If you are an avid sportsman who believes the bulk of fitness supplements you are taking is helping you excel, then it might be interesting to know that it’s most probably just a placebo effect. Supplements are in most cases unnecessary, and many athletes end up exceeding recommended levels of nutrients.
If you work out regularly, especially if you lift weights i believe, it’s easy to get fooled by the promises of supplement providers. I have been there myself, and knowing how much I was willing to spend on supplements to achieve a more rapid progress, I have no difficulty understanding why it’s a $25 billion market (2008 figures). Although I’m sure most of the young men this industry targets will dispute it, the supplements seldom make any difference in progress compared to staying on a healthy diet, such as a whole-plant-based-diet. Most athletes supplement their diets with additional protein, and considering the a normal diet, there is more than enough protein to go around.
“Doctors and nutritionists say that people who eat a normal diet generally don’t need nutritional supplements, even if they exercise vigorously.”
When teenagers use supplements it can even be harmful, especially since the recommended dosage on the bottles often are higher than those recommended by doctors. Dr. Teri M. McCambridge, chairwoman of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness, states that:
“the teenage diet already has more than enough protein. They don’t need the extra amount”
In a recent study on protein suppby Martin Fréchette, a researcher and graduate of the Université de Montréal Department of Nutrition, the conclusion was that most athletes have a poor understanding of the role of protein and are taking supplements they don’t need. More specifically 81% of the athletes in the test group was getting the protein they needed from their regular diet. Not only is there a risk of unknowingly consuming prohibited drugs as a result of poor labeling, but athletes also run the risk of exceeding acceptable levels of regular nutrients. Fréchette found that those who used supplements had higher than normal levels of sodium, magnesium, niacin, folate, vitamin A and iron. This can lead to nausea, vision trouble, fatigue and liver anomalies, according to Fréchette, which claims that supplements are unnecessary:
“They are often poorly used or unnecessary by both high-level athletes and amateurs”
When asked about supplements Gunnar Peterson, a celebrity trainer whose clients include Jennifer Lopez and Tom Brady, states that: “Real food is the way to go”
I sincerely hope some of my friends who are still caught up in the supplement scam reads and acknowledges this. As a concluding remark I would like to state that supplements can be a positive addition to a healthy diet in some cases, but the fact of the matter is that most athletes overdo it. A varied whole-plant-based-diet alone will include all the nutrients (except maybe B12) needed to exercise and keep fit for the majority. As stated in the NY Times article: “… among the subset of people who already eat healthfully and want to bulk up in the gym, some supplements, when taken in sensible doses, can provide a lift.”
If you’re still convinced of the positive effects of supplements and would like to keep sponsoring this billion dollar industry, be my guest, although the biggest effect you are experiencing of taking fitness supplements are probably a placebo effect, where Peterson states that:
“It allows people to hold onto the magic pill dream, it’s like putting jumper cables on motivation.”
[ScienceDaily] [NYtimes]
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The most significant challenge when it comes to dietary supplements is that most people believe their job is achieved once they use the supplement. No pill is a substitute for doing exercises and right dieting. This is why it’s known as a supplement. In case your health is not where you desire it to be, you’ll want to eat right, workout, and use supplements. You are going to probably find that your health will improve rapidly.
I agree, but your health will probably improve rapidly because of eating right and working out… not the supplements you might be taking in addition, as the article is trying to reflect. I see it as plausible that some of the professional athletes could benefit from certain supplements, but I highly doubt those on lower levels will experience any effect from supplements, other than maybe the motivational boost of course.
Vitamin E supplements also seem to be unnecessary:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/0912...
how interesting!
here's a quote from that link:
"the average quality-adjusted life years (QALY) of Vitamin E-supplemented individuals was 0.30 less than that of untreated people. This, of course, does not mean that everybody consuming Vitamin E shortens their life by almost 4 months. But on average, the quality-adjusted longevity is lower for vitamin-treated people. This says something significant."