From plastic surgery to botox, it’s almost as if no one really cares about getting there with a little sweat these days. Everyone is after the miracle fix, the next big thing or the magic pill that will grant all their wishes.
Bodybuilding is no different; today the sports supplement industry is a billion dollar one, with pharmaceutical companies running the mill, splattering double spreads of perfectly toned athletes in every known magazine. Anyone with an interest in fitness, sports or bodybuilding will vouch for the amount of pressure that athletes go through in order to perform by taking some chemical or another, guaranteed by the manufacturing companies to fix all your problems.
Over the years kidney failure, cancer and generally shortened life span have loomed high on the list of adversities that these miracle pills bring to the table. Don’t get me wrong supplements are great, there’s nothing wrong with a quick fix, but how much of the truth do you know when it comes to how it works, why it works and at what expense.
Supplement X
Supplements are an ever changing trend much like the mobile phone industry. After a month or two everyone loses their heads trying to keep track of the products in the market. So called revolutionary research experiments are always in the dark when it comes to knowing exactly which supplement works and keeps changing their minds.
What I can guarantee is that no supplement that’s hot in the market is going to make you gain any new benefits. The long lasting supplements like whey protein, creatine and weight gainers have lasted the years and unless your at a highly professional level, the brand you use makes only a slight difference. So before you rush off to buy the latest product at an exorbitant price make sure you know exactly why your buying it.
Packaging
The great design concepts and attractive colours don’t really guarantee the product’s quality. It is true that the really good brands spend a lot on their marketing as part of their product design but it’s also true that the same results can be obtained by using another much cheaper product in a much less attractive package. Always make sure you know what you’re looking for and pay attention to the contents not the packaging.
The latest version
Supplement companies as part of their marketing strategy will keep reinventing old products in order to stay in business, this doesn’t mean the older now less expensive product is any less effective.
Unless you know exactly what has changed between version one and version two you can be assured that nothing much has changed. Stick to the basics until you know what to look for in a more advanced formula.
Pseudo Sciences
Many many companies utilize the strategy of claiming scientific evidence to back their products. While some product may actually have the said backing, most products are only quoting lab findings out of context. You’ll be lucky if the tests were done on humans and not lab rats.
If you don’t understand scientific jargon yourself, ask someone who knows, if not Google a review, most reviews that don’t have heavy advertisements on their pages are unbiased and will speak true of their experience with the products.
Bogus Content Lists
Most companies operate on a 10% variance rate on their contents which means there is a chance you could be getting that much less or more. And some relatively smaller companies will lie about their contents. Always try to find FDA-approval stamps on the product before you purchase it and once again, read the reviews.
The Price Factor
Neither high priced nor low priced products will reflect the quality of their products. Many factors contribute to the pricing of products and quality is only a minor contributor. Always compare and contrast between similar products to see which one gives you a better deal.
By Dilshan Senaratne
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