Nutrition Supplements

This article will be a great place for you to start if you're new to supplementation. Sports supplements are a broad field and if you've been doing your research you already know how important they can be to your performance in the gym or in your sport, but you're probably also a bit confused with all the information, some of it conflicting. What you need to be able to do is look beyond the advertising hype and be able to make your decision based on current and accurate advice.

As with any new area it's best to start with the basics. There is a lot of good and bad information out there regarding sports supplements so let's start simple and go from there.

You really have to look out for bad sports supplement information because if you head down the wrong path you could actually end up harming your efforts. You don't want to set yourself up with the wrong ideas only to be later disappointed and finding that you're no better off than when you started and you've spent hundreds of dollars on the wrong supplements.

So, in order to get off on the right foot let's look at 2 myths and 2 facts about sports supplements.

Myth #1 - Taking sports supplements is a valid replacement for hard work. While this seems like it should go without saying, you would be surprised how wide spread this belief is. So many people are looking for a quick fix and a way to take short cuts. While sports supplements can help improve your performance they are simply supplements to your hard work in the gym.

Myth #2 - If I take this supplement I'll be transformed in just a week or two. While sports supplements can make you stronger, bigger, more muscular and faster in a shorter time than training alone, training is the cornerstone of your efforts and nothing can make a huge difference overnight. Changes to your body from lifting weights is a slow steady progression.

Fact #1 - When taking the right sports supplement you'll recover faster and be able to work harder. No one likes being sore after working out (well, some of us do, but we're a different breed). Anything that can reduce the soreness after a workout and let you lift weights again sooner is a benefit to your training.

Fact #2 - There is a right time to take supplements and it can be different for each. Some supplements work better when taken before a work, some work better when taken after. Some supplements should be taken before bed and some should be taken with meals. By learning the proper timing for each of your supplements you can also increase their effectiveness.

By Steven Walters

Labels: myths, nutrition, supplement, supplements, vitamin, vitamin d, vitamins, vitamins supplements, weight loss

Under the broad heading of nutritional supplements, you will find vitamins, amino acids, minerals, herbal supplements, some steroids and even hormones like melatonin. The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate dietary supplements and require the manufacturer ensure they are safe before they are marketed.

The FDA only takes action against any unsafe nutritional products after it reaches the market. Dietary supplements are classified as foods, not drugs as regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, so they are treated differently than prescription drugs.

A nutritional supplement is a product that is intended to supplement the diet and contain any of the following dietary ingredients:

A vitamin
A mineral
An herb or other botanical (excluding tobacco)
An amino acid
A dietary substance for use by people to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake, or
A concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combination of any of the above

Furthermore, it must also conform to the following criteria:

It is intended for ingestion in pill, capsule, tablet, powder or liquid form.
It is not to be represented for use as a conventional food or as the sole item of a meal or diet.
It is labeled as a dietary supplement.
While hormones are not included in the above list, some hormones are labeled as "dietary supplements".

Dietary supplements are permitted to make structure and/or functional nutritional value claims. These are broad claims that the product can support the structure or function of the body, as in "glucosamine helps support healthy joints", "the hormone melatonin helps establish normal sleep patterns". The FDA must be notified of these claims within 30 days of their first use, and there is a requirement that these claims be substantiated.

The possibility of interactions between nutritional supplements and prescription drugs is something you need to keep in mind before starting a new supplement regimen. A product may be from an "herbal" or "natural" source, but that alone does not ensure its safety.

Combined with other drugs, supplements can produce unwanted pharmacological side effects. Though a nutritional supplement may be available without a prescription, it is a good idea to seek medical counsel regarding possible adverse side effects.

The bottom line is, in order to protect yourself; it is highly recommended you investigate nutritional supplements before you start taking them. Make sure plenty of studies have been conducted that show its nutritional value, safety and effectiveness. A good rule of thumb is to evaluate whether you are already getting enough of the vitamin, mineral or herbal supplement through your dietary intake, without additional supplementation.

Eating a healthy, nutritious diet is preferable, if that is a feasible option. If you recognize you are falling short of recommended daily allowances, ask your physician or nutritionist what supplements and dosages he recommends.

By MIKE SELVON

Labels: nutrition, protein, supplement, supplements, vitamins