Can Meditation and Yoga Really Elevate My Game?

Photo from Elite Daily- link below

“That stuff’s for “granola girls”.

“How can that make me strong?”

“I’d rather be weight lifting.”

These are all familiar comments that we hear after suggesting to add yoga and meditation into our elite athletes' training regimen. Yet after they try it, the appreciation begins. The experience is humbling…and who doesn’t need some humble pie? As the practice of adding core work, flexibility and concentration becomes more common place for elite athletes, the likelihood that athletes will be better prepared for competition improve. Read the Elite Daily article on how the Seattle Seahawks utilize this form of training to better their game.

http://elitedaily.com/sports/so-thats-their-secret-pete-carroll-makes-all-of-his-seahawks-players-take-yoga-classes/

Supplement Users Beware!

All college athletes, and some non-athlete students, have the drive to become bigger, better, and stronger. Many people will do anything to have bulging muscles and leaner bodies. Supplements are a broad category, with many types and forms. They are taken to build stronger and bigger muscles, as well as to burn fat to lose weight. Supplements have one definite thing in common – all are drugs. The supplement industry seemingly provides a simple solution to the common stress of becoming better: take a pill or add a scoop of powder to your drink. However, this “easy” answer is not so safe.

Many supplements across the board are not approved by the NCAA due to their ingredients and potential safety.  Athletes nationwide can lose scholarships and the ability to play because of unknowingly consuming a substance that happened to be in a supplement. Not only are some supplements detrimental to one’s athletic career, but also to overall health. Medications are sent to the liver when consumed in the human body. Taking supplements puts more stress on the liver, and can cause serious liver damage. Other side effects are possible, which can be as serious as death. Consider who formulates and markets these products. Some of the people who create supplements have had multiple criminal lawsuits and charges against them because of unsafe products and results/side effects from taking these medications. One designer of popular supplements (discussed in this video) had to lie about his profession (he said he was a construction worker) in order to purchase compounds he wanted to use for his product. If this isn’t a red flag, nothing is.

Sometimes, supplements may be recommended for certain situations. However, it is important to ensure that they are safe, effective, and NCAA approved. If you are an athlete or even a typical student, consult your sports dietitian, athletic trainer, or local RD to figure out what is safe and best for you.

USA Today Supplement Video

Blog post submitted by Penn State Dietetic Senior: Lauren Marucci

Failing NCAA Drug Tests: Who's To Blame

Being in the business of evaluating an evergrowing volume of nutritional supplements, it is important to understand many of the implications that surround the use of these performance enhancing drugs. The NCAA has a general list of the types of supplements and classes of drugs that are considered banned substances, but the problem is that the market is just flooded with thousands of banned supplement ingredients that can hide behind chemical names. Recent examples of this are the use of products like Jacked3D and Pure Power that make claims of increased endurance and improved recovery without the disclosure of it's NCAA banned substance DMAA. This makes it hard for even the qualified individual to know what athletes might be taking. In this article found in The Sports Digest, you will read about collegiate athletes that have fallen victim to the ever confusing world of nutritional supplementation and how the NCAA governs its use.
Click here to read more...

Busted in the NFL: Stimulant Medications

A recent article in Yahoo Sports uncovered the personal and financial cost of NFL Cinncinati Bengal's cornerback Joe Haden's apparent inappropriate use of Adderall. Stimulant medications are considered performance enhancing drugs and therefore fall under the guidelines of the NFL's Performance Enhancing Drug Policy. These same rules apply to collegiate student-athletes that play under the guidelines of the NCAA. To read more about the financial toll of this decision on Hayden's paycheck click here.

Fueling Champions: Top Sports Nutrition Ingredients

"Hundredths of a second can separate a gold medal winner from someone who doesn’t make it to the Olympic medal stand. Therefore, athletes are looking to gain every performance advantage they can get their hands on."

What and how an athlete eats is just as important as the time spent training and lifting. In a NewHope360.com article titled "Nutrient Timing Key to Sports Nutrition", Sports RD, Marie Spano, MS, RD, explains how different nutrients work to fuel athletes and promote optimal performance.

Athletes should remember that proper NUTRITION is an essential part of their training regimen and to meet with a Sports RD with any food & nutrition related questions.


Click HERE to read the full article.


Reference: http://newhope360.com/sports-amp-fitness-performance/nutrient-timing-key-sports-nutrition?page=1

Coming Soon...New i-Tunes App

Pennington and tech partner launch website, app targeting body image issues

A new Web-based platform and smartphone app designed to promote healthy body image, as well as address eating disorders and obesity prevention, was unveiled today at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. The new platform, called Emer.ge, and the app, called The Body Image Voice, were launched today by Body Evolution Technologies in collaboration with Pennington. "The vision of Emer.ge is to empower individuals to shift focus from unrealistic appearance ideals and move toward health, balance, and optimal performance," says Dr. Tiffany Stewart, director of the Behavior Technology Laboratory at Pennington and co-founder/chief scientific officer of Body Evolution Technologies. "It seems basic, but science supports the idea that until we regard our bodies better, we won't treat them better," she says. The Body Image Voice app focuses on a single component of body image: the role media and advertising play in shaping our ideals of health and beauty. App users rate the impact of images and ads they see to assess which messages they think are helpful or harmful. The app will soon be available as a free download in the iTunes store. Check out the website here for more information and demos on how the website and app work.

Baton Rouge Business Report Story
May 2, 2012

Supplement 411: a Great Resource for Information on Dietary Supplementation

Take some time, perhaps as much time as you would spend shopping aimlessly for your dietary supplements, and navigate to a website called Supplement 411 . USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) has created this website to help guide athletes in their never ending search for the magic supplement...the pill or powder that will elevate their game to the next level. The site is designed to do the following:

• Designed to give facts about the supplement industry,
• Suggests what is the best thing to take,
• Explains why athletes often choose to take dietary supplements,
• Discusses the serious health and safety risks that athletes are exposed to when using dietary supplements,
• Warns the consumer about the possibility of ingredient mislabeling and/or product contamination of banned substantces, and
• Helps to identify risks and red flags when purchasing these supplements.

Click on the Supplement 411 link above or simply cut and paste this link into your browser and start educating yourself of the hidden dangers of dietary supplement use and abuse.
http://www.usada.org/supplement411

Buyer Beware: DMAA in Your Supplements

A widely used ingredient that is found in commonly purchased nutritional supplements to aid in "leaning or cutting" as well as enhancing muscle development is considered a banned substance by many governing bodies that govern intercollegiate athletics as well as professional and international athletics. This product has a number of names that are used to disguise itself on an ingredient label. The most commonly seen names is 1,3-dimethylamylamine (DMAA), also referred to as methylhexanamine, Geranamine, and geranium oil, extract, or stems and leaves from its stores. In addition to its ban as a performance enhancing supplement ingredient it has also been increasingly associated with serious adverse events.

Here is a list of products to avoid as they contain this banned substance. This list is NOT ALL INCLUSIVE. Meaning that DMAA and its alias' are found in a great number of supplements. Some of these products are sold at stores such as Walmart and GNC...

USPlabs Jack3d (Tropical Fruit and Lemon Lime)
USPlabs OxyELITE Pro
Nutrex Research Lipo-6 Black (his and hers)
Nutrex Research Lipo-6 Black Ultra Concentrate (his and hers)
Nutrex Research Hemo-Rage Black Powder, Punch, Berry
iSatori PWR
Muscletech NeuroCore
Muscletech HydroxyStim
Fahrenheit Nutrition Lean EFX
Muscle Warfare Napalm
SNI Nitric Blast
BIORhythm SSIN Juice
MuscleMeds Code Red
SEI MethylHex 4,2
Gaspari Nutrition Spirodex

Supplement Contamination = Positive Drug Test

Athletes must be very cautious with any type of dietary supplement. Even though the ingredient label may not list any known banned substances, contamination with banned ingredients is still possible. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate dietary supplements, which means the supplements’ manufacturers are the ones responsible for ensuring the ingredient list is correct, not the government. This has led to many problems with athletes and positive drug tests.

In the following NUTRAingredients.com article: CLICK HERE for the full article

2 athletes were tested positive for the substance DMAA, also known as: 1,3-dimethlyamylamine, dimethlyamylamine, dimethlypentylamine, forthan, forthane, floradrene, geranamine, geranium oil, and geranium flower extract. These athletes argued that the product they took was contaminated and the DMAA was not listed on the ingredient list.

It is extremely important to remember that not all supplement products are safe, even if they are sold over-the-counter and have an ingredient list that seems okay. Before buying or trying any supplement, be sure to check FIRST with Sr. Associate Athletic Trainer, Shelly Mullenix, Head Strength Coach, Tommy Moffitt, and/or Sports Dietitian, Jamie Mascari. Being SAFE is always better than being SORRY.

MLB and the concern with Energy Drinks

Energy drinks have gained much popularity over the past few years. Many people, including athletes, use and rely on them as an energy booster fail to consider the negative and sometimes harmful effects from these beverages. Some MLB teams have noticed the dangers energy drinks can have on the body and have banned them from the players’ clubhouses.  (See link below)

Here’s a brief run-through of the composition of energy drinks:

SUGAR: Energy drinks are often loaded with sugar, which causes your blood sugar (energy levels) to come crashing down once the sugar leaves the blood. Yes, you may feel very energetic for a short while after drinking an energy drink, and this is because the high sugar content quickly stimulates your nervous system, giving you that feel-good feeling and buzz of energy. Keep in mind that the fast spike in blood sugar/energy will lead to an equal drop in blood sugar/energy. Some people may actually feel more fatigued than they were to begin with.

CAFFEINE: Caffeine is also found in large quantities in energy drinks. Caffeine in these amounts (and for those individuals who are sensitive to caffeine) increases your heart rate and body temperature, potentially leading to an irregular heartbeat, excess sweating, shakes, and anxious feelings. Also, caffeine generally produces both laxative and diuretic effects, leading to excess urination and the risk of becoming dehydrated. As an athlete, all of these effects can hamper performance tremendously.

OTHER INGREDIENTS: Some of the other common ingredients found in energy drinks are: Taurine, Guarana, Ginseng, Ginkgo Biloba, B-Vitamins, and many more. In addition, many energy drinks contain a special “energy blend” … sometimes not listing what actually makes up that blend. As a consumer, it is very important to realize that many of these extra ingredients don’t even contribute to increased energy levels. In addition, some ingredients, whether listed or not, may be a banned substance and can possibly show up positive on an athlete’s drug test.

BOTTOM LINE: Use a lot of caution if considering consuming an energy drink. If your energy levels are low, take a look at your diet and hydration… a few tweaks there can make a huge and positive difference!

Click here to read: "MLB teams limiting energy drink consumption, cite negative effects to players’ health"

Supplement Caution

Red Flag Supplement Words


Athletes are presented with a multitude of information about supplements, from many different sources. These may include the supplement's manufacturer, online stores, health stores, gyms, or friends and family.


Here are some RED FLAG indicators to watch out for if you are considering a supplement. 
**Please know that this is NOT a complete list and should only be used for reference.


Make sure to filter all potential supplements and any questions in regards to a particular product first with Shelly Mullenix- Athletic Trainer, Director of Wellness BEFORE you take it. 
Tommy Moffitt- Head Strength Coach and Jamie Mascari- Registered Dietitian can also answer your questions.

You should avoid any product that list or makes reference to any of the following:

All natural	Not for human consumption	Testosterone booster	Aromaste inhibitor Anti aromatase
Natural testosterone booster	Estrogen suppressor	Natural HGH/IGF-1 booster	Reformulated
Stimulant free version	Only FDA approved pro-hormone	Ephedrine free	Get our product before it is banned

Red Flag Supplement Ingredients

If any one of these ingredients or something similar is present in the supplement, we suggest not purchasing or using. You could have short-term or long-term negative health risks and/or fail a drug test.

7-Keto (DHEA)	Synephrine
Diuretic	Etioallocholen
Colostrum (bovine)	Superdrol (2a-17a-dimethyl-5a-androst-3-one)
Pro-hormone	Trione or Dione
19-nor	19-norandrosta
Androstene	Halodrol (4 chloro-17a methyl-androst-1-4 diene-3-17b-diol)
1, 3-dimethylamylamine (Most common)	Geranium oil extract
Geranium extract	DMAA
Geranamine (trademarked by Proviant Technologies)	Forthan
Ephedrine	MaHaung
Etiocholan	Estra
6 OXO (4-etioallocholen-3,6,17-trione)	Dianabol
17beta-hydroxy	17a-methyl
4,9-estradiene-3-one-17b-ol	Andro
Epistane (2a 3a epithio-17a-methyl-5a-androstan-17b-ol)	5a-androstano 2 3-c furazan-17b-tetrahydropyranol
Geranuim oil	Methylhexanamine
4-methyl-2-hexanamine	Pentylamine, 1, 3-dimethyl-
2-amino-4-methylhexane	2-Hexanamine, 5-methyl-

Source:

DrugFreeSport.com

REC (Resource Exchange Center)

Nutritional Supplement Ingredient Warning: Geranium

American tennis player Robert Kendrick tests positive...

Health experts and anti-drug enforcers are scrambling to warn athletes and the general public about a potentially dangerous supplement ingredient with a harmless name: Geranium. In this article, you can read about the banned supplement ingredient that is commonly found in energy drinks and energy capsules that has resulted in competition suspension for a number of athletes.

There is additional concerns about the use of Geranium. Research has shown Geranium to have similar or potentially stronger effects than ephedrine, a nutritional substance that had been banned by most agencies overseeing collegiate, professional and international athletics. Geranium, coupled with the effects of the extreme heat of the South, makes for a lethal mix.

Click the link below for the full article:

http://www.thepostgame.com/features/201108/geranium-products-might-pose-serious-risk-athletes

Energy Drinks: More Than Just a Drug Testing Issue

For years, the Athletic Training Department and it's Team Physicians have been warning about the use of energy drinks. During drug education meetings, supplements and energy drinks are thoroughly discussed because they are often the source of NCAA banned performance enhancing drugs: guarana, caffeine, and citrus aurantium to name a few. The use of these energy drinks becomes even more troublesome when combined with stimulant medications that are commonly used for the treatment of ADD/ADHD.

Consuming even one of these energy drinks could result in some negative side effects such as: increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, irregular heart beats, and sleep distrubances. With the hazards of heat illness and dehydration in the southern region of the United States, consumption of energy drinks could spell disaster.

The New York Times and MSNBC have interesting articles regarding the dangers of consuming energy drinks. To read these articles in their entirety, just click below:

New York Times: Scientists See Dangers in Energy Drinks...

MSNBC: Energy drinks can be dangerous for teens, report says...

Want To Be a Better Athlete... Then Get Some Sleep

Athletes of all ages spend hundreds of dollars each year purchasing nutritional supplements that claim to enhance athletic performance, cause rapid muscle growth and lean up flabby bodies. While everyone should be concerned with the hazards and negative side effects of these supplements, collegiate athletes have the additional worry of knowing whether or not the supplement contains illegal, performance enhancing drugs. Really improving one's athletic performance may actually come down to an easy, less expensive alternative- SLEEP.

"Getting extra sleep over an extended period of time improves athletic performance, alertness and mood, according to a research abstract presented June 8, 2010, in San Antonio, Texas, at SLEEP 2010, the 24th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC."

To read more of this abstract from Science Daily click here.

Supplement Watch: What Not To Buy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recently issued a public health advisory warning consumers of nutritional and body building supplements from American Cellular Laboratories Inc. This company has been marketing and distributing body building products containing synthetic steroid substances. However, they are being marketed as dietary supplements.


Many of these products would certainly fall under the NCAA's Banned Substance list. Click on the link below to read the full story:

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm173739.htm

2009-2010 NCAA Banned Substance List

All student-athletes who participate in Division I collegiate athletics are governed by the rules and regulations set forth by the NCAA. The rules that govern drug testing and the use of banned substances were put in place to protect the health and welfare of the student-athlete.

Click on the following URL to obtain the most recent list of substances that are banned by the NCAA:

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/53e6f4804e0b8a129949f91ad6fc8b25/2009-10+Banned+Drug+Classes.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=53e6f4804e0b8a129949f91ad6fc8b25

What Energy Drink Advertisers Aren’t Telling You…

Have you ever stopped at the convenience store before class or during a long night of studying to get a quick energy boost? College students across campuses rely on artificial forms of energy to get them through long days and nights of class and studying. On top of the typical class demands, student-athletes have to attend mandatory workouts and practices on a regular basis. Unfortunately, student-athletes frequently fall victim to the same energy drink advertisements as the general population. What the energy drink advertisers fail to recognize is that no matter how “safe” or “natural” these energy drinks may be, they may also jeopardize a student-athlete’s athletic eligibility.

Even though the NCAA does not specifically list caffeine as a banned substance, they do regulate the caffeine intake of the collegiate student-athletes by monitoring the concentration of caffeine in the individual’s urine. The NCAA states that a student-athlete will test positive for caffeine if the concentration in urine exceeds 15 micrograms/ml.

In addition to the regulation of caffeine content, the NCAA has a list of other banned stimulants, including an all-natural substance called guarana. Guarana is a plant derivative and one of the richest sources of caffeine, containing up to three times the amount of caffeine as coffee. Even though it has yet to be evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity, energy drink manufacturers frequently utilize this ingredient as an alternative to other stimulants.

The NCAA is not stating that student-athletes have to completely cut out caffeinated beverages from their daily diet, but the key is moderation. Caffeine consumption in combination with proper hydration using water and electrolyte replacement beverages (i.e. Powerade, Gatorade, etc.), and refraining from energy drinks with excessive amounts of caffeine can prevent a high caffeine concentration in urine. To help you make educated decisions and be more aware of what you’re consuming, the energy drink brochure includes a list of energy drink caffeine contents, energy drinks containing guarana, and various energy drink related websites. Do not let one small decision affect your athletic career.

Banned substance information provided by the NCAA
Blog entry provided by Julie Kruessel, ATC