The USATF has teamed up with The National Center for Drug Free Sport to allow free access for all of their members to the Resource Exchange Center, a subscription service of Drug Free Sport.

The REC is a portal where athletes and coaches can ask questions about drugs and supplements to make sure that they are not ingesting anything illegal within the sport and to learn of any known health risks or side effects.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency already has a hotline that elite athletes can call to determine if a medication or specific substance is banned. The REC broadens this concept by enabling any USATF members – not just athletes in USADA’s drug-testing pool – to inquire about supplements, which can contain multiple substances, some labeled and some not. In addition, the REC and Drug-Free Sport will provide USATF members with information that is reported by athletes who take a supplement and have an adverse reaction to it.

The directions and the method for accessing the portal is a little confusing. First, you need to log in to the USATF website using your member ID number. It doesn’t say so, but you then need to return to the REC directions page and click on the REC logo to get to the REC Access Page which will provide your login information. Be aware that choosing your login name can also be difficult given their funky little widget.

I took a look around the site after I figured out how to access it, and there are some good informational articles mixed in with pages that don’t exist yet and are just coming soon… While the articles are certainly worth reading, the main feature I was hoping to see is conspicuously missing, and that is a list of common drugs and supplements and all of the information about each one that the site can provide.

As far as I can tell, if you want information about a specific drug or supplement, you need to ask and then wait for up to 24 hours for a response. That seems like it’s a a poor use of resources, as I have to imagine that many of the drugs and supplements people would ask about are going to be repeated over and over.

Still, it’s a great resource to have available, so if you are a member of the USATF and are at all curious about a supplement that you are or are considering taking, I highly recommend requesting information through the REC.

Beating depression is possible naturally. There are a lot of proven methods to deal with this mental illness at home without the routine administration of prescription drugs. With 11 million Americans contracting the disease every year, the importance of finding out natural ways to treat it is fast becoming imperative. One of the best ways of fighting depression is to take natural supplements. But it is important to note here that most of these “proven” natural treatments are backed only by a coupled of insignificant studies. Following are the top 5 natural supplements which have an actual track record of curing depression.

1) St John’s Wort: This herb has strong evidence of being as effective as certain anti-depressants in curing the illness with a lot less side effects than the latter. If you are depressed, this should actually be your first choice when you are in the process of picking out a supplement. A dosage of 600- 900 mg daily should be administered in the initial phase of treatment and later it can be increased to 900-1800 mg daily according to the requirement. This supplement will start showing its efficacy after about 3 weeks of therapy.

2) SAM-e: This natural supplement also is a powerful anti-depressant. In fact its results will start showing not after weeks, but only in days of starting therapy. The normal dose of this supplement for the treatment of depression is 800-1600 mg daily. This supplement is extremely popular in spite of its steep price.

3) 5-HTP: This natural supplement is an amino acid that is known to be a natural depression cure. It increases the production of serotonin, a chemical in the brain which boosts a person’s mood. It also specifically targets the symptoms of low levels of serotonin such as change is sleep pattern and feeling down without a reason. Sometimes this supplement acts as a natural weight loss enhancer for depressed people who are overweight.

4) Gingko Biloba: This natural herbal supplement is an excellent way of getting relief from depressive episodes. It is especially helpful in elderly patients. This powerful antioxidant and anti-depressant increases the flow of blood in the body and the brain. The improved circulation is known to not only boost the mood, but also promote cardiovascular health, improve memory and reduce the symptoms of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

5) Siberian Ginseng: This is another natural supplement which cures depression. It works by balancing neurotransmitters such as serotonin, epinephrine, dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. It also helps the body to adjust to physical stress in daily life too. This herb also promotes abstract thought, improve memory and strengthen the immune system to.

Americans spent billions of dollars last year on natural remedies. But with so many different products to choose from in the aisles of your local health food store, how do you know which ones are worth buying and which ones you should avoid. It’s important to note that there are many vitamin and nutritional supplements that can work wonders for your health however if you make the wrong choice, you may cause yourself irreparable damage. Before you make any long term decisions about your health, take a moment and discover these 3 amazing secrets related to supplements.

Stunning Secret # 1 The difference between a nutritional supplement and a drug.

Stunning Secret # 2 The implications of taking supplements while also taking prescription drugs.

Stunning Secret # 3 The importance of taking only name brand supplements from approved sources.

The Difference Between a Nutritional Supplement and a Drug

In many cases, there is not much of a difference. Both substances can have extremely powerful effects and cause problems if taken incorrectly. A key element is how the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) view them. For the most part, the FDA treats supplements as if they were foods. They are technically defined as “products taken by mouth that contain an ingredient intended to supplement the diet.” Drugs on the other hand are legally defined as “substances intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent disease.” Because of this definition, most supplements get as much attention from the FDA as a package of throat lozenges.

The Implications of Taking Both Prescription Drugs and Supplements

Be very careful because some supplements interfere with prescription medications or cause dangerous side effects when taken with prescription drugs. The simple solution to avoid this danger is to always consult your doctor before taking any supplements even if you think they are harmless. You should also discontinue use of supplements if you are scheduled for any invasive medical procedure. Studies have found that certain supplements interfere with anesthesia, can cause excessive bleeding or elevate blood pressure.

The Importance of Taking Only Brand Name Supplements

One myth that has run wild is that supplements are safer than prescription drugs because they are thought to be natural and chemical free. Unfortunately research has not shown this to be true across the board. Many independent tests have found that some supplements were contaminated with potentially harmful ingredients such as pesticides, bacteria and heavy metals. More recently, Consumer Reports tests found that labels on supplement bottles did not contain what they said nor was the dosage information correct. According to their research, a good strategy is to rely on more well known companies like GNC or vitamin shoppe [http://www.brian-stephenson.com] over lesser known brands. These and other better known brands appear to have more consistent quality and safety.

In light of your new found knowledge, the question you may wonder where you can find reliable information about supplements. The irony is that most of what you will find on the internet or from the grocery store clerk is not the most reliable source of information. To start you in the right direction, consider the following sources. (National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration)