Consumers are actively seeking ways to enhance their athletic endeavors through nutritional products, hopefully without any type of negative side effects. On the WeightLoss&Training.com blog, professional trainer Sam Omidi discussed a few of his favorite sports nutrition products.
At the top of the list was creatine. Omidi noted creatine aids in transferring energy to the muscles, which can boost power and performance in high-intensity exercise by up to 15 percent. While found in red meat, supplementing with creatine can help the body produce more muscle and burn fat at a greater pace. He does caution consumers to check the research behind any new formulations beyond creatine monohydrate, weighing the science and making a determination. Then try a product for at least two weeks and see what results happen; Omidi further suggests taking a break after a couple of months of supplementation to “reset” the muscles.
A more recent addition to the sports market are products labeled as nitric oxide (NO enhancers), generally based on the amino acid arginine. The benefit of enhanced NO, Omidi explained, is that it increases blood flow to muscles, enhancing nutrient delivery. He particularly called out Gaspari Nutrition’s SuperPump 250 and Optimum Nitric Boost as efficacious products.
Finally, Omidi discussed energy drinks, including Gatorade for its carb content plus electrolytes, which can fuel endurance performance. More traditional energy drinks, such as Red Bull, he said are delivering more sugar and caffeine, rather than actual ingredients for performance enhancement.