Looking for ways to be supportive to your friend with female athlete triad? You may worry about being nosy, but don't: Your concern is a sign that you're a caring friend. Lending an ear may be just what your friend needs.
Tips for Female Athletes
Here are a few tips to help teen athletes stay on top of their physical condition:
- Keep track of your periods. It's easy to forget when you had your last visit from Aunt Flo, so keep a little calendar in your gym bag and mark down when your period starts and stops and if the bleeding is particularly heavy or light. That way, if you start missing periods, you'll know right away and you'll have accurate information to give to your doctor.
- Don't skip meals or snacks. You're constantly on the go between school, practice, and competitions, so it may be tempting to skip meals and snacks to save time. But eating now will improve your performance later, so stock your locker or bag with quick and easy favorites such as bagels, string cheese, unsalted nuts and seeds, raw vegetables, energy bars, and fruit.
- Visit a dietitian or nutritionist who works with teen athletes. He or she can help you get your dietary game plan into gear and can help you determine if you're getting enough key nutrients such as iron, calcium, and protein. And, if you need supplements, a nutritionist can recommend the best choices.
- Do it for you. Pressure from teammates, parents, or coaches can turn an activity you took up for fun into a nightmare. If you're not enjoying your sport, make a change. Remember: It's your body and your life. Any damage you do to your body now, you - not your coach or teammates - will have to live with later.
Updated and reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: October 2003
Originally reviewed by: Angela D. Smith, MD
By CATHY BROWNFIELD/Family Recovery Center
Do you remember reading the novel, "Flowers for Algernon" or viewing the movie by the same name? Charlie Gordon was a 32-year-old,mentally-challenged janitor who volunteered to take part in an experimental intelligence-enhancing treatment. He became smarter than his doctors and then, his enhanced intelligence quickly faded. The change was only temporary and the treatment would cause his demise.
Last week Join Together, a project of the Boston University School of Public Health, advised that the New York Times reported that drinks like Red Bull, EndoRush and Vitamin Water often contain megadoses of caffeine and other stimulants, vitamin B-12, brain-stimulating nootropics, amino acids and more.
On today's market, one can buy "smart drugs" in the form of smart beverages, smart power bars and diet supplements. Smart drugs are chemicals that claim to have mild to moderate positive mental or physical effects on memory, cognition, clarity of thought and anti-aging effects.
A lot of "normal" people are using them, but there is little evidence that they work, according to the University of Washington which sponsors the Neuroscience for Kids web site, administrated by Eric Chudler, PhD. at www.faculty.washington.edu/chudler/smartd.htm.
"In 2005 alone, $1.83 billion worth of these drinks were sold, many to consumers attracted by claims of improved physical performance," the Times reported.
"Researchers are studying substances that may improve mental abilities," advises Chudler. "Some data suggest that cognitive enhancers do improve some types of learning and memory, but many other data say these substances have no effect. The strongest evidence for these substances is for the improvement of cognitive function in people with brain injury (trauma) or disease (like Alzheimer's.)"
Neuroscience for Kids reports that cognitive enhancers, smart drugs and nootropics are used for memory, learning, attention, concentration, problem-solving, reasoning, social skills, decision-making and planning. They are used for individuals with neurological or mental disorders.
There are concerns about combining energy drinks with exercise.
"Experts say it is important for athletes to replace water and electrolytes, but the stimulants in energy drinks - including guarana and bitter orange, a legal substitute for banned ephedrine--can cause increased heartbeat and other problems." Sports nutrition expert David Ellis said, "They help blunt your perception of pain. That might be good in the short term, but the bad news is if you don't feel the fatigue in a hot, humid environment, your body won't make you slow down to minimize overheating. Exertional heatstroke is a real possibility."
Consumers who rely on the energy drinks can become addicted to them, disturbing their sleep patterns and causing alcohol abuse needed to wind down from the energy drinks.
Stimulants like caffeine can increase alertness and even enhance performance of certain tasks," says the Mayo Clinic. Moderate doses (200-300 mg of caffeine daily) aren't harmful, but more than 500 mg a day causes irritability, nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, headaches and diarrhea.
As you're celebrating the independence of our nation this week, celebrate your independence, as well. Take care of yourself and enjoy your holiday.
Family Recovery Center promotes the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities with education, prevention and treatment programs. For more information, contact us at 964 N. Market St., Lisbon; phone, 330-424-1468 or e-mail, info@familyrecovery.org. FRC is funded, in part, by Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ODADAS). |
