Athletes use their bodies to extreme levels. While it is now accepted byt the American Medical Association that all adults should take nutritional supplements, athletes are even more in need than the rest of us. Yet athletes also have the most to lose if they take poor-quality supplements, sometimes contaminated by untested compounds that lead to dope testing failure.
So what is the answer? The NSF recently posted on this subject, one that is dear to my heart. Fundamentally, athletes need to ensure that any supplements that they use are NSF tested, and labelled as such. I always recommend that athletes use only pharmaceutical - grade nutritional supplements that are NSF certified. Any combination of supplements used should be chosen on the basis that it is known to work together.
In actual fact, I only recommend supplements that offer up to a million dollar (five hundred thousand pounds) guarantee that an athlete will not fail a dope test while taking these products. They are also tested for absorption and compatibility, with a combination working synergistically for those athletes that expect top performance from their supplements, as they do from themselves.
To start, I recommend a particular, high quality, broad - spectrum antioxidant, phytonutrient and chelated mineral combination. Most athletes will experience an improvement in general health and well-being with this alone. I would also recommend pharmaceutical-grade double distilled omega 3 fatty acids, grapeseed extract, glucosamine with turmeric, and additional coenzyme Q10, for those highly active muscle tissues.
It is also essential that athletes eat healthily, sticking where possible to a low GI (glycaemic index, see www.glycemicindex.com) diet. Some nutritional foods can help with this, especially when athletes are on the go, on the road, or about to compete. Again, if these are certified free of contamination, this can help with confidence.
Finally, athletes need to minimise other sources of pollution and chemicals, and usig parabens-free skin care and body care products can be really helpful here. I know of athletes who have seen a real improvement in their energy levels using a combination of these approaches, allowing them to get back to olympic standard after periods of overtraining and all that that entails.
Also - lead a balanced life! Laugh, relax, meditate if possible, and have a great vision that you work towards, and you will be all the happier for it!
Have a great week, and enjoy your training!
Alison
Dr Alison Grimston
Dr Alison Grimston is a holistic doctor who works with complementary therapies and nutritional supplements. She only recommends the best, pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements, such as those on www.holisticdoctor.usana.com.
Disclaimer: The content of our website is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor relating to any medical condition.
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