"Miracles" are no longer granted by a genie in a bottle. They now come in pills, powders and shakes.

Challenging the idea that less is more, some students are turning to supplements to create the perfect physique, to grow bigger, faster, and stronger.

Penn State strength training coach Chip Harrison said from an athletic department standpoint, the use of supplements is discouraged.

"The supplement industry is huge. There are millions of billions of dollars being spent on marketing and products based on the idea of a quick fix. There is no such thing as a quick fix," Harrison said. "It's hard to say based on review that they really do much. It's hard to say, this makes you real strong, this makes you real lean."

Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, orthopaedic surgeon and director of athletic medicine at Penn State, said one major drawback with supplements is that the FDA does not control them.

"They can be made in relatively poor environments, in terms of purity, sterility, and packaging," Sebastianelli said.

He said some companies concerned about making a quick dollar would add a supplement to the supplement, such as adding caffeine for an energy boost to make you feel good, but not listing it on the ingredients.

"Just because something's all-natural doesn't mean it's safe. And taking a lot of something doesn't make it better," Sebastianelli said.

The NCAA can ban some supplements such as ephedra, Harrison said. If athletes test positive, they can be banned from competition.

Harrison said another danger with supplements is the dosage.

"It's one of those ideas that a little bit is good, a lot must be better," he said.

Consumers sometimes change instructions from one tablespoon to one cup, Harrison said.

"What might be fine for me, might be too much for someone else," he added.

Brad Pantall, assistant strength training coach, said athletes are encouraged to use their diets to improve their physique and performance.

He said he constantly asks questions like "Are you eating breakfast every day, are you getting enough water, are you eating every three to four hours?'

"We try to educate kids and get them to eat healthy, which is a challenge in itself," Pantall said.

Sebastianelli said the best way to gain weight is to eat an extra snack or extra meal, but that protein shakes might be OK.

"Soy protein in particular is something that is becoming very interesting in muscle building and weight gaining," Sebastianelli said.

But, other than a routine multi-vitamin or protein supplement, protein shakes are usually discouraged, Sebastianelli said.