Spotting a Bad Workout Supplement

Photo Credit: William Bigelis (flickr.com)

The workout supplement industry is considered by non-users as one big scam. They argue that all you need to get results is diligent trips to the gym and a eating the right foods at the right time. This is true, but this is exactly why supplements are called as such: they supplement whatever it is that you take. Protein can be found in chicken, for instance, but eating too much chicken just for additional protein can be counterproductive; hence protein supplements. While there are a lot of good supplements out there, there are still bad apples in the basket.

How do you spot the bad ones? The first thing you can do is to do some research. Most of the bad ones often have banned substances. Anything you come across with that contain steroids should be avoided like a sprinting zombie. It's also worth noting that some specific brands have been "reworked." Jack3d and OxyElite, for instance, were pulled from shelves for containing a potentially lethal substance. These have been since reworked and put back into the market. Just make sure you pick the second incarnation of these said products if there's any.

One good example is Mesomorph, which had a loyal following. Its manufacturers took out one component and renamed it Mesomorph 2.0. If you encounter one without the "2.0," it might be better to stay away from it. Acai berries are the same thing. They had bad rep because of false advertising, but it does have its advantages.

Sometimes, it's not the harmful ingredients that make the supplement bad. It's often what they mix into it that dilutes its quality. As a good rule of thumb, it is best to find supplements that have minimal ingredients. For instance, there are different types of creatine supplements. If a product that's branded to be a creatine supplement but has too much of other stuff in it, it may not be worth the purchase if you're strictly going for creatine.

At this point, you may already figure out that the secret is to look at the nutritional label on each product. Always do that and familiarize yourself with what these ingredients do. If you find an ingredient that you have not heard of before, it's probably because it isn't useful; or worse, harmful to your health. There are a lot of interchangeable terms when it comes to supplement ingredients, but if you find one that you can't pronounce, chances are it's made up or it is a questionable component of the product. Better stay away from those.

Related Links:

5 Olympic Athletes Share Their Workout Secrets (webmd.com)

7 New Weight Loss Supplements With Top Scientific Ratings (forbes.com)