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Sports Supplements and Athletic Performance

Athletes often look for alternative nutrition to perform at their best. But what are they and how to do work?

Sports Supplements - B-Vitamins

Vitamins are essential for the body to function properly, but there may be a link between the B-vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B-6, B-12 and folate) and performance in high-level athletes.

Sports Supplements – Caffeine

Does Caffeine Improve Athletic Performance?

Sports Supplements - Creatine

The goal of creatine supplementation is to increase muscle phosphocreatine and make more ATP available to fuel the working muscles. This improves an athlete's ability to perform repeated bouts of short, high-intensity exercise before becoming fatigued.

Sports Supplements - Glucosamine and Athletic Performance

Glucosamine has been used to treat osteoarthritis. In studies oral glucosamine sulfate has had a beneficial effect on inflammation and mechanical arthritis.

Sports Supplements - Glutamine (L-Glutamine)

Athletes take glutamine supplements in order to prevent muscle breakdown and to improve immune system functioning.

Sports Supplements - Ribose and Athletic Performance

Ribose proponents claim it will regenerate ATP stores and allow faster recovery. Can research back up those claims?

Sports Supplements - Ephedrine (Ephedra) and Athletic Performance

One of the most heavily debated supplements on the market, does Ephedrine really pose such dire health risks?

Sports Supplements - Ephedra (Ma Huang)

There is no credible evidence that ephedra has any effect on weight loss or improving athletic performance.

Sports Supplements - Protein

The debate over high protein diets and power athletes is an old one. This article sorts through the research to find the evidence.

Glutamine Doesn’t Prevent Muscle Loss If Dieting

A study published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine found that wrestlers who took glutamine while on a weight-loss program did not preserve any more muscle than wrestlers who took a placebo.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin

From About's guide to orthopedics, Jonathan Cluett, M.D. discusses the latest information about these two supplements.

Athletes Using Energy Gels Need More Water

While gels are useful for providing energy for endurance exercise, the biggest challenge may be drinking enough fluid with them.

How to Evaluate Health Claims

Tips for Health consumers - Ten ways to recognize exaggerated or false health claims. In order to quickly see through the smoke and mirrors, there are ten red flags you should recognize immediately.

Sports Supplements - Ribose and Athletic Performance

Learn about Ribose and athletic performance

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