Supplement Help

[hughes4324]

Can anyone recommend the best supplements to take, pre, during and post workout? (I do mountain biking)

Thanks

 

[jay clock]

a healthy diet is what you need.

 

[Rob3rt]

Pre: Coffee
During: Water and some malt loaf
Post: Chocolate milk!

 

[hughes4324]

thanks. do any of the supplements help at all though?

 

[chris-s]

It depends on 'what supplements' and in what context.

Generally, a carbohydrate drink can be beneficial for keeping you going when you begin to tire. The fitter/easier you are riding then the longer you can go before feeling the need for this. Some folk get by fine on water or squash, others like something a bit more. You can also get the various energy gel's and bars which can provide a quick-fix on the go. Different supplements get into the blood at different rates, so something like dextrose is very very fast acting, whereas your grannies fruit cake is much slower but longer lasting.

At the end of the ride, a recovery drink with a good amount of protein can help with recovery, although once again, the benefit depends on your level of fitness and how much exertion you've been putting in.

Taking it further, if you are training hard you could even start to look at some of the supplements used in weight building like Glutamine, Creatine, Ribose, Beta Alanine etc etc etc

I think it's fair to say that all or if not most of the supplements technically work, but how much you will benefit really depends on how hard your body is working in relation to your physical state.

HTH

Chris

 

[hughes4324]

Thanks for that

 

[chrishodges]

I find that when on a longish ride, especially when it is warm an isotonic drink is very helpful.
These can either be bought or made, a mixture of half fruit juice, half water with a pinch of salt works a treat, although doesn't taste very nice.

A protein, carbohydrate drink can also be very useful after a hard ride to help the muscles recover in time for the next ride.

Supplements can help, but they are not essential!

 

[Matthames]

If you are competing then be very very wary about supplements. There are a lot of athletes who are getting banned for testing positive for Methylhexaneamine which can be found in some supplements.

UKAD news story

There is a website called informed sport which can give you information about supplements that have been tested and are OK. http://www.informed-sport.com/

 

[david1701]

is egg and bacon a supplement

 

[Matthames]

is egg and bacon a supplement

Don't know, but if you are competing you have to be extremely cautious about where you get the bacon from