Elite sport dietitian examines the benefits of nutritional supplements

Windsor, ON--Nutritional supplements claim to improve athletic performance, but not all supplements are created equal. According to Nutrition Australia life member Glenn Cardwell, athletes vary greatly in their response to training, environmental conditions, psychological barriers, and nutritional supplements, which makes it difficult to assess the value of proposed ergogenic aids. "Improvement is not proof that a supplement works. It may be just a convenient coincidence," says Cardwell, author of the forthcoming new edition of Gold Medal Nutrition (Human Kinetics, May 2012). "Proof only comes when the same result can be repeated time and time again."

Before taking a nutritional supplement Cardwell advises assessing its potential value by asking nine vital questions.

"Based on current knowledge, the best regimen for achieving optimal performance is to avoid excess body fat, drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, eat enough carbohydrate to fuel your training program, eat adequate protein for muscle growth and repair, and eat for good health," Cardwell says. "Most nutritional supplements do not enhance sports performance in well-nourished athletes."

For more information on Gold Medal Nutrition, 5E or other nutrition resources, visit http://www.HumanKinetics.com or call 800-465-7301.

Product Description Gold Medal Nutrition is a comprehensive manual covering the areas that most concern athletes, including what and when to eat and drinkand why. The book explains how to use nutrition to maximize sport performance. It includes information on determining the best supplements to use as well as athlete-specific eating tips.

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Nutrition: Nine questions every athlete should ask before taking a supplement