Good Panorama documentary: truth about sports supplements

Sorry if its been posted before but its well worth a watch

Might save some of you a few quid

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01l1yxk/Panorama_The_Truth_About_Sports_Products/

 

Can't watch it, says only for UK viewers.
There's next to no evidence for most supplements, the only reason to take any of them is 'just in case'. In reality you're probably just throwing your money away.
The only ones that have proof that they work are the time tested creatine, caffeine and sodium bicarbonate. Even then you're going to have responders and non responders, you have to take into account training status as well.

 

Cheers for that:good

For anyone who can't get iplayer, get a proxy server and you shouldn't have any problems watching stuff. Loads of Olympic docs on at the moment

 

Watched this lastnight and it wasnt surprising, if you read the labels you can see they are all just sugar loaded, the worst ones are the vitamin waters because you think they are healthy. I found the running shoes part interesting and was surprised how little they matter. Did they do protein shakes? I fell asleep towards the end.

 

I don't know about the running shoes, I used to train in a pair of normal shoes and ended up getting horrible shin splints. When I run in proper trainers I notice a big difference, I dont care what that doc says. To be fair I only watched a bit of it when the basketball was on a break.

 

I've read a couple of different reports on this topic before and watched the programme too, the only recurring conclusion is that Creatine is the only proven product that works.

All these preworkout supplements try and blag you with things about needing the proper "Delivery System" for the creatine to work but that's rubbish! - just get some plain creatine monoydrate and mix it with normal cordial and water = bingo!

The only other products I think are worthwhile are a decent protein supplement (only if you need the convenience) like working in an office. Otherwise get it through foods/diet.

Possibly ZMA Supplement (Zinc & Magnesium) before bed, as I find that does help you sleep and recover. But again there is lots of zinc & magnesium in kellogs All Bran and low fat yogurt!

Basically if your diet it right you shouldn't need anything else!

Lee

 

If you don't think supplements work talk to people in the racing industry. There Athletes cannot cheat on diet, they are locked away and feed the best. Ask about the improvement when vitamins are added? They can't say to the Horse or Dog "this is a new super Food" and get a placebo effect. They know what works and what doesn't.

 

Define "healthy" when talking about an individual food/drink in isolation.

 

Bicarb soda works and that's it, nothing to do with vitamins. People and animals are also different in case you didn't notice.

 

Is it ok to take bicarb soda before an AM boxing match?

 

If you can stomach it. Most likely you'll just **** yourself. Try it out in training, whatever you do don't try it for the first time before a bout haha

 

Haha I might give it a go and see the difference in a training session sometime. Never heard of it being used before

 

O they do work. But only the ones that aren't available over the counter and are illegal. Practically everything in most supplement shops is bull****. These companies make a fantastic amount of money out of selling placebo's to ill-informed gym goers who want to take short cuts. You're either in this for the long haul or not. I don't take anything. Not even vitamins any more. Its all a complete waste of time. As long as your diets on point and you know 'how' to train you don't need anything else.

 

:deal Gospel right here

 

http://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4737

I posted this in the nutrition sticky before I saw this thread. Didn't see the bbc show but this report is what it was based on.