Should you be using supplements as a teenager?

Should you be using supplements as a teenager?

Nutritional Supplements have been used for years in a wide variety of areas.  Sports players use them to enhance their athletic performance.  New moms use them to keep themselves and their little ones in peak health.  Many times, teenagers will use them to keep their bodies lean and in top condition.  During puberty however, if the body’s delicate balance is upset it could cause serious damage later on in life.  The transitional years from childhood to adulthood can be a difficult time for anyway, yet even more so for those that aspire to be like sports superstars they see on television and in magazines.  Many teens believe that sports nutritional supplements are an easy way to increase their strength and stamina. However, a teenager can do much more harm than good to the mind and body by incorrectly dabbling with some of the nutritional supplements currently on the market.

A typical teenager (between the ages of 13 and 19) has a body that is already producing enormous amounts of growth hormones as well as testosterone / estrogen.  It is extremely important at this age not to overload your body in any one area as this can cause long term problems down the road.  There are however some good ideas for supplements that can safely improve your overall health and fitness.

1. A good set of multi-vitamins and minerals will help you avoid any nutritional deficiencies.  This seems like it should be an easy one to remember, but too many people forget about it.  If you are deficient in even one vitamin or mineral your muscle gains can be severely hampered, not to mention your health!
2. A high quality protein powder to take in between real meals can be an excellent way to increase your protein intake to the levels that you need.  Protein is made up of amino acids, which are the building blocks of muscle.  There are several forms of protein including Whey, Soy, Egg, and Casein.
3. A couple tablespoons of healthy fats such as flax oil, natural peanut and walnut oils and other healthy oils.  These can be added to protein shakes and other meals.

If you’re between the ages of 13 and 19, it can’t be stressed enough to stay away from andros, prohormones and testosterone boosting supplementation, or any form of growth hormone.  Anything you do at this point to boost your testosterone will only have the opposite effect on your body.  You should save the testosterone boosting for when your body starts to naturally decrease its testosterone at around age 25.  Right now, you should take full advantage of your age, and the hormones that your body is producing naturally.  Definitely don’t be discouraged from taking supplements at this time though.  Like I outlined above, the proper supplementation can be a vital key to your health and fitness.  As always, just make sure you use your head when choosing what’s right for your body.

The Team at i-Supplements.com

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