‘Are Dietary Supplements Making Me Very Emotional?’ — Ask Dr. Harry Fisch

Eric is taking several dietary supplements in an attempt to build muscle, but he thinks the pills and protein shakes have been making him over-emotional. Could they be the cause?

Dr. Harry Fisch's Advice:

First of all, Eric, I’m not a fan of any of these supplements. Particularly protein shakes. You really should be eating real food. You get much more protein by eating food than you ever could from supplements. And if you’ve worked out and don’t have much protein left in your system, drinking chocolate milk will actually do just as good a job as anything for your protein levels.

Also keep in mind that a lot of these products can be deceiving -- many of them contain hormones you may not be aware of and the FDA doesn’t regulate any of these product, which means their safety and effectiveness have never been tested. For instance, did you know that some of these supplements contain illegal testosterone? A couple years ago an Olympian tested positive for testosterone, and the Olympic Committee ended up disqualifying him as a result of this testosterone. This was something he wasn’t even aware of, so it goes to show you how a lot of dangerous hormones are in over the counter supplements.

You can also get hooked on some of these supplements as many of them contain addictive hormones. This means that, when you stop taking the supplements, your body will crave the ingredients. This kind of withdrawal symptom could definitely include an emotional response.

Remember, when it comes to feeling good about yourself, don’t worry so much about looking like the fittest guy possible, just keep yourself healthy and act confidently, and people will notice.

Dr. Harry Fisch is a board certified urologist at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Medical College of Cornell University.