Underground drug networks supply those that distribute dangerous or banned supplements to our kids. The largest steroid scandal in U.S. history was recently uncovered by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. It resulted in seizures at 56 labs across the country of a staggering quantity of illegal drugs. Steroids, HGH (human growth hormone) and other drugs that were seized promote muscle growth and speed recovery from injury, and athletes continue to take them despite the risks of suspensions and permanent bans from their sport.

The Internet has now emerged as a very popular source for those seeking performance-enhancing drugs without the required prescription.

Do you understand the health risks in taking drugs that are often mislabeled? The potential side effects include strokes, liver damage and heart disease, and in some cases--death.

There are more than 250,000 supplements on the market today, most making claims that are not supported by peer reviewed, published research.

I personally question the professional ethics and personal integrity of anyone who is recommending these supplements to anyone.

On a recent speaking tour I spoke to dozens of athletes who told me they were taking protein supplements, creatine, human growth hormone, DHEA, free-form amino acids, steroids, etc. without knowing what was in the container or really understanding what the long term results might be.

What has happened to educating the coaches and athletes? What has happened to coaches that actually care about their athletes' health, instead of "winning at all costs?" What has happened to setting a good example for young people?

Making money, and winning--at the possible cost of the athletes' health--has replaced professional ethics and personal integrity. Think about it!

For an athlete--or anyone else for that matter--to achieve peak performance and optimal health from their body, I continue to recommend the following:

1. Physical training techniques which have been proven by research and experience in the field, which I outline in detail in my latest book: "The Winning Edge: Fueling & Training the Body for Peak Performance" (new 2nd edition Oct, 2007).

2. Optimal nutrition based on eating high nutrient-density foods, which are quantified and made easy to identify with the Nutripoints(tm) program, used and proven worldwide for the past 20 years. Optimal intake of water is also critically important for athletes and active people.

3. The only supplement I recommend is the one proven to work in the body to increase nutritional intensity at the cellular level, with 11 peer-reviewed, published, research studies to date: Juice Plus+®. Juice Plus+® contains whole food-based concentrates of 17 fruits, vegetables, and grains. Twelve more studies are in the works on Juice Plus+® worldwide. This makes Juice Plus+® the most thoroughly researched supplement in history. Talk about professional ethics and integrity!

Putting these three recommendations together will give you everything you need to get your body to the highest level of function, performance, health, and longevity. Remember, you can't lay on it, sit on it, shake in it, vibrate in it, get wrapped up in it, or ingest it to get in shape!