Research on Bodybuilding Supplements

In the past, I've done some digging into the supplement world, specifically bodybuilding supplements. This post might be more scientific and formal than usual but I hope it is clear enough. For the full, more in-depth article, skip to below and/or click read more.

Are these really safe and do what they claim?

To me, most of these supplements are unnecessary and tend to mislead people. They might be beneficial but they also pose risks due to the lack of regulation by the government. Unlike food or pharmaceuticals companies, supplement manufacturers don't have the same strictness in terms of batch testing, clinical studies, and cleanliness. I'm not saying that bodybuilding supplements should be abolished or anything like that; rather, they should be more strictly regulated. More and more people are becoming interested in using supplements and the government and supplement manufacturers should work together to make the most efficient and safe products for consumer use. Consumers shouldn't have to worry about whether the pills or powder they're taking contains growth hormones or heavy metals.  Thanks for your interest and I hope you learn something new. Share it and use it in your work if you'd like but please show me some love and give me credit :) I also encourage you to read some of the works cited.

Controversial: Preschooler's Lunch Deemed Inadequate, Supplemented With Chicken Nuggets

A very interesting story came up today, reported first by the CarolinaJournal. A North Carolina preschooler was told by an inspector to eat chicken nuggets with her homemade meal. The child ended up eating only the nuggets.

You need to eat these too! Says food monitor

Not good enough...

"The Division of Child Development and Early Education at the Department of Health and Human Services requires all lunches served in pre-kindergarten programs — including in-home day care centers — to meet USDA guidelines. That means lunches must consist of one serving of meat, one serving of milk, one serving of grain, and two servings of fruit or vegetables, even if the lunches are brought from home." The meal consisted of the following: turkey and cheese sandwich, banana, potato chips, and apple juice. As you can see, there's one serving of meat (turkey), 1 serving of milk (cheese), 1 serving of grain, and 2 servings of fruit (banana and apple juice). Unless the portions were really tiny, the meal fits the bill. Nevertheless, the child was given chicken nuggets and a $1.25 bill. I'm still very sketchy about chicken nuggets after doing this blog post. Chances are, the school's nuggets aren't that good either.
Since the incident, the mother has complained to North Carolina Representative G.L. Pridgen of Robeson County.
Are these lunch regulations necessary? Do they provide important oversight to help ensure kids are eating healthy, balanced meals? Or do they impede on parents' liberties and send children the wrong message?