For every positive factor discussed about exercise and dietary guidelines, there are negatives. There are pros and cons for sport supplements, too. There are also good supplements that actually help you get fitter and ones that provide no health benefits, but are loaded with sugar and additives. Basically, these types of sport supplements are nothing more than fancy candy bars or sugary drinks that add nothing beneficial to the person not doing an intense, longer workout, except a few extra calories.
There are sports drinks and supplements that provide the benefits they claim.
Read the label and see if the supplement actually was tested by an outside organization. Third party testing is important. Since sports supplements aren’t well regulated, even if the label says it guarantees it contains certain ingredients, unless you have your own lab, you don’t know that for sure. In fact, some protein powders, when tested, contained ephedra, lead and even steroids. Cost is another issue that can make the case for opting for regular food over supplements. A hard boiled egg and an English muffin or some veggies are far less expensive and provides more nutrition.
Supplements don’t provide all the nourishment you need to be healthy.
Choosing food over supplements can provide extra benefits. Supplements are called that because they’re not meant to be the entire diet, but unfortunately some people use them as that. If you choose a whey supplement, instead of using a cup of yogurt, you’ll miss out on the probiotics from the yogurt. Choosing an energy bar over fruit with nut butter or a serving of nuts and some grapes boosts your calorie count, but doesn’t provide all the extra nutrition that whole foods provide.
There is a case for using supplements.
Sometimes, you simply can’t take whole foods with you or it’s extremely inconvenient. That’s when a protein bar can be helpful. However, it shouldn’t be a substitute for whole foods for the rest of the day. Some people take supplements when they can’t eat all the food they require to get the added nutrition. Some sports supplements include vitamins, which can be beneficial if you have a problem using certain nutrients efficiently.
- There are a variety of different types of sports drinks, each with a different use. Not all energy drinks are alike. Some are useful for different situations, while others aren’t useful at all except for rehydrating, which water does without the added calories.
- Some supplements, such as creatine, can create health risks when consumed too often or in too large of quantity. Creatine isn’t metabolized the same by all people. For some, it provides a boost of energy, but not for everyone. In some people, it can stress the functioning of the kidneys and bladder.
- If you’re trying to lose weight, supplements are not necessarily the way to go, especially if you’re replacing your diet with them. You don’t get all the fiber to fill you up or the satisfaction that whole foods offer.
- Supplements don’t always provide the same benefits that whole foods provide. If you eat food high in beta-carotene, you could lower your risk of cancer. However, if you take a beta-carotene supplement, you can increase your risk of cancer. They simply don’t work the same way as whole food does.
For more information, contact us today at SkinSport Fitness Center