Your assignment is to prepare and submit a paper on body modification through nutrition and supplementation. Introduction to Ergogenic Aids Ergogenic aids are dietary supplements or drugs used by most professional athletes to enhance sports performance. These ergogenic compounds give the athletes advantage over their opponents and enhance energy production. Stone, Meg, and Sands quote that the ‘ergogenic aids have a common characteristic of enhancing work’ (Stone, Meg, and Sands 139). It is indispensable to understand that physicians assess these products through their method of action, available research, legality and adverse effects. The most common ergogenic include anabolic steroids which increase muscle mass. However, these illegal supplements are associated with serious adverse effects to the human body with some being lifetime irreversible

Benefits of Ergogenic Aids

Clark, Lucett, and Kirkendall argues that Creatine as an ergogenic supplement remains efficient in escalating muscle power and strength in brief, high-intensity exercise sessions that lasts to a period of one minute (Clark, Lucett, and Kirkendall 416). Creatine acts as a nitrogenous organic acid and is imperative as a body energy source due to its ability to increase formation of adenosine triphosphate. Moreover, Creatine can buffer lactic acid build-up, thus possibly delaying fatigue associated with anaerobic activities. Furthermore, caffeine can increase muscle contractility, aerobic endurance and enhance fat metabolism (Plowman and Denise 60).

Raven asserts that Beta-hydroxy-beta-methyl butyrate helps in preventing breakdown and enhancing synthesis of proteins this helps in improving body composition of the athletes (Raven 419). It also increases the strength of athletes making them more competitive and stronger.

Health Risks Associated With Ergogenic Aids

Based on American sports medicine advice, Ergogenic doses of caffeine may cause nervousness and restlessness as short-term adverse effects while insomnia, hyperesthesia and heart diseases act as the long-term effects (ACSM 606). Moreover, caffeine and Ephedrine combination effects include tachydia and hypertension, which are adverse to the body.In addition, uses of Creatine supplement increase muscle cramping, are associated with weight gain, and may adversely affect performance of the athlete .Gastrointestinal pain and diarrhea are associated with Creatine use. Protein supplements results in imbalance of amino acid in the body. According to Cobin et al, this imbalance is associated with gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and vomiting (Corbin et al., 262) (Clark et al., 365)

Besides, the aforementioned effects, the potential health risk associated with supplements according to Lanham-New et al., (310) relates to contamination or fake drugs. Using contaminated or fake drug supplements can result into positive doping tests development among the athletes who competes under WADA codes. If such athletes have to use supplements then they must remain cautious by minimizing dosage or frequently consulting a professional (Lanham-New et al., 310).

Moreover, Corbin et al., discusses that ability of supplements to increase muscle power can result into muscle complications such as rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis relates to tear of muscle fibers due to excessive exercise resulting into damage of kidneys and muscle fiber components absorption by the bloodstream. The condition causes seizures, pain, aching, fatigue, and other joint complications (Corbin et al 262). It is imperious to note that excessive consumption of supplements by athletes for gaining muscle power inherently causes rhabdomyolysis. Athletes should consume ergogenic aids under supervision and examination by a professional to avoid associated health risks.

Work Cited

American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). ACSMs Resources for the Personal Trainer. New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2013. Print.

Clark, Micheal, Scott Lucett, and Donald T. Kirkendall. NASM’s Essentials of Sports Performance Training. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2010. Print.

Corbin, Charles B., Masurier G. C. Le., and Karen E. McConnell. Fitness for Life. , 2014. Print.

Grosvenor, Mary B, and Lori A. Smolin. Visualizing Nutrition. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley, 2009. Print.

Lanham-New, S. Sport and Exercise Nutrition. Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. Print.

Plowman, Sharon A, and Denise L. Smith. Exercise Physiology for Health, Fitness, and Performance. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Health, 2014. Print.

Raven, Peter B. Exercise Physiology: An Integrated Approach. Australia: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2013. Print.

Stone, Michael H., Meg, Stone., and Sands, Bill. Principles and Practice of Resistance Training. Leeds: Human Kinetics, 2007. Print.