Concussions aren't the only thing killing NFL players.

There is a constant fire storm surrounding the NFL with it's substance abuse, domestic violence and DUI's. Of course the NFL is always under scrutiny with it's drug policy and the idea of HGH and steroids still as prominent as ever. And then there is injuries, particularly head injuries, that have absorbed the focal point of the publics attention as very real dangers to the players.

Having played in the league, it's clear that the majority of these issues are getting fair amounts of attention. The NFL has instituted educational programs players can attend and are beefing up the NFL Rookie Symposium seminar as well.

But it's a death by a thousand cuts that's killing the players. Not immediately. No, no one is going to drop dead immediately from the below list. But over time these 4 supplements will prove detrimental to long term health.

1. Pre-workout Vasodilators and Nitric Oxide

The safety concerns over these supplements is well documented in the press, yet these supplements fly by under the radar and are marketed as safe for most athletes. They go by the names: N.O. xplode, Superpump, Jack3d and a bunch of other names, but these supplements pose very potent risks that many NFL players are willing to risk.

Being supplements, they are unregulated by the FDA. This means they're labels are not always accurate. One main concern is the amount of caffeine in these supplements; no one really knows how much is in them. One of the companies claims their is around 100mg of Caffeine per serving but if you take a scoop of it, you might disagree based on the hyperactive intensity you achieve! NFL players aren't stopping at one scoop either. Players take up to2-3 scoops right before a practice or lift. An accelerated heart rate in 95 degree heat during training camp is a breeding ground for things like heat stroke, heat exhaustion, or even cardiac arrest.

Another danger inherent is the dilation of the blood vessels in the body, so blood can get to the muscles quicker than normal. This causes a series of dangerous effects like a possible drop in blood pressure. This also causes wicked headaches once the workout is over and vessels return to normal size.

Long term the effects aren't good either. Anxiety attacks are a key symptom of too much repeated caffeine ingestion. 300-450mg a day in pre workout caffeine might do that to you.

Here are some other symptoms:

• Jitters 

• Headaches

• Vomiting

• Nervousness

• High blood pressure

• Chest pain

• Kidney damage

• Sleeplessness

2. Anti-inflammatories

NFL players gobble these down like Marshawn Lynch eats skittles.

Any NFL player experiencing any swelling or minor pain/discomfort can walk into their trainer's office and ask for some anti-inflammatories and usually get them that day. In terms of pain relief, they do work. You can eliminate joint swelling quickly. The problem is that players have the ability to abuse this easily.

With the way players hit one another on the field, players are in a constant state of discomfort. Some are in a constant state of mild pain. Some players will do anything to give them some relief and this is seen as the safe drug of choice.

These NSAIDs can cause liver issues with long term use and kidney damage. Repeated users also have a greater chance of heart attack

The NFL culture has made repeated use of these drugs seem innocuous enough that no one is asking any questions about this. We're all worried about marijuana and steroids, when the real culprit might be something we take everyday.

Speaking of everyday, the next supplement is:

3. The pre-practice Tylenol/ibuprofen cocktail

Tylenol is an NSAID with the same liver/kidney effects as the prescribed NSAID's only this one has a more safe association to it. So much so that many players are perfectly ok with popping 1000mg of Acetaminophen along with 600mg of ibuprofen right before practice to cover the expected aches and pains coming from a long practice. I've seen players supplement with this cocktail everyday for years! I've partaken of this personally as well.

The main problem is that this is wide spread and very consistent. Some players go years taking this stack and it can cause long term health damage.

Tylenol limits the liver's detox function and depletes glutathione levels (a crucial detox entity). This means your body can't flush out toxins efficiently. Now if NFL players don't already have enough inflammation and toxins in their body, this certainly doesn't help their cause.

4. Gatorade

These drinks are packed with extra sugar and artificial flavors for taste. It also contains one of the worst things you can consume: High fructose corn syrup. Some of these companies are getting clever, trying to disguise HFCS with other names, but make no mistake, it’s in there in one form or another.

When it's 100 degrees during camp and your dehydrated, HFCS might be one of the last things you'd want to drink.

I honestly think sports drinks are one of the greatest marketing scams on the planet. They've all but convinced the public that their product is the only place you can get electrolytes. This is coming from someone who played in the NFL and has drank gallons of gatorade in his lifetime. There are also a million other better things to hydrate you than Gatorade with just as many minerals, vitamins and electrolytes and none of the dangerous fake sweeteners.

The worst part is NFL players drink Gatorade during camp nearly as much as water. Gatorade has gotten advanced by printing out hydration level charts with their name on it and posting them all around training camp. With some teams, players are also greeted with a full case of gatorade in their room.

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