Connor Nelson
Stories (1/0)
Beta-Alanine, Caffeine, and Creatine
According to Eudy et al. (2013), “A survey of 207 college athletes indicated that 89 percent were using... preworkout nutritional supplements...” (p. 577). Another study cites that most 11- to 18-year-olds who claimed to be taking preworkout supplements had no knowledge of the potential risks associated with these controversial workout enhancers (Eudy et al., 2013). The use of preworkout supplements originally seemed to be on a steep rise among today’s athletes and gym-goers; for years, infamous Blender Bottles could be found scattered around almost all fitness centers, filled with water and mixed to an array of vibrant hues matching the supplement’s artificial flavors. As preworkout supplements grew more prevalent in the general fitness society, the act of checking the nutrition facts and skeptically yet objectively researching whether a supplement’s ingredients were both safe and efficacious for the user became less common. The proposed benefits used to market preworkout supplements by large companies such as Cellucor and EVLution make it easy to see why these types of nutritional supplements rapidly gained popularity among athletes and fitness gurus, but not all publicity for these supplements has been positive. As general consumer knowledge surrounding these supplements dwindled, many of these then were often linked with unsafe and undesirable effects. As Kendall et al. (2014) have noted, “mainstream media reports have linked creatine and caffeine supplementation with potential renal and hepatic problems as well as dehydration” (p. 443). As various attitudes and beliefs surrounding the risks and results of preworkout supplements regularly change, the safety and efficacy of preworkout supplements on the human body is of larger interest than ever before to athletes, performance coaches, and fitness enthusiasts alike. The use of beta-alanine, caffeine, and creatine in these preworkout supplements is safe for users as well as being effective in enhancing the results of an athlete or fitness enthusiast’s workout.
By Connor Nelson6 years ago in Longevity