Protect Your Right to Use Safe Supplements

The Feds, in their never-ending quest to remove all our personal freedoms, have now targeted DHEA as an anabolic hormone to be regulated and available only through prescription. A similar bill to restrict creatine is also in the works. They have already taken ephedra and prohormones, both of which are safe and effective when used properly, but now they want to deny us two of the most widely studied and effective -- and SAFE -- supplements on the market.

It's time to take a stand. Go here. Put your ZIP code in the designated box in the top left corner and click "Go" to compose an e-mail to your representative and senators that lets them know you oppose the legislation that would make DHEA illegal. In fact, here is a sample letter written by TC Luoma, editor of T-Nation and owner of Biotest supplements. By the way, Biotest doesn't even sell DHEA or creatine.

As your constituent, I'm asking you to stop the erosion of our personal freedoms. I'm asking you to oppose S, 1137 and any similar legislation in the House that would classify the benign supplement DHEA as an anabolic steroid and remove it from the market.

Maybe you don't know this, but DHEA is a naturally occurring hormone with a wide range of benefits ranging from boosting immunity to improving mood and sleep patterns. Additional research shows that it might be a valuable tool in fighting obesity, cancer, and even Alzheimer's disease.

The legislation in question claims to prevent abuse of this supplement by athletes, reasoning that since it's a chemical precursor to androstenedione and testosterone, it could be used to build muscle or enhance performance.

Frankly, this is ludicrous. As an athlete myself, I can tell you that I've yet to hear of anyone who thinks they can build muscle with this supplement! However, I have many elderly relatives and friends who rely on DHEA.

Americans are the strongest and healthiest people in the world, and we've achieved this status partly by taking charge of our own health, by supplementing those things that our diets can't always provide, or that time robs us of. I know it's in the pharmaceutical companies' interest that they control these substances, but it's important not to give the American people fewer choices to maintain and improve their health.

Please, stop this now. Oppose S. 1137 and any similar legislation in the House.

Sign your name and you're done. If you want to compose your own letter, then do it -- but be rational, calm, and succinct.