Pssst,
hey man, want to get faster?
Coaches
and trainers are often the primary source of nutrition and
performance supplement information for athletes, yet nearly
all performance supplements are unproven. Some research shows
that coaches simply don't know enough about performance supplements
to give appropriate advice.
Supplement
use is popular amongst athletes, including young athletes
and recreational athletes.
Coaches
and trainers that provide advice to athletes on what supplements
to take may be behaving unethically; unless of course the
advice is not to use unproven, unsafe and banned supplements,
and further to that, to emphasize that healthy living, proper
nutrition, and science based training is what athletes need
in order to perform.
So
how is suggesting an athlete take a supplement for performance
unethical? It's unethical in many ways; One, chances are the
supplement does not actually do anything. Test yourself; what
is it called when we tell someone something that isn't true?
Second,
It's known that many athletes suffer the consequences of their
own compulsive drive to perform resulting in injury from training
too much, low self esteem, distorted body image, and disordered
eating. Supplement dependency is not a good thing and ought
not to be supported. The topic of supplement use is an opportunity
to talk openly about how irrational thoughts can skew idea's
about achieving performance, leading to falling for the promise
of performance in a pill.
Since
we know athletes at all levels commonly face this challenge,
is it really ethical to side step this issue and in essence
support a compulsivity for performance by recommending supplements?
It's
important to educate athletes early about how useless sports
supplements are to help prevent dependency on what amount
to rip off scams.
We
all know it's common place; many athletes of all abilities
are forever chasing performance in a pill or powder. When
presented with evidence these substances don't work, denial
takes over and the athlete affirms the effectiveness of their
chosen potion, even if there has been no increase in performance
directly proven to be due to the supplement.
The
placebo effect is strong, and perhaps contagious. I've observed
athletes using the same supplement will re-enforce each others
perception of increased performance by reporting to each other
their experience of how well it "worked".
Trying
to help people see this behavior in themselves is nearly impossible
due to their sincere belief in their perceptions, denial,
and sometimes compulsive nutrition and training behavior.
The
fact is, major sports governing bodies have position statements
advising against performance supplements because they don't
work, studies support this. In fact many supplements are faked
or contaminated with doping substances.
Placebo
studies show that if athletes are told they are taking an
active ingredient, but are actually given a placebo, performance
will increase, in some cases to nearly the same degree as
an active drug.
It's
essential that anyone using or considering using performance
supplements to become aware of their emotional state and how
they reason the use of a supplement. Chances are most will
discover they seriously wish, and therefore believe, that
whatever they are using or will use will work, not because
there is real evidence proving it, but because of the effect
in falling for the promise of hope.
Canadian
Centre for Ethics in Sport statement
on supplement use
Fact
sheet for Canadian Forces Running Team advising against
supplements as THEY DON'T WORK
International
Olympic Committee statement
on sports nutrition
Statement
from UK Sport about supplements: They don't work, are sold
with false claims, may contain banned substances; get your
nutrition from food.
Take
home message? If you're on some kind of supplement, chances
are it does nothing for you, despite what the supplement store
sales person, your coach, your trainer, the latest magazine
article, or your training buddy tells you, or even your own
thoughts and feelings tell you.
If
you're not taking any performance pills or powders, don't
start.
Think
that caffeine is helping you? Research shows that when athletes
are told they are given caffeine, performance increases, even
though they were given a placebo. Athletes will even report
feeling the effects of caffeine, due to believing they have
been given caffeine.
If
you are told something will make you faster, and you believe
it, chances are you will go faster as a result of the placebo
effect. You may also perceive you are performing better, but
overall you are only experiencing the normal expected gains
from training, but now you attribute gains to the supplement,
not the training - because you believe this to be the case.
So
what's the problem with this? Who cares how I get faster,
whether through tricking myself or through training?- This
is denial at work. This popular perception will do nothing
other than bolster ones aloof, irrational, and compulsive
drive to achieve unrealistic goals with get fit quick schemes.
If
this is you, find a way to cognitively recognize when gullibility
fed by the promise of improved performance clouds your objective
judgment - retain personal integrity and don't fall for the
hype.
So
my carb replacement doesn't work and I shouldn't use whey
protein? What about taking vitamin D?
Some
clarification; carbohydrate in a water solution provides calories
(energy) for use during exercise. Carbohydrate mixtures that
don't add extra herbal or claimed ergogenic compounds are
fine. These are simply sugar and water, nothing wrong with
that, and studies show carbohydrate intake during endurance
events (greater than 90 minutes) increases performance, not
because of "special" carbs, but simply because you
are consuming food in an easily deliverable and digestible
form..
Whey
protein can be questionable, as all companies claim purity,
yet some containers sold do not contain what the label claims.
A simple whey protein with no added ingredients is fair game,
but it won't provide super muscle building results; it is
simply a powdered source of protein.
Vitamin
D is not sold as sports performance ergogenic aid and isn't
really included in what I'm referring to here. Cancer Canada
recommends 1000 iu per day of vitamin D, and many health authorities
recommend vitamin D supplementation during the fall/ winter
(October to March) in Canada as the angle of the sun is too
low to allow for sun exposure vitamin D production. You can
go to your physician for a test that determines if you have
enough vitamin D in your system (recommended).
If
your doctor has recommended a vitamin or mineral supplement
for you, follow your doctors advice.
Want
to try a performance supplement? Don't waste your money on
what amount's to expensive urine. Research shows performance
supplements don't work; however a long term commitment to
good training, good nutrition, and a healthy lifestyle is
proven to increase performance.
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norms and intentions regarding dietary supplement use among
adolescent athletes.
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Department of Public Health, East Tennessee State University,
Johnson City 37614, USA. dunn@etsu.edu
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Supplements and drugs used to enhance athletic performance.
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Department of Pediatrics, Northeastern Ohio Universities College
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and the role of athletic trainers and dietitians in nutrition
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Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, USA.
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UK Athletics, Crystal Palace, Ledrington Road, Norwood, SE19
2BB, UK. alex.nieper@eis2win.co.uk
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Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and
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Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
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University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
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doping substances.
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M.
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Juhn M.
Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington School
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Department of Family Medicine, University of Tennessee College
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W.
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Laboratoire Suisse d'Analyse du Dopage, Institut Universitaire
de Médecine Légale, Département Universitaire
de Médecine et Santé Communautaire, Lausanne,
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in effervescent tablets on the dietary supplement market.
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W.
Centre for Preventive Doping Research, Institute of Biochemistry,
German Sport University Cologne, Carl-Diem-Weg 6, 50933 Cologne,
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Università Cattolia del Sacro Cuore, Istituto Medicina
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©
2008 Cris LaBossiere Rhino Fitness
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