You may be well aware of the importance of a solid diet and adequate hydration if you are an athlete, there are also many nutritional supplements that could be beneficial. Here are some of the top supplements that may be able to boost athletic performance in the right combination, used at the right time.
Disclaimer: it is important to speak with a medical professional before adding any supplements to your daily routine, so make sure you talk to your doctor first.
Creatine
Creatine is a supplement that is fairly well-known in the athletic world. Naturally occurring in the body, it can be found in some foods or can be taken as a supplement. If you take part in high-intensity activities, such as team sports, weightlifting, or sprinting, you may find some benefit from using a creatine supplement.
Since creatine has been well-studied and long-used, you can rest easy knowing that using recommended amounts should be safe and effective. As a supplement, creatine can help replenish energy stores in the muscles that are used for fast, powerful actions, meaning you should be able to do high-intensity exercises for longer periods of time. As a general rule, looking for companies like Thrive that combine several ingredients into one supplement can be more efficient and beneficial. Many people note low Thrive side effects when combining multiple supplements.
Collagen
You may have heard of using collagen as a supplement to keep your skin and hair looking youthful, but did you know that this protein can also help with athletic performance? Incorporating collagen protein into your routine can have a positive impact on your muscles, joints, and overall performance.
When it comes to your joints, collagen can help reduce inflammation and cartilage damage from overuse. As an athlete, you are probably aware of how hard repetitive movements can be on your joints over time. Collagen has proven to be beneficial in recovery from joint injuries and surgical procedures, as well as preventing future injury.
Your muscles can benefit from collagen supplementation, as well. Collagen can help prevent loss of muscles and build muscle mass, something that can be incredibly important for you as an athlete. As it is high in amino acids, collagen protein can help your muscles recover from a hard workout faster. With all of these benefits, you can see why collagen may be a great supplement to add to your routine to improve your athletic performance.
Iron
One of the most familiar nutritional supplements to the general public, iron is an essential mineral to human life. If you’ve ever experienced anemia, a deficiency of iron, you’ll know that inadequate iron in your body can lead to many issues, including fatigue, dizziness, and irregular heartbeats. However, even if you aren’t anemic, adding iron supplementation to your routine as an athlete can have benefits.
Athletes lose more iron than the typical human population, mainly due to increased sweating, so supplementation with an iron-rich diet and tablets can be vital. Some athletes, particularly women, may need to be especially vigilant about iron intake. While this mineral may not be seen as a performance-enhancing supplement in the traditional sense, its importance in your life as an athlete should be noted since you don’t want to be slowed down by iron deficiency.
Beetroot
Beetroot, also known as the humble beet, is both delicious and nutritious. You are probably well aware of how important a vegetable-heavy diet is to your overall health, but you may not be aware of the benefits of beetroot specific to athletic performance. Beets are full of nutrients that can be beneficial to your muscles, heart, and lungs.
Beetroot supplementation has been shown to help you work out longer, by supplying more oxygen to your muscles. When your muscles are supplied with oxygen for longer while they are actively working hard, your athletic performance can increase because you can exercise for longer before your muscles feel fatigued. Supplements of beetroot may be especially helpful if you are a swimmer, runner, or cyclist who is active for long amounts of time.
Final Thoughts
There are many supplements on the market geared specifically toward athletes, but these are some of the more popular ones that could help you boost your athletic performance. Of course, there’s no reason to add a hundred products to your supplement routine, but a solid routine of protein powder, creatine, and perhaps a pre/peri-workout cocktail with amino acids and electrolytes can form your foundation. Then you can try some other products such as those listed above to give yourself a boost where you need it most.
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