We all want to look smart and beautiful. The latest trend among youngsters is to be fit and having a leaner physique by building muscles. Gym goers who do exercises such as weight lifting often want a muscular body and will not hesitate to take some supplements to aid their muscle building and / or to reduce their weight as part of a bodybuilding diet. A lean body enhances your self esteem and makes you more confident. But in order to get such a body, do we follow the lucrative path of taking supplements to build our muscles and /or lose those extra kilos? Is this really helping us or is it doing more harm than good?
A lot of people take supplements and stimulants either for weight loss or for muscle building. Many of the supplements being sold in the markets and in the online world are either illegal or very detrimental to the health of the person taking it. A lot of products advertise to reduce body fat or slim down by burning fat. Some of these products are so harmful that they have resulted in death of the person in extreme cases. Even if certain supplements are beneficial, no product should be misused or abused and they should always be taken in moderation under the correct dosage.
Protein Supplements
Proteins contain amino acids that are the building blocks of our body including muscles. People opt for protein supplements in the form or shakes, bars or tablets. An optional method of increasing your protein intake would be to eat a protein rich diet which would include vitamins and other nutrients. If you take more than the required amounts, these supplements can increase the risk of osteoporosis and may also cause kidney complications.
It is advisable to eat a wholesome meal with a rich protein diet such as meat, eggs, milk and cheese to naturally build more muscles. If you want to take protein supplements, you should always purchase a reputable brand and check the labels for the correct dosage and do not take more than the necessary amount.
Steroids
Steroids are taken as a medicine for a major number of illnesses by a doctor’s prescription. However, they are also being misused as a body building enhancement. They are lucrative as they contain testosterone which induces muscle growth and raises levels of endurance and strength.
The major effects of excessive steroid use include hair loss, prostate enlargement, gynecomastia, testicular atrophy, increased estrogen levels, increase in blood pressure, kidney and heart damage, liver damage and acne. It is not recommended to take steroids for building your body / muscles and people should stop the blatant misuse of these important yet harmful drugs.
Workout and Fat burning Supplements
Supplements that are taken prior to workouts and other fat-burning supplements contain a high amount of caffeine and other stimulants. These stimulants cause a wide array of harmful effects on the body which include nervousness, irritability, insomnia, addiction and dependency, heart palpitations and rhythm abnormalities, weight loss, tremors, mild hypertension, hallucinations, convulsions and heart attack. People who have any form of heart ailments should not use any supplements or stimulants to thrust their bodily performance in the gym and/or build muscles.
