The Muscle Trap: Supplement Use by Young Men

Course overview

Athletes are always looking for a competitive edge that might help them reach their personal best to be their fastest, leanest, and most powerful competitor. Among the most often-cited and frequently misunderstood ergogenic aids that athletes use to enhance performance is diet and supplements. Research suggests that all too often physically active individuals, including high-level athletes, obtain nutrition information from unreliable sources, including fellow athletes, trainers, advertisements, and the internet rather than well- informed and educated sports dietitians, physicians, and accredited exercise professionals. Information on the efficacy and safety of many of these products is limited or completely lacking. Registered dietitian nutritionists and other healthcare professionals working with recreational and competitive athletes must continuously update their knowledge about sports supplements to effectively work with this population.