Supplements

Presented by Mama Lisa

Should I take Supplement? This is a common question among runners. Supplement advertisements are common in the media; they imply significant health benefits from the products. Health benefits may translate to more effective training and racing. In additional, some runners are always looking for something that will enhance their performance.

In a long run, I think it is a good idea to take a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement, to ensure that you are getting your nutrients, regardless of the food choices in your diet. If you do, read the product’s label to see what dosage they suggest. In some cases the products are quite concentrated and you may not need to take as much as suggested.

Why would you need anything more? Here are some reasons why:

Your food is insufficient in providing nutrients in required amounts. As we age, our digestive systems degrade in their ability to absorb some of the needed nutrients, so we may need supplemental nutrients to ensure we are getting the needed amounts delivered to the bloodstream.

We may make poor choices of foods, or choose foods that are poor in nutrients. Snack foods can provide quick calories, but are frequently lacking in necessary vitamins and minerals. The fat content of fast foods is high, but lacks the essential fats our bodies need. The result is that although you have eaten a fatty meal, your body is still starved for fats not present in the food.

Your training may also increase the need for specific nutrients. Your food choices may provide adequate nutrients for a sedentary person, but fall far short of providing what you need as an active athlete. Further, not everyone requires the same amount. You might need more of a particular nutrient than another runner. For example, some minerals are lost in sweat rate, your needs for those minerals are likely much greater than the needs of a runner with a low sweat rate.

An injured runner may need additional nutrients for body repair. Repair rates can be slowed if your diet is poor in the nutrients needed to rebuild body tissues.

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