My Thoughts on Nutritional Supplements
Sports Supplements
It's time for a little rant.
People ask me all the time, "Mike, what supplements do you take?"
"Mike, what are your thoughts on supplements?"
"Mike, what supplements should I take to get JACKED?"
When people ask me about supplements, I kind of feel like AI felt about pratice.
There are a few very specific reasons I don't talk about supplements more. First and foremost, I'm not an expert. I'm not sure I'm an expert in anything, to be quite honest, but I'm definitely not an expert in supplements or supplementation.
But here's the real reason I don't spend a ton of time talking about supplements.
Have you seen how most people EAT?
And I'm not talking about having them verbally tell you their skewed perceptions of what they think they ate. All of us have a tendency to remember all the good things we do (including food intake), and forget about the bad stuff.
I'm talking about food that they've measured, written down, and actually recorded in an effort to gauge what their nutrition is like?
It's horrible.
Now I'm not saying you, the loyal RTS reader is sitting at home eating bon-bons and Goldfish* all day. But I will tell you this - the average person in your office, or in your gym, has no clue what to eat.
What's worse? They don't even know how lost they are!
My wife is a dietitian, and she does a lot of online and offline nutrition consults. What's fascinating to me is how many people take in more calories than they should in a given day, yet get almost no nutrition out of their diet whatsoever.
Write that down: Too many calories, yet too little nutrition.
How they hell does that work?
Now I could rant and rave about processed foods, the food industry, etc. But what I think most people need to do is find a way to get as many healthy, nutrient dense foods into their diet as possible.
Without getting into hardcore nutrition (yet another topic I'm not an expert on), I can say this - if you start eating more lean meats, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats, it's amazing what can happen to your health and physique.
So that's why I don't talk about supplements. Until people understand how powerful food is, and until they are willing to take full advantage of it, there's no way I'm going to talk about something that is less than 5% of the equation.
Stay strong
MR
*FACT - Goldfish are amazing. I'm sorry I brought them into this conversation ;)
Comments on This Entry
Posted by Clara at 07:29AM on March 24, 2010
Here's the thing, folks are looking for shortcuts. Period. We've got a society so conditioned for soundbites and fast that we've lost a simple truth. Some things take time. That means time to achieve the desired result.
I'm not an expert, but I am very broadly read in both nutrition and supplements. No supplement can overcome poor training or diet. Period. Supplements provide minimal benefit to a very narrow segment of the population. Now that minimal edge is important when you are at the high end of your performance range. It can make a difference between first and second. But you have to have EVERYTHING dialed in first to see that difference.
If you have 50 pounds to lose, save the money. Go buy some groceries that don't come out of a box.
Posted by Gabe at 12:25PM on March 24, 2010
I'm glad you conclused with how amazing goldfish are... that and BBQ baked lays. But unfortunately, I can't include these on my shopping list, otherwise I will just eat the whole bag in 1 sitting.
Posted by Howard Gray at 03:31PM on March 24, 2010
True story Mike, true story!
A blatent plug for my blog I admit - but I put up a post last month on a very similar topic:
"The elusive 5%"
http://pursuitofperformance.blogspot.com/2010/02/elusive-5.html
In other news - I became addicted to goldfish my freshman year of college shortly after flying across from England in 2002. Now back in my home country where Goldfish are not to be found anywhere, I have finally got over my withdrawl symptoms...
Posted by Craig at 08:57PM on March 24, 2010
Ever read 'In Defense of Food' by Michael Pollan? He says it way better than I can, but there is something seriously wrong with a society that thinks an advanced level degree and a status as an expert is necessary to decide something as simple as what to have for lunch.
And I agree completely on the supplement thing. Have you seen Jamie Oliver's show or TED talk yet? Supplements aren't the answer for just about anyone.
Posted by Mike Robertson at 05:41AM on March 25, 2010
@Clara - GREAT point! This was something else I was meaning to discuss, but tried to keep it short and to the point (for once!)
@Gabe - I'm not playing, it is a FACT that Goldish are amazing.
@Howard - No worries on the blog post. I haven't read it yet, but I'm sure it's fantastic.
@Craig - I have read that book, Omnivore's Dilemma, and watched Food Inc/Fast Food Nation/Supersize Me. I don't think many people realize what goes on w/in the food industry, and while I understand all those pieces are biased, it still sheds some light on a topic most would rather turn a blind eye to!
Who says we meatheads can't be well-read? ;)
MR
Posted by Byron at 06:22AM on March 26, 2010
"Too many calories, too little nutrition." Best quote I've heard in a long time. It's a problem that hits almost every type of clientele too, from young athletes to older general population trainees.
Strength coaches might not be dietitians, but that point still needs to be hammered home consistently.
Posted by Michael Maxwell at 07:42AM on March 26, 2010
OK. I agree emphatically with everything said, however, there is good evidence to support the depleted nutrient density of even the best foods in our current agricultural climate. Supplementation as a means to optimize an already solid diet has merit and shouldn't be discounted completely... but for sure, establishing a good foundation is primary.
Posted by Ido at 06:13AM on September 03, 2010
Hey Robertson.
First of all, i think that supplements are out there much like medicine is, you take it only if you have a serious need. If you cannot achieve the right nutrition from your diet, then there is simply something wrong with the diet, else there is a medical situation, like an absorption issue of some sort.
What i'm saying is that it is very logical to see what is food and what is not. If it needs more then sunlight, earth and water to grow and live (as in - genes from some animal, pesicides, green-house, 12 dudes wearing round glasses and stashes... :) ) then i would think twice about putting it in my body, especially while i'm building muscles, as the body is desperate for building blocks and nutritional value, in order to sustein health and grow without a system meltdown.
@Craig - i'm running over there to watch that talk a.s.a.p. Not that i need anyone to convince me that supplements itsn't the answer, but it is always nice to see i am not alone :) "Who's with me??"