Supplements etc

[karate_chick]

Hi Cathe (and everyone else too)!

I just wanted to ask whether you take any additional supplements etc to increase your energy levels and what your general opinion is on the subject.

I've been used to working out around 3-4x week but am moving it up a notch and following a schedule you suggested - 6x week. I'm just a little concerened my energy levels are going to take a plunge and I'll burn out too soon .

Have read a few articles on Creatine - would this be worth trying for energy and increased strength?

Any advice (from anyone) would be greatly received.
TIA,
Andrea

 

[Aquajock]

Hi, Andrea! Mine will probably be a Minority Report, but since you did ask for others' input, here goes . . .

IMHO if you want to increase your strength and energy stores, you need to rely on a good, healthy well-rounded food program coupled with increased strength training with heavy weights. AND - IMHO you need to avoid the commercial supplementation industry like the plague.

The supplementation industry is entirely unregulated, and thereby is able to make specious, unproven claims about the benefits of the products AND is also able to avoid most if not all discussion about the health risks of ingestion. Further, there is very little if any quality control about the product you are buying. Although there certainly are problems with how the Food And Drug Administration handles what it is charged with handling, something is better than nothing, and the supplementation industry is a big-@$$ case of Caveat Emptor.

Just my Point-Oh-Two -

A-Jock

 

[clareMc]

Agree wholeheartedly with Annette.

Eat well, increase intensity and poundage slowly but surely, sleep well, rest as body dictates and get yourself a good quality multi-vitamin and mineral with 100% iron and calcium and you should do just fine, just like the rest of us!

Clare

 

[CathydsRNA]

Agree with above posts. Since supplements are not regulated by the FDA they can make unsubstantiated claims. Also, since they are not regulated they could contain dangerous contaminants that co-purify with the intended product. For example, tryptophan was pulled off the shelves by the FDA because one of the major maunufacturers swithched the process by which tryptophan was produced and isolated. The process resulted in co-production of a deadly contaminant that was weeded out in the original process but was there in the newer process. The contaminant causes eosinophilia, a life threatening illness. Many people were affected. It wasn't until after a plague of unexplained eosinophilia occured and back tracking detective work took place, that the new processed tryptophan was found to be the culprit. Since these supplements are not regulated by the FDA (because supplements are found in the food chain), processes to maunfacture them are not monitored and contaminants are not identified. This was only one example but there are many others. Keeping away from supplements is a good idea.