,” Larsen said.

            Despite the potential health risk, Larsen and others have found themselves in a difficult situation. Many individuals notice a significant difference between working out with and without the pre-workout supplements. Consequently, they continue to take them.