Better fitness and enhanced performance does not come in a bottle
or supplements. It can only truly be achieved the old fashioned way. Read
on to find out why.
Copyright 2005 Joey Atlas
I rarely start an article with the conclusion at the beginning. But, for this
specific topic I couldn’t write it any other way. So, here it is.
No magic pill, patented drink mix, sublingual tincture, trans-dermal patch,
man made food bar, proprietary mineral blend, or secret capsule is capable
of producing the results, or anything remotely close, that can be achieved
through the proper strength and conditioning program combined with a smart,
a realistic nutrition program and adequate rest.
As the father of an eight year old baseball, soccer and football player, I
am often asked by other parents, “What products would you recommend for my
son/daughter to help improve their sports performance?” The paragraph above
is my answer, always.
It is no wonder why so many people believe that enhanced sports performance
can come from a bottle at your local nutrition store. The advertising freedom
that nutritional supplement marketers are given is an absolute joke. The flexibility
they have allows them to prey on peoples weaknesses and exploit the fact that
most people want to believe what they see and hear through advertisements.
The problem lies within the fact that even when following “the rules” nutritional
supplement marketers can still cleverly craft unbelievably deceptive advertising
campaigns and get away with it
Some supplement companies have attorneys on staff that specialize in making
sure that the company they represent is not breaking any laws in its advertising
campaigns. Some companies who cannot afford full time attorneys hire them
as outside consultants to perform the same function. Their main job is to
compare the proposed advertising campaign, whether it is a radio ad, a television
ad, internet ad or print ad and make sure it complies with all rules and regulations
put forth by the Federal Trade Commission and/or the Federal Communications
Commission. Keep in mind these hired pros work for the company who pays them
and not for you, the consumer.
Ponder this, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act does not require
manufacturers to report adverse reactions or side effects. Additionally, the
sale of any supplement can only be prevented if the Food and Drug Administration
can prove that the supplement is harmful. Amazing, isn’t it?
Despite the fact that supplement companies are restricted from making unproven
or exaggerated claims, many are still able to get away with extremely deceptive
advertising campaigns. Some companies are even so greedy that they completely
disregard any of the industry rules and use outright lies in their marketing
campaigns knowing that the regulatory agencies are overloaded and cannot catch
every unscrupulous company. Even when caught, some of these companies have
to pay a fine which usually only amounts to a small percentage of the profits
it has taken in from its fraudulent marketing techniques. They are then ordered
to clean up their marketing campaigns so they are in compliance with industry
rules and are then allowed to continue selling their products.
So, what are a young athlete and/or parent to do, knowing that all of the
outrageous claims by supplement companies are either false or grossly exaggerated?
Well, the answer is quite simple. Focus on what is proven, safe, realistic,
and effective. Improving athletic performance boils down to three components:
1) A sound nutrition program constructed from whole, nutrient dense, readily
available, preferably organic foods. For your specific needs it is best to
consult with a sports conditioning specialist or a sports nutrition consultant.
2) A carefully designed and administered athletic strength & conditioning
program. Several key factors will determine what the ideal training regimen
for you should be. Again, it is best to consult with a sports conditioning
specialist to determine your needs.
3) Adequate rest. Your body can only get stronger, faster, and better if you
give it the proper amount of rest. During rest time your body releases hormones
and chemicals to help you rebuild and recharge. Some of these substances interact
with certain components of the healthy foods you eat to achieve this.
For the record, I am not adverse to all nutritional supplements. There are
some fantastic multi-vitamin & mineral products, nutritional shakes, nutrition
bars and a few other basic products on the market which can be helpful as
supplements to a well rounded, whole food, nutrition program.
One website that can help you make better informed decisions about some of
these helpful supplements is ConsumerLab.com.
Remember the old adage, “If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely
is.”, when you see or hear these crazy advertisements because in reality,
all you are seeing is a modern day snake oil presentation.
SUPPLEMENTS RESOURCE BOX: Joey Atlas, MS - Exercise Physiology, is considered
one of the top personal trainers in the US. He is the author of the best selling
audio CD "Controversial Secrets of a Personal Trainer", www.ControversialSecrets.com.
Joey is a co-owner of GAC Personal Training, www.GACtraining.com, where he
helps people break through psychological, emotional and physical barriers
to achieve amazing levels of fitness and peformance.
