Keeping fit the natural way …

[1 June 2010 - 17h04]

When we eat a balanced diet we don’t need food supplements. Dr Bruno Sesbouë of France’s Sports Medicine Society is very clear on this point. Often sold on the internet, these products “for sportsmen and women” in fact prove to be rather ineffective, even though they may be all the rage.

This is true at least of the harmless substances, but 30% of the products sold on the net are in fact traded illicitly and contain doping agents. So this is not a risk to be taken lightly.

As confirmation, the Canadian Health Ministry has warned that “the unauthorised product ‘West Pharm Therma Lean Fat Burner Energizer’ can pose a serious risk to health”. This product, which contains a mixture of caffeine and ephedrine, was being sold on a website and was therefore available to anyone anywhere in the world. Yet the simultaneous absorption of these two substances can cause “trembling, dizzy spells, headaches, heart arrhythmia, convulsions, psychosis, heart attack and stroke”…

Also worth noting is an American study that has been circulating on the net and which promises an enormous increase – as much as 16.7% – “in the anaerobic threshold of 50-year old cyclists using arginine and antioxidant-based supplements”. Resulting, according to the authors, in more intense levels of exercise and the consequent benefits for their health. Dr Bruno Sesbouë however points out that “to maintain a good level of physical capacity for as long as possible despite advancing age, regular exercise is what is needed”. And of course reminds us that “eternal youth doesn’t exist”! Which is something we should bear in mind if we want to avoid falling into that trap.

© 1996-2012 Destination Santé SAS - All Rights Reserved. No information contained on this server can be reproduced or retransmitted without prior written consent of Destination Santé. Offenders will be prosecuted in consideration of articles L 122-4 and L 335-3 of the Code of Intellectual Property, allowing up to two years' imprisonment and a 150,000 euros fine.