Ergogenic Aids

As external influences, ergogenic aids can positively affect physical or mental functions. Ergogenic aids may remove psychological constraints which impact performance, and increase the speed of recovery from training and competition.

Ergogenic aids have been used by athletes and bodybuilders for many years. Some surveys have indicated that approximately 50% of the general population, 76% of college athletes, and 100% of bodybuilders take supplements.

New products appear on the market every week. Some ergogenic aids are very dangerous and have been banned from all competitive sports as they have very harmful side effects. These include:

• Amphetamine
• Beta Blockers
• Human Growth Hormone
• Anabolic Steroids
• Masking agents
• Diuretic
• Blood doping

However some performance enhancing methods are considered safe such as:

• carbohydrate loading
• proper nutrition
• electrolyte solutions to replace lost fluids
• ritual preparations, such as prayer, chanting, or meditation
• visualization
• stress management

There are is also a category of products that are legal but have not been studied extensively for their long term effects. These include:

• Creatine
• Caffeine
• Chromium
• Multivitamins
• Phosphates
• Leucine