Expensive Urine: Why Most Athletes Are Wasting Money on the Wrong Supplements
Athletes are constantly bombarded with supplement recommendations, viral health trends, and conflicting nutrition advice. But how do you know what's actually backed by evidence, what's safe to take, and what could unintentionally harm your performance, or even violate anti-doping rules? According to sports pharmacist Dr. Kaleigh Steelman, most of what's on the shelf is just going to end up as "expensive urine”, and for competitive athletes, picking the wrong product can mean far more than wasted money.
In this episode, recorded live at the 2026 NATA Convention, hosts Andrew Rizza and Dr. Cameron Roth are joined by Dr. Steelman and registered dietitian Sean Casey from the Sports Pharmacy Network. Together, they explain why sports pharmacy is one of the most overlooked disciplines in athlete care.
The conversation explores why bloodwork should guide supplementation rather than social media trends, how wearable data can both help and hinder athletes, and why optimizing basic health foundations—like diet, sleep, and breathwork—often yields better results than chasing the latest viral supplement. They also dig into the nuances of vitamin D and magnesium dosing, the surprising link between certain antibiotics and Achilles tendon injuries, why GLP-1 use is becoming a growing concern for bone and muscle health, and what athletes should know before trying peptides.
MEET THE GUESTS
Dr. Kaleigh Steelman, PharmD
- Director of Research, Sports Pharmacy Network
- Sports Pharmacist
Sean Casey, RD
- Board Member, Sports Pharmacy Network
- Registered Dietitian
TOPICS DISCUSSED
- What sports pharmacy is and how it supports athletes
- Evaluating social media trends, supplement claims, and third-party testing
- Vitamin D, magnesium, and the science of bioavailability
- The impact of breathwork and holistic health practices on performance
- Antibiotics, GLP-1s, peptides, and other emerging medication risks
- Building relationships between athletic trainers and pharmacists
HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 – Introduction
01:09 – What Is Sports Pharmacy?
02:31 – Sponsor: Beck Bode
02:57 – A Day in the Life of a Sports Dietitian
04:17 – Navigating Diet Fads and Social Media Nutrition Trends
05:54 – Common Questions About Supplements
07:22 – What to Do If an Athlete Thinks They're Deficient
08:58 – Wearable Data and Subjective Athlete Feedback
11:33 – When Athletes Become Too Dependent on Data
13:07 – Rethinking Vitamin D Reference Ranges
16:21 – Understanding Magnesium Forms
17:45 – Bioavailability and Different Supplement Formulations
19:38 – Barriers and Misconceptions Surrounding Sports Pharmacy
21:41 – Cultural Differences in International Athlete Care: Breathwork
26:56 – Research Trends to Watch: The Rise of GLP-1s
28:52 – The Future of Sports Pharmacy, and Joining the Network
31:25 – Medication Risks Every Athlete Should Know
33:36 – Managing Risks with Hormone Protocols and TRT
33:56 – Hopes for the Future of Sports Pharmacy
34:41 – Supplements to Avoid
35:56 – Biggest Takeaways for Athletes and Supplement Warnings
37:11 – Emerging Compounds: Hype, Evidence, and Anti-Doping Regulations
QUOTES:
04:41 - “As boring as fruits and vegetables are, about three years ago, I went through every client that I worked with for the previous 20 years — which ranged from high school athletes up to multiple Olympians and pro athletes — to see what had the biggest impact. It's fruits and vegetables.” - Sean Casey
07:07 - “Some of the supplements are just going to lead to expensive urine, as I like to say. ‘You're just going to pee it out if it's not necessary in your body.’ Unfortunately, that's what a lot of it is: marketing and the tactics on social media.” - Kaleigh Steelman
LINKS
Dr. Kaleigh Steelman - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaleigh-steelman-548131224/
Sean Casey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-casey-cscs-rd-14299520/
Sports Pharmacy Network - https://sportsrxnetwork.com
SPONSORS
Beck Bode is a fee-only fiduciary firm that builds personalized roadmaps to keep your money aligned with your life goals. See what real planning looks like at https://beckbode.com
DISCLAIMER
The opinions presented on Behind the Sports Medicine are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any affiliated institutions or partners. The content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a licensed medical professional before making any health or treatment decisions. Behind the Sports Medicine and its affiliates assume no liability for the accuracy or application of the information discussed.
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