I stumbled across an article on Yahoo Sports today written by Dan Wetzel and I had to blog about it since it is hunting related. Professional Athletes are using the velvet from a deer’s antlers to enhance their performance. Experts agree that even though it is a natural form of growth hormone (IGF-1), it is still illegal and banned in professional sports. The growth hormone is very similar to human growth hormone (HGH), aiding in the recovery of an athletes body. What exactly is it? They are taking the velvet from a New Zealand deer’s antler, freeze-drying it, and then grinding it into a powder form. They are being packed into capsules or put into a liquid form and used as a mouth spray. Each bottle of this natural form of enhancement is selling for only $68. I do know for a fact, that the growth of a deer’s antler is one of the fastest growing tissue on earth, in which it can grow up to an inch in one day.
My Opinion, keep it simple and stick to the basics. There are three macro-nutrients ( fats, carbohydrates, and proteins) that make up our food, which in turn, provides us with energy. I don’t agree with performance enhancing DRUGS, nor will I ever. There is only one way to be the best that you can be, the natural way. You are probably thinking “This is Natural”, and I agree. It’s thinking outside of the box and a loop hole for athletes to enhance their performance! Because it’s a natural form and not synthetic, it’s hard to be detected in the blood or the urine, which is how they detect HGH. I believe making your hormones work in unisom with each other and not combat each other. What determines that? Simply, what you eat and drink. If there is any doubt among experts and doctors that this is a growth hormone, then in my book, it’s illegal and unethical. I wonder how many body builders are using this form of growth hormone? If they catch on, it can change the sport of body building along with every other sport.
Lets look at it from another perspective. Deer biologist have found that there are three components that will produce a world class trophy buck: Nutrition, Genetics, and Age. With the highest quality genetics, proper maturity, and top notch nutrition, will stand a trophy class deer. I am a firm believer in nutrition! The more protein a buck (male deer) consumes as his antlers are in growth, the more his rack will continue to grow, hence making him the best that he can be at that particular time in his life. Also aiding in this process are vitamins and minerals, which I am a firm believer in consuming. Here are the FACTS! We are made from genes supplied by our mother and father. We are also going to age, no matter what we try to do to combat it. What determines how you will perform and the shape that you are in is based upon what you consume. So where am I going with this? Nutrition is everything. My meat consist mostly of wild game, with more than half coming from venison I harvested. It’s natural, lean, and contains omega 3 fatty acids. Is the growth hormone in the meat of the deer? Is there a correlation between wild game and performance? There very well could be. Maybe I am on to something. This is just another reason why I love to endure the challenges of hunting for my own food.
To read more the article published in Yahoo Sports, click on this link http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=dw-deerantlers011911.