Supplements are supposed to be taken to make up for a shortage in some aspect of a.
For example, if someone does not like milk, and does not eat any foods that.
contain calcium, they can take a calcium supplement. Athletes, however, use supplements.
to lose body fat and gain muscles and strength. Once favored primarily by body builders,.
products that purportedly add muscle and increase strength are not being snapped up by.
weekend athletes hoping to stay in good shape, as well as older adults wanting to stay.
toned and healthy as they age. These sports supplements are not being used correctly, and.
this causes problems down the road for users. "When used incorrectly, however,.
supplements can be harmful to one's health, and could also cause a person to gain.
weight"(Hackett 1). .
These supplements are not controlled by the government and have not yet been.
extensively studied. A popular supplement is androstenedione(andro). This is a.
hormonally based supplement that is supposed to help weight lifters add muscle. If you.
are familiar with baseball, this is the supplement that Mark McGwire was taking during.
his record breaking homerun season. Andro is taken orally and goes to the liver. The liver.
destroys most of what is ingested, but what does survive combines with various enzymes.
and boosts testosterone levels. This boost in testosterone allows an athlete to perform at a.
level above what he usually does. If an athlete takes andro before he goes to the gym, he.
will be able to lift more, and increase strength and size. Although it is not considered a.
steroid, andro acts exactly as they do. In Canada a prescription is needed to get andro, but.
in the United States it is an over-the-counter drug. If they essentially have the same side.
effects, then one should not be illegal and the other legal. As it can be seen, taking.
supplements can cause many health problems: "The recent death of Northwestern.
University football player Rashidi Wheeler, who collapsed during a workout Aug.