EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR ENDURANCE ATHLETES
So long as the dietary fundamentals are in place, the use of sports supplements such as carbohydrate drinks and gels, protein and caffeine can play an important role in boosting performance and aiding recovery.
In this section, you’ll find the most up-to-date scientific information on when to consider supplementation, and how this should fit into an overall dietary plan.”
in Nutrition for endurance athletes, Recovery nutrition, Supplements
Unlike many sports supplements on the market, caffeine has been rigorously tested and proven to improve endurance performance – especially during longer events. By stimulating the central nervous system, caffeine can fight fatigue, which helps maintain performance during the later stages of exercise. In recent years, caffeine has been further investigated, and studies suggest that... MORE
in Endurance health and lifestyle, Immunity, Nutrition for endurance athletes, Supplements
Ayurvedic medicine is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems. Developed more than 3,000 years ago in the region of Asia that we now know as India, Ayurvedic medicine is based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit. Cynics among you might assume... MORE
in Nutrition for endurance athletes, Supplements
Although the use of amino acids in sports nutrition is quite commonplace, few athletes will be familiar with L-citrulline. With that in mind, Andrew Hamilton looks at some recent research demonstrating that this little known nutrient may have real potential to enhance your sport performance… L-citrulline (referred from here on in simply as ‘citrulline’) is... MORE
in Supplements
The theory that athletes need to take zinc supplements to protect their immune systems during periods of heavy training has been cast into doubt by a new study from Australia and New Zealand. Zinc is vital to healthy immune function, and previous studies have shown that people with severe zinc deficiency are prone to a... MORE
in Supplements
Post-exercise vitamin C does not aid recovery from delayed-onset muscle soreness Hopes that vitamin C supplementation after heavy exercise could aid recovery have been dashed by a recent British study, which found no beneficial effect on delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Unaccustomed exercise causes muscle damage and a reduced ability to generate force. Although the initial... MORE
in Supplements
Perhaps the perfect dietary fat for endurance athletes has finally been found. ‘Medium-chain triglycerides’ (aka MCTs) are unique fats which are absorbed from the digestive system more quickly than regular lipids, and scientific studies have linked MCTs with an increased metabolism of body fat, preservation of muscle tissue, and significant increases in metabolic rate. To... MORE
in Dietary basics, Nutrition for endurance athletes, Supplements
Ask most athletes to name some key minerals for human performance nutrition and you’ll probably find calcium, iron, zinc and even chromium popping up in their lists. But they are unlikely to mention magnesium. Despite magnesium’s pivotal role in energy production, many coaches and athletes remain unaware of its critical importance in maintaining health and... MORE
in Supplements
You’ll never hear a bad word about glucosamine, but here’s the lowdown on whether it works In the wake of a massive US trial, Diane Back examines the case for this hugely popular sports-injury and anti-arthritis formulation. Glucosamine is a rare example of an ‘alternative’ supplement that has gained widespread mainstream credibility among both the... MORE
in Supplements
Oxygen is amazing stuff. Thanks to its special chemical reactivity, it provides us with the energy required to sustain life, including the ability to power movements and muscular contraction. This explains why oxygen – and the ability to absorb, transport and use it – is so important to endurance athletes, who need lots of the... MORE
in Supplements
Why all the fuss about vitamin B6 and what does it mean to athletes? It’s a funny business, nutrition. Sports nutrition is even funnier. While a Government scientific committee has issued a warning that taking more than 10mg of B6 a day ‘may damage nerve endings’, the Colgan Institute of Sports Nutrition in San Diego,... MORE
