Safety of Supplements

If you have read through most of this site, you know where I'm coming from in terms of health.
No fad diets or quick fixes - just old fashioned hard work, right?
Right.
My short answer would be, NO, supplements are not safe. But, in this case my answer will be "it depends."

Now, do not go rush out and buy a bottle of some dangerous drug, let me explain.

The Good, the Bad, and the Dangerous!

The Good -

There are a few certain natural things we can take to boost our performance for our workouts.

There is something natural called White Willow Bark, which has the same effect as aspirin. When taken with another natural substance found in berries, Guarana, a caffeine like substance, our bodies become energized, similar to how you would feel after drinking strong coffee.
This works because the aspirin like properties flood our system with the caffeine feeling from the Guarana.
It can only work if taken together, and it should be taken at least 45-60 minutes before a workout.

These supplements can be found in health stores but also in pharmacies and department stores as well. Jillian Michaels has an effective and affordable line of natural Guarana/Willow supplements that I occasionally use. (see left side bar for info)

I love these because they do not cause a spike and crash, they are slow release so energy is long lasting but does not cause the jitters.

Note, drinking a pot of coffee will not have the same effect, so please don't do that!
Also, do not abuse caffeine, which can wreak havoc on your body - and weight loss.
If you are pregnant, or have an allergy or sensitivity to aspirin, white willow bark is not recommended for you, because it very similar to aspirin.

More good stuff!

Another thing you can try for added energy and vitamins is Emergen-C!
It is a pouch of flavored powder that you mix into a drink. It provides lots of B vitamins for immediate energy. It also has 1,000 miligrams of vitamin C for immune boosting power! Pretty awesome for only 25 calories a pouch!
It comes in many flavors and can be purchased online or in most stores for around $10-$15 for a 30 count box.
I have tried several flavors, and have enjoyed them, and the energy! :-)

They are currently offering FREE samples, so check it out!

The Bad & The Dangerous

This section could practically write itself.
Any kind of diet pill with ingredients that sound too weird or make unrealistic claims need to be avoided!

Most pills you see advertised on TV or in stores are not safe, and some have even been recalled due to death or dangerous side effects like liver failure. (Hydroxycut)

Have you ever noticed during one of those commercials, that on the bottom of the screen it says "with diet and exercise"?
If it's such a miracle pill, why do you need to eat healthy and workout still?
Because the pill is a joke.

If the pills don't kill you, the side effects will.

Remember, the whole point of getting healthy is to remove the unhealthy habits from your life.
These pills are just scams wanting to make money off of people looking for help with weight loss. Don't be one of those people.

This site gives you all the real information you need - for free!!

I usually tell people supplements are garbage and they must put in the work if they want results, which is true.
The only reason I recommended a few safe suggestions is because people still want an energy boost sometimes, and they should get it naturally.