"Help the physical examination, potential 'pumping' hair", "a bottle of open physical examination", "sprint physical examination, one step faster"...... As all parts of the country have entered the physical education examination time of the high school entrance examination, the nitrogen pump, known as the "physical examination artifact", has attracted more and more attention. On major e-commerce platforms and social media, nitrogen pumps are advertised by many sellers and bloggers as a magical product that can improve physical fitness and enhance explosive power, especially favored by students and parents who are about to take the physical examination for the high school entrance examination.
What is a nitrogen pump? The result? Will it cause harm to the health of teenagers after use? Can I use it in a formal physical examination? Will it disrupt the order of the sports arena? …… The resulting series of questions remain to be asked.
Behind the hot sales of nitrogen pumps, there are hidden health concerns
The reporter searched on various e-commerce platforms with the keyword of "high school entrance examination sports" nitrogen pump, and a series of functional drinks equipped with slogans such as "one bottle can be opened for the exam", "help the physical examination ignite the state", "2024 physical examination special supplements" and other promotional slogans were recommended to the search results interface, including many products with more than 10,000 orders, and the prices ranged from more than ten yuan to dozens of yuan.
So, what exactly is a "nitrogen pump"?
"'Nitrogen pump' is not a single element, it is a supplement that is made up of different ingredients that come together. The main ingredient in nitrogen pumps is nitric oxide, which gets its name from the fact that it helps bodybuilders achieve a better muscle pumping sensation when taken it. Jiao Haotian, a professional in the field of sports and fitness, told reporters that the working principle of the nitrogen pump is through the synthesis and decomposition of nitric oxide, so as to dilate blood vessels, increase blood flow to muscles, and improve muscle function. In addition, ingredients such as caffeine and theobromine, which are commonly found in nitrogen pumps, can also stimulate nervous excitement, enhance athletes' concentration, and boost mental state.
Propaganda effects such as "running faster" and "having good condition and maintaining endurance" made the "wind" used by the nitrogen pump blow to the students' physical examination.
On major social platforms, the discussion about nitrogen pumps also continues to heat up.
Some parents and students "posted" the experience of using the nitrogen pump, saying that they did feel the improvement of physical fitness after using it, and it had a "much easier" effect.
However, many people reported that the expected effect was not achieved after use, and some consumers ridiculed, "In fact, it is all psychological" and "the so-called 'nitrogen pump' is actually a bottle of sugar water, and it is sold so expensive"; Some candidates reported that their heart rate soared, and even dizziness, vomiting and other adverse reactions after use.
Similar situations have also been exposed in many places, making many students and parents who are ready to use nitrogen pumps hesitate. In fact, many people are not fully sure whether a nitrogen pump is suitable for a child's physical condition.
The reporter randomly consulted a merchant selling nitrogen pump products, and the customer service said, "Not suitable for pregnant women, lactating women and people under 14 years old." Another business customer service "nutrition and health teacher Rui Rui" also made it clear: "The nitrogen pump is a drink to drink before exercise and fitness, and it is used for fitness people. It is not recommended for physical examinations. ”
Recently, a parent of a junior high school student in Beijing told reporters that even though it is not clear whether the nitrogen pump has side effects, his child still decided to take it before the physical education exam.
There are many students and parents with such a mentality. The reason for this is that most parents helplessly say, "What if there are side effects?" 'A thousand people' is not a joke"......
Unveiling the veil of the "artifact" is actually food and not medicine
The reporter visited a number of pharmacies in Beijing, and the sales staff said that they did not sell nitrogen pump related products.
Subsequently, the reporter purchased a top-selling nitrogen pump liquid drink online, which was clearly marked on the label containing "red ginseng 40mg, caffeine 63mg, taurine 300mg", and the ingredient list was water, edible glucose, and edible flavor......
In the ingredient list of another nitrogen pump product, water, glucose, caffeine, ginseng powder and other ingredients are in order. By comparing the ingredients of other types of energy drinks, it generally contains caffeine, taurine, niacinamide, etc., which is claimed to "increase strength and replenish physical energy".
The picture shows the main ingredients of a variety of nitrogen pump products sold.
Faced with the complexity of food labeling, consumers are generally confused and worried. The characterization of nitrogen pumps and their safety have become the focus of public attention.
"As a kind of sports nutrition food, nitrogen pump has a clear classification and technical indicators in the mainland, and the standard implemented is the National Food Safety Standard General Principles for Sports Nutrition Foods (GB 24154-2015)", Zhang Sijia, a lawyer at Beijing Jingjing Law Firm and deputy director of Beijing Kyoto Food and Drug Law Research Center, introduced.
It can indeed be seen on the detail page of many nitrogen pump products that its implementation standard is marked as "GB 24154".
The reporter consulted the information and saw that the so-called sports nutrition food refers to the food specially processed to meet the physiological and metabolic state, exercise ability and special needs for certain nutrients of the sports population (referring to the people who participate in physical exercise 3 times or more a week, the duration of each exercise is 30 minutes or more, and the intensity of each exercise reaches medium or above).
The experts interviewed all emphasized that there are strict restrictions on the composition and dosage of sports nutrition foods such as nitrogen pumps.
Zhang Sijia introduced that creatine must be added to speed and strength sports nutrition foods, and the daily dosage is 1-3mg; It is recommended to add caffeine to endurance sports nutrition foods, and the daily dosage is 20-100mg; Taurine is an additive ingredient that should not exceed 0.6g per day.
"Caffeine is a Class II psychotropic drug controlled by the state, and as a food additive, it is only allowed to be added to carbonated drinks such as cola." Yun Wuxin, a doctor of food engineering and a food and health science writer, emphasized the particularity of caffeine, "Strictly speaking, caffeine cannot be added to sports drinks, but in reality it is a gray area."
Regarding the safety of nitrogen pump products, Yun Wuxin and Jiao Haotian expressed concerns.
Yun Wuxin believes that while liquid nitrogen pump drinks containing caffeine and taurine may have some benefits for adult exercisers, for adolescents and children, drinking such beverages may have adverse effects on brain development.
"Excessive intake of stimulant ingredients such as caffeine may cause adverse effects on the body." Based on scientific data, Jiao Haotian pointed out that supplements such as nitrogen pumps have potential risks to this special group of middle school students. Secondary school students have incomplete internal organs and lack the ability to control addictive substances, and the reckless use of nitrogen pumps may cause long-term harm to them.
The reporter learned that in the current middle school physical examination, there is no doping test, and the use of sports nutrition foods such as nitrogen pumps is not explicitly prohibited.
Jiao Haotian does not approve of the use of nitrogen pumps by middle school students. He believes that the amount of nitrogen pump should be determined according to the individual's organ load function, liver and kidney load function and heart load function, and is an individualized choice, "If middle school students need to use supplements, the dosage and frequency should be strictly controlled under parental supervision, and in-depth communication with professionals on the use of supplements and psychological dependence."
Advertising or exaggerating efficacy is to be held accountable for over-guidance
In fact, when the ingredients and recommended dosage of nitrogen pumps are potentially risky to minors, the reason why students can still meet to buy them is not unrelated to the exaggerated publicity of the efficacy of nitrogen pumps by merchants.
The reporter's investigation found that many nitrogen pump products on the current e-commerce platform exaggerate the efficacy when they are advertised. These products are not clearly marked with efficacy on the bottle packaging, but on the display map of the e-commerce platform, they frequently advertise slogans such as "sprint power" and "endurance lasting", and clearly point to "physical examination".
Jiao Haotian reminded that it is necessary to carefully check the product ingredient list. Some products may only be the main ingredient of ordinary ingredients such as water, glucose, fructose, etc., and the actual added ingredients for sports performance enhancement are very small. Although such a product is inexpensive, the actual effect may not be significant, and it can even be said that consumers pay an "IQ tax".
From the perspective of public health, Yun Wuxin called on relevant departments to strictly control the control to avoid misuse by minors. He suggested that beverages containing caffeine and taurine should be required to clearly state on the label that "not recommended for minors".
In response to the publicity and sales of nitrogen pump products, Zhang Sijia pointed out that according to Article 28 of the Mainland Advertising Law, if a merchant exaggerates the efficacy of nitrogen pump products in the publicity, which has a substantial impact on consumers, it constitutes false advertising. In this regard, the relevant administrative departments should promptly investigate and deal with violations of laws and regulations, and strengthen the compliance inspection of the advertising and marketing of nitrogen pump products. At the same time, e-commerce platforms should also bear corresponding responsibilities to deal with consumers' complaints about false advertisements of merchants in a timely manner, and guide merchants to operate in compliance.
Zhang Sijia reminded consumers that when buying nitrogen pump products, they should carefully check the product description and ingredient list to understand the true efficacy of the product and the applicable group. If a product is damaged due to the purchase of nitrogen pump products due to false advertising by a merchant, the consumer can protect his rights in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests and the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China. If fraud is constituted, the consumer may also request the operator to increase the compensation for the damage suffered".
Back to the essence of education,
Mr. Cai Yuanpei once advocated
"Full personality, first in sports",
Build one for kids
a healthy, positive and uplifting sports environment,
It is always in the development of education
An indispensable part.
In the present,
We look forward to every candidate
Able to achieve excellent results in physical education exams,
I hope that the students of Guangzhou
Rationally look at auxiliary products such as nitrogen pumps on the market,
Don't be fooled by short-lived results,
It's about really getting into the sport.
Feel every sweat
Bring physical and mental pleasure and growth transformation,
Cultivate a good habit of lifelong exercise,
Shape a healthy and upward personality quality,
The original intention and intention of realizing "complete personality".