Ergogenic Aids

The Good, Bad And Ugly Of Ergogenic Aids
By Sarah A Taylor

From young to old, from beginner to elite, and no matter what the sport, there's little doubt that sports supplementation is one of the hottest topics of conversation among sportsmen and women. It's not just the prospect of maximising athletic performance by simply swallowing a few pills or sports drinks that's so tantalisingly attractive; there's also the nagging fear that if you don't indulge, you might be left trailing in your competitor's wake as he or she takes full advantage of the huge range of products that now adorn the shelves of retailers. But what are the real benefits of using ergogenic aids, are there any drawbacks and where on earth should you start?

Supplementation – a thinking athlete’s guide to planning a program

Most athletes at some stage in their careers use one or more dietary supplements – after all, when you invest a great deal of time, effort and money in training to improve performance, the extra investment in a supplement program seems relatively small. However, the financial cost is perhaps the least important of the issues that needs to be considered before using supplements. Athletes need to think hard and exercise caution in order to reap potential benefits without the drawbacks. There are a number of fundamental questions relating to sports supplement use, including reasons for supplement use and where to begin. Others factors which need consideration include; the pros and cons of supplementation; the role of multi-nutrient supplements; the value of two of the most ergogenic supplements; the possible benefits of antioxidant nutrients.

‘Tuning up’ performance - music and video as ergogenic aids