Performance Enhancing Drugs
You may have heard the debates about performance enhancing drugs in the competitive sports industry. The argument is these drugs not only give some players an edge but that they can be extremely dangerous to the players’ health and send the wrong message to young players. The debate is an important one and is going on in all parts of the world. Yet, no one seems to be making a distinction between the commonly used and completely safe natural performance enhancers and those which have been banned and deemed dangerous in other parts of the world. By showing the difference and explaining the proper way to use natural enhancers, the next generation of athletes can improve their game and perform at peak level.
The Dangers of Some Performance Enhancers
Anabolic Steroids
are probably the most discussed of all the questionable performance enhancing drugs. There’s no question that steroids do what they are intended to do: produce athletes who are bigger and stronger. Steroids are basically very concentrated forms of testosterone. When used over extended periods of times, steroids have been said to cause violent mood swings, baldness, infertility, and even the development of female sexual characteristics because the increased testosterone levels cause the man’s body to stop producing its own. Women who use steroids often begin to develop male characteristics: deeper voices, hair in other parts of their body, and more. One of the newer forms of performance enhancing drugs is known as hGH or the Human Growth Hormone. This is a naturally occurring hormone in the body that helps to regulate height. In fact, if a child is born without enough hGH in his or her body the result can be dwarfism. When taken in greater amounts, however hGH enhances the development of muscles and bones through improved protein synthesis. While the most visible results are huge muscles, what you don’t see is the enlarged heart which is also a muscle and the oversized feet and hands. hGH is becoming increasingly common because tests cannot easily detect its presence.
More Natural EnhancersIf you want a real way of boosting your performance without jeopardizing your ability to compete, you could also consider using the natural enhancers that are already being used by bodybuilders all over the world.
Protein is an essential for the natural way
And then there is
Creatine
This type of organic acid can actually increase the amount of energy that reaches your muscles which means you’ll be able to perform faster and better than normal. The best part is that creatine has not been shown to cause any unhealthy side effects. But creatine is only one of several natural performance enhancers you may want to try. Another popular choice is
Nitric Oxide
When present in the body, nitric oxide actually increases the flow of blood to the muscles. The result is that more nutrients are able to reach the muscles. When you do a workout and cause stress to that muscle, the nitric oxide will actually help build stronger and bigger muscles during the healing process. And the best part is that nitric oxide is legal and safe.
Considerations on Performance Enhancing DrugsSome people may argue that using any type of performance enhancing chemicals – natural and safe or not – is a form of cheating because it gives one athlete an advantage over another. However, others might argue that some people already have a natural advantage because they are larger, stronger, taller, or faster thanks to their genetic make-up. Is it fair to penalize the other players for doing whatever it takes to remain competitive? The final decision about whether or not you want to associate yourself with any type of performance enhancing chemicals is your own. By now, you probably know the consequences of using steroids or hGH on your health and in your sport. You can decide whether the risk is worth the results. However, you should also keep in mind that there are alternative methods available for achieving the same types of results. If you choose to use creatine or nitric oxide, for example, you can have those large muscles but without having to put your health in jeopardy and without risking your professional career. The right choice seems obvious but it’s up to you to decide what that is for you.
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