Last week, my sister and I decided to go to the gym together. When she arrived at my house, I offered her a pre-workout powder before going to the gym.
To my horror, my sister took a scoop of the pre-workout, put it directly in her mouth, swallowed it, and took a sip of water. I don’t use pre-workout supplements often, but when I do, I mix them with the recommended amount of water and then swallow them.
I told her not to do it again because it was dangerous, but instead she said she does it all the time and that “everyone does it.” When she asked why she was dangerous, I didn’t have a clear answer. I did not know. Like her, I saw on social media that dry scoops are bad and I believed them.
So, is empty scooping really dangerous?
I downloaded TikTok to see how trending dry scoops are. A search for this topic immediately directed me to: TikTok In “Supporting Online Challenges,” it was explained that TikTok requires me to “stop, think, decide, and act” before deciding whether to do an online challenge.
No matter what I tried, I couldn’t even see what people were toasting on this app.
Why do people dry scoop?
Pre-workout supplements that come in powder or pill form can help give you extra energy for your workouts. According to , most products contain between 150 and 300 milligrams of caffeine per serving. WebMD.
We recommend mixing pre-workout powder with water and drinking it 30 minutes to 1 hour before exercise for the best results. However, some people believe that scooping dry, or swallowing the powder whole, makes the powder even more powerful before a workout.
“Dry scoop fans believe that taking supplements (this way) allows them to deliver large amounts of supplements into the body at once, thereby increasing the product’s effectiveness in maximizing exercise endurance. I believe in it,” said physician Kelly Johnson Arbor. said the toxicologist and co-medical director of the National Capital Poison Center. daily health.
She added, “There is no published evidence that dry scoops actually result in improved performance.”
The dangers of air scooping
Most people who try dry scooping because they saw a challenge about it on social media or heard about it from a friend end up with no problems. However, dry scoops have potential dangers, so it may not be worth the risk.
according to healthThe two posted on social media about their horrifying experiences with the outbreak. “One shared that he had a heart attack and the other couldn’t breathe and needed an inhaler.”
“Ingredients in pre-workout supplements can be dangerous and toxic, especially when used in ways not recommended by the manufacturer. Swallowing large quantities of the powder can cause choking and difficulty breathing.” ” poison control. “Also, if you take a spoonful of pre-workout powder without diluting it with water, you’re taking in a large amount of the ingredient at once.”
Poison control also included other potential health risks that could arise from air scooping.
- anxiety.
- Heart rate is fast.
- Chest pain.
- heart problems.
- dizzy.
- trembling.
health Expert recommendations are summarized as follows: …Instead, stay hydrated, eat healthy carbohydrates, and avoid saturated fats and excess protein to fuel yourself for your workout. ”