Can I take a sports supplement? There is a lot of talk about sports supplements as a way to give an athlete “that winning edge.” Sports supplements are presumed to improve performance without expending much work to reach that point.

The label “sports supplement” covers a variety of very different items. These supplements can be vitamins, hormones, herbs or synthetic drugs. Most are available over the counter. Many are advertised as things that will give an athlete more energy or increase his or her muscle mass.

Unfortunately, the majority of these supplements are not regulated by any agency to guarantee that they will do what they are presumed to do without any harmful side effects.

The bottom line is that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. There is no substitute for hard work in competitive athletics.

Are all steroids bad? Not all steroids are bad. Some steroids have medicinal purposes, and are useful in treating diseases like asthma and arthritis. The ones you hear about on television, anabolic steroid supplements, are bad for you.

Anabolic steroids are hormones that help the body build muscle tissue and increase muscle mass. These steroids are similar to the male hormone testosterone, which is produced naturally in larger amounts in guys' bodies and smaller amounts in girls' bodies. When a person takes anabolic steroids, the body's muscle tissue is stimulated to grow, producing larger and stronger muscles.

Anabolic steroids can have serious side effects. These include:

• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Liver damage
• Cancer
• Urinary tract problems
• Bowel problems
• Strokes
• Blood clots
• Sleep problems
• Baldness
• Acne
• Infertility in males
• Breast and nipple enlargement in males
• Deeper voices in females
• Smaller breasts in females
• Menstrual problems
• Increase in facial and body hair
• Emotional such as mood swings, aggression, irritability, depression and suicidal thoughts