“Adverse events” are unfavorable or unusual reactions/effects/illnesses that can occur with the use of some dietary supplements, just as they can with over-the-counter and prescription medications. Examples of adverse events include anxiety, headaches, increased blood pressure, vision problems, and stroke. Such adverse events may be due to one supplement taken alone or to combinations of […]

Protein supports muscle growth and repair. People often turn to protein supplements (such as whey, casein, and soy) to optimize those effects, especially after a workout. However, whole foods, not dietary supplements, should be your first choice for protein. Whole-food protein sources such as lean meats, fish, dairy products, legumes, nuts, and seeds are just […]

Most energy drinks are now labeled with Nutrition Facts instead of Supplement Facts, but that doesn’t automatically make them safe. The most popular energy drinks contain about 80–120 mg of caffeine per serving (8 oz.)—about the same amount of caffeine in an 8-ounce coffee. Caffeine isn’t necessarily a bad thing. When used appropriately, caffeine can […]

Some dietary supplements on the market can contain unsafe ingredients and might even contain ingredients not listed on the label. If you are currently using or considering using a dietary supplement, ask yourself these questions to minimize your risk of consuming potentially harmful products. Is it a high-risk dietary supplement? High-risk product categories include: Bodybuilding […]

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has specific definitions for conventional foods and dietary supplements, but protein powders can fall into one or the other. There are no definitive guidelines for protein powders, and a product’s category (and, thus, label) depends on how the manufacturer intends the product to be used. If it’s intended to […]

On April 26, 2017, sixteen-year-old Davis Allen Crepe consumed a large diet soda, a large latte, and an energy drink within a short time frame. Two hours later he went into cardiac arrest and died. In June of 2014, sixteen-year-old Lanna Hamann was vacationing with family and friends in Mexico when she went into cardiac […]

IF YOU’VE SPENT at least 10 minutes in a hardcore gym or ever skimmed the headlines of the local sports page, you’re probably aware that anabolic steroids have a reputation for giving athletes a (completely jacked) leg up over their peers.  But how much of an advantage do anabolic steroids really offer? And what’s the […]

By Jaylon Thompson / MLB.com | June 7th, 2017 ATLANTA — Early Tuesday morning, Woodstock, Ga., resident Victor Cannon made the near 20-mile drive to SunTrust Park for a unique opportunity. Along with his 11-year-old son, Victor Cannon III, the duo participated in the National PLAY (Promoting a Lifetime of Activity for Youth) Campaign started […]

Who says you can’t get outside and be active on a rainy day in May? It helps when you’ve got a big league ballpark to make use of, and the Rockies made full use of Coors Field on Saturday to give about 50 children the chance to learn from Major League players and try some […]

Nearly 12 percent of children (about one in nine) in the United States use a complementary health approach, such as dietary or herbal supplements. Some teens use products advertised as dietary supplements for weight loss or bodybuilding. Increasingly, products sold as dietary supplements, particularly for weight loss and bodybuilding, contain ingredients that could be harmful, including […]