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Building muscle Consumer protection advises caution with pills and powders for athletes
The fitness industry in Germany has been booming for years. While it used to be so-called "bodybuilders" who trained in the gym, today there are "normal" young and old people. Some of them resort to dietary supplements to improve muscle growth. Experts warn against such preparations. These are sometimes unnecessary and in some cases dangerous.
Improve muscle development
Strength training is the trend: Exercising with weights not only helps build muscle, but also helps with weight loss. This in turn reduces the risk of many civilization diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure. Unfortunately, some athletes also use nutritional supplements to improve muscle growth. Experts say this can be dangerous.
Some athletes resort to dietary supplements to improve muscle growth. Experts warn against such preparations. The remedies can sometimes be dangerous for your health. (Image: pat_hastings / fotolia.com) Natural protein supply is sufficient
In the gym you can see again and again that some people resort to protein bars and shakes after training to strengthen their muscles. However, according to experts, this is unnecessary. A natural protein supply is sufficient.
You do not necessarily eat eggs, steaks and Co., vegetable proteins are also suitable.
But some athletes also trust the advertising promise of food supplement manufacturers. They consume vitamin pills, powders and capsules to build muscle and hope for a higher performance.
However, some of these funds are unnecessary or even risky, warns the consumer center Brandenburg in a recent release.
Only slightly increased demand for proteins and vitamins
More than half of the people in Germany who use nutritional supplements believe the products are good for their health. This emerges from a representative forsa survey commissioned by the Consumer Centers.
Athletes, in particular, often think that they need extra minerals, amino acids, vitamins and proteins to perform well. However, this only applies in exceptional cases, such as in competitive athletes in intensive training before competitions.
"Recreational athletes have only a slightly increased need for proteins or vitamins, which they can cover well with a balanced diet," said Silke Vollbrecht, expert for nutrition and food at the consumer center Brandenburg.
Dietary supplements are not tested for efficacy
Legally, dietary supplements belong to foods. Unlike medicines, they are not tested for efficacy and side effects. With prolonged high-dose ingestion, health risks can not be ruled out.
According to a market survey of the consumer centers of magnesium supplements, overdoses are common. Basically, interactions with drugs are always possible.
Particularly risky may be orders from the Internet, including products for athletes, because of possible contamination with doping substances.
Anyone who considers dietary supplements should at least know products that have been tested for doping substances.
If there is a need for dietary supplements - in the best case determined together with a nutritionist or doctor - a look at the Cologne list helps, but this is not a general recommendation for dietary supplements. (Ad)