Who are Supplements for ?
Supplements. Who are they for? And understanding the science. Here at NMB’s National Nutritional Research Centre the team work under the strict guidance of registered nutritionists and professional athletes to deliver a range of products that have been formulated to ensure that our products maximise the potential of those who use them. But who should use them and why? They can be used by anyone who has the need to add additional nutrition to their diet and are even used in certain medical cases. This can range from the casual gym user, the endurance athlete to the hardcore bodybuilder or into other sports such as athletics, rugby, football, boxing, martial arts but this list is not exhaustive and can have a role to play in an everyday diet. If your chosen exercise regime demands additional nutrition then sports supplements have a place in your diet. But why? Many people focus on proteins but fail to see the importance of the other 2 macro-nutrients, carbohydrates and fats.
Is the building blocks of the body and it plays a vital part in the maintenance, repair and growth of everything in our bodies. Everything about the human body is comprised of protein and muscle. Good sources of protein come from chicken, turkey, fish, lean red meat, pork and eggs. All proteins are formed from amino acids which can then be used by the body. There are 22 amino acids and eight of these are referred to as essential amino acids as the body is unable to synthesise them within the body and must be put into the body by way of diet to be available to the body. If a protein contains all eight essential amino acids it’s referred to as a complete protein. The remaining 14 amino acids are referred to as non essential amino acids as they can be manufactured by the body from the essential amino acids.
Carbs!!!! Even the mention of this nutrient gives some of us palpitations yet it is an essential part of our diets. It is the fuel that drives the body, helps with digestion but more importantly provides sufficient energy for our body’s metabolic activity and the digestion of other nutrients, everyday tasks and all physical activity. There are 2 types of carbs, simple, (fast releasing) and complex, (slow releasing). Simple carbs are found in processed foods and foods that contain refined sugars. These are digested quickly into the body and are delivered directly into the blood stream delivering a quick source of energy. Complex carbs are found in almost all plant based foods. Rice, pulses, pastas, vegetables, wholegrain pastas, breads, oats and more. These are slowly broken down in the body and its delivery of energy into the body is slow and dependant on the complexity of the carbohydrate source. The energy release into the body can be anything from 6 – 10 hours or even stored for up to 24 hours as glycogen if not needed and released when required.
Many of us try to avoid fats like a trip to the dentist! The reasons behind this is that we just don’t understand the subject and how some fats actually benefit the body and its function. Fats are essential to our well being and our health. The body uses them as an energy source, they protect vital organs and help with insulation. Let us help you understand the fat family.
- E.F.A: Essential Fatty Acids.
- M.U.F.A: Monounsaturated Fatty Acids.
- P.U.F.A: Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids.
The Essential Fats come in the form of the Omegas. 3, 6 & 9 and are derived from the P.U.F.A’s, (Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids). These are known as the healthy fats and are essential due to the fact that we have to eat them to get them into the body. They are high in vitamin E which is a good antioxidant, the help build cells, transport oxygen around the body and help with certain hormone production. All are essential if you are in any form participating in any form of exercise, at any level.
These can be found in oils like Olive and Peanut and vegetable oils. They are attributed to lowering blood cholesterol by reducing bad cholesterol (LDL) but will not lower good cholesterol (HDL). In summary the supplement will play an essential part in the athletes performance, power and endurance. You don’t have to be a world class athlete or a professional sports person to experience these enhancements but all you have to do is introduce them into your diet. When you do the benefits have a currency all of their own. You will be stronger, faster, more powerful and recover faster.
Saturated – The reason fats got such a bad name and the only fats we should be looking to avoid in our diet regime