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Muscle
gain supplements
Manufacturers
of sports nutrition supplements claim their products can help
athletes perform better, gain a competitive edge, and aid in body
building. Are these claims justified?
Are
there any supplements that can help me gain muscle weight?
First,
make sure that your athletic diet contains more than 150 grams
per day of highly complete protein, including lots of the
amino acid glutamate which muscles require more than other
tissue.
After
that, the most important supplements are a full spectrum of
antioxidants to prevent damage from the increased free radical
load of exercise -- in particular both mixed vitamin E and
that most important new antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid.
Do they have any side effects?
Information
about side effects of weight-gain supplements is generally
sparse and difficult to find. We recommend that you
-
read
the literature that comes with the product, including the
fine print;
-
call
or write to the manufacturer, and ask if they have any reports
of adverse events (which is a fancy term for negative side
effects);
Do
weight-gain supplements contain any steroids?
About
steroids, we think that any hormone supplementation for athletes
is unwise since the long-term effects of such powerful intervention
with body systems is unknown and may be dangerous to your
future health and lifespan.
Sources:
Paul Wakfer (was Tom Matthews)
& Wyn Snow
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