3 workout supplements you shouldn’t pack in your gym bag

What you put into your body is just as important as how much or how often you exercise. Unfortunately, what you put into your body can also deter you from reaching your ultimate workout goal. When it comes to supplements, there’s the good, the bad, and the useless. Before considering which supplements are best for you, remember this: You do not NEED any workout supplement. All essential muscle-building and weight loss ingredients can be found at the grocery store. However, for people without a large appetite or an appetite for unhealthy food, certain workout supplements can make up for the vitamins and nutrients they are not getting from food. Let’s take a look at what supplements we should and shouldn’t use:

1. Pre-Workout

Have you ever actually looked at the ingredient list on popular pre-workout supplements? Can you understand even half of what’s listed? Well that’s a clear sign that you probably shouldn’t be putting it into your body. The Food Drug Administration even issued a warning letter earlier this year regarding the popular pre-workout supplement Craze that contained a methamphetamine-like compound. While there are some pre-workout supplements on the market that can be considered both safe and effective, more often than not they are a combination of creatine and caffeine. Yes, the same caffeine you can find unadulterated in a cup of coffee. Since creatine and caffeine are both diuretics, taking too much of a pre-workout with both ingredients can easily lead to dehydration, kidney problems, and high blood pressure.

2. Testosterone Boosters

Many men turn to testosterone boosting supplements in an effort to improve their performance in the gym as well as in the bedroom. While a testosterone booster may seem like an easy way to increase the amount of a naturally occurring hormone in men (and in women), they also come with a bevy of side effects that most men didn’t bargain for. Common physical side effects related to testosterone boosters include acne, hair loss, prostate enlargement, kidney damage, and an iron deficiency in blood. Psychological side effects include aggression, mood swing, anxiety, and depression. Remember to consult your doctor before adding any supplements you do not understand to your diet, even if they are over-the-counter.

3. Multivitamins

While multivitamins have long been considered an essential supplement for an overall better quality of life, a series of recent studies have found that all they are is a waste of money. In an editorial published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers gathered evidence from three studies assessing the potential benefit of multivitamins for overall health. Results found no beneficial aspect of multivitamin supplements for cardiovascular disease, cancer, or premature death. “We believe that the case is closed — supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults with (most) mineral or vitamin supplements has no clear benefit and might even be harmful,” the authors concluded. “These vitamins should not be used for chronic disease prevention. Enough is enough.”

Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter