Nutritional Ergogenics
The word "ergogenic" means having a tendency to increase work. In the perspective or setting of sports, this term encompasses processes employed to enhance the production as well as the performance of physiological energy. Nutritional ergogenic aids can be defined as dietary and nutritive supplements that purportedly increase the level of performance beyond the expected levels under normal circumstances and conditions (Coleman). A supplement can be defined to be a substance that is added to the everyday diet of an individual in order to redress the balance of a nutritional deficiency. More often than not athletes anticipate that ergogenic aids will offer them an added or competitive advantage in their events as they uniformly do not aspire to lose. Taking into the consideration the fact that sporting races and competing events are won by small differences and disparity of as little as one hundredth of a second, it is not in any way astonishing that athletes always aspire to make use of the newest or most recent ergogenic aid (Coleman).
According to Applegate (710), contemporary ergogenic aids are different from the usual or regular caffeine and amino acids. They include the more unusual and mysterious lipoic acid, as well as dihydroxyacetone. However, the exercise of chasing after optimum and peak performance by means of nutritional supplements has been common from the time of the ancient times of the Olympic Games over two millennia ago. The following paper will undertake a discussion of two ergogenic products that can be purchased over the internet: caffeine and amphetamines.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a trimethylxanthine that occurs naturally and can be obtained from a number of different plants. In general, caffeine is embraced and employed by majority of the sport scientific experts as an ergogenic aid that is effective and productive. The main claim or benefit of caffeine is that it has a stimulating impact in the central nervous system in the body. This in turn brings about a reduction in the sense or feeling of fatigue, discernment of work effort, and also pain as well. What is more, caffeine enhances mental sharpness and alertness, concentration and technical skill in the course of and subsequent to vigorous activity or exhaustion. In addition, it is believed that caffeine enhances the utilization of fat inside the body. It has also been proven to have an effective impact in increasing time to exhaustion in the course of stamina activities, in addition to sprint, muscle and strength performance (Harnish).
In accordance with Mangus and Trowbridge (60), most of the research studies which have been published in the past two decades or so support the idea that caffeine can in fact have a beneficial and productive impact on stamina and durability performance in both male and female athletes. This is for the reason that there seems to be a blend of events that might bring about this ergogenic impact, including impacts on the cardiac, metabolic, and central nervous systems. There is no clear understanding as to whether caffeine enhances the oxidation of fat, changes calcium activity in the muscles, or disguises the awareness and sensitivity of fatigue and exhaustion. Conceivably, all of these activities take place at the same time. Caffeine capsules give the impression of being more effective compared to drinking coffee or other extremely caffeinated drinks.
The caffeine capsules sold as an ergogenic aid contains 200 mg of caffeine; 100 capsules of this drug cost about $8 to $13. The drug is overpriced due to the popularity and hype given to it as a direct stimulant and ergogenic aid for all athletes. The caffeine capsules are healthy and can be considered to be safe. However, abuse and misuse of this drug can also have devastating and harmful effects to the human body. There are a number of health issues concerning the misuse and abuse of caffeine by athletes. A number of these health concerns include tachycardia in the course of exercise, increased blood pressure in ordinary and slightly hypertensive persons, abdominal pain, as well as addiction. The addition of caffeine-induced CNS stimulus to the intensification in the rate of the heart beat from workout can bring about adverse cardiac effects in the course of vigorous exercise. The drug can bring about nausea, intestinal pain, and diarrhea, which can bring about considerable loss of fluids. It can also bring about the growth of tolerance and also addiction. The sudden withdrawal or discontinuation of the consumption of caffeine can cause headaches, weariness, exhaustion and flu-like symptoms which can bring about poor physical performance (Mangus and Trowbridge 60).
Amphetamines
Amphetamines are also referred to as 'uppers' or 'speeders'; they are drugs that stimulate the central nervous system. They increase the level of concentration, self-assurance and confidence, and also decrease levels of appetite...
The long-term use of steroids can lead to a change in the cholesterol profile of the individual and lead to heart disease and myocardial infarction. The drug can also lead to increased serum low-density lipoproteins. (Reeseand Exum 239) These aspects also obviously impact absorption, distribution and bodily regulation of nutritional elements. Other effect that this substance can have on the healthy balance of the body is that it can lead
The approach of the program is that intellectual knowledge is power, and knowledge can circumvent the influence of drugs, although there is little evidence that knowing drugs are bad and drug avoidance is correlated. After all, many people continue to smoke long after they know that cigarettes are hazardous to their health. Children may use drugs for emotional reasons that cannot be penetrated by logic, like low self-esteem and few
References Elliot, D.L., Moe, E.L., Goldberg, L., Defrancesco, C.A., Durham, M.B., & Hix-Small, H. (2006). Definition and Outcome of a Curriculum to Prevent Disordered Eating and Body Shaping Drug Use. Journal of School Health, 76(2), 67+. Retrieved February 15, 2009, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5028537762 Maletto, Pete. (2008, October 1). Sports nutrition: past, present and future: in order to understand where this market is headed it's important to know where it's been. Nutraceuticals
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