Sports Nutrition

Session 7

Ergogenic Aids

Sports NutritionSession 7

Objectives:

•The students will be identify the benefits and dangers of Ergogenic Aids associated with athletic performance.

•The students will learn to identify and define high profile ergogenic aids associated with athletic use and performance.

•SOLs: 11/12.1, 11/12.2, 11/12.3, 11/12.4, 11/12.5

Ergogenic Aids( Dangerous )

Some ergogenic aids are very dangerous and have been banned from all competitive sports as they have very harmful side effects.

These include:

Amphetamine: They stimulate the central nervous system and have been used by some athletes to enhance performance. They increase blood pressure, heart rate and blood flow to the active muscles.

Beta Blockers: relaxation, anti-tremor and ant-anxiety

Human Growth Hormone: HGH is responsible for the growth of human beings.

Anabolic Steroids: hormonal drugs. Mimics the male hormone testosterone.

Ergogenic Aids( Dangerous )

Masking agents: drugs or compounds that are taken with the express purpose of hiding or "masking" the presence of specific illegal drugs that are screened for athletic drug testing

Diuretic: A diuretic can be used as a masking agent.

Blood doping: involves putting extra blood into the body which increases the level of hemoglobin thereby providing an increased oxygen carrying capacity for delivery to the working muscles.

EPO (erythropoietin): stimulates red blood cell production. It causes an increase in the total number of circulating red bloods cells.

Ergogenic Aids( Safe )

Performance enhancing methods that are considered safe, such as:

Carbohydrate loading

Proper nutrition

Electrolyte solutions to replace lost fluids

Ritual preparations, such as prayer, chanting, or meditation

Visualization

Stress management

Ergogenic Aids( Studies are not Complete)

Products that are legal, but have not been studied extensively for their long term effects. These include:

Creatine: Long-term supplementation has shown significant gains in performance, strength and fat-free mass which may be due to increased muscle mass or water retention.

Caffeine: it stimulates the central nervous system and has been used by some athletes as an ergogenic aid in endurance exercise.

Chromium: a hormone critical to the metabolism and storage of carbohydrate, fat, and protein in the body .

Ergogenic Aids( Studies are not Complete)

Products that are legal, but have not been studied extensively for their long term effects. These include:

Multivitamins

Phosphates: salts

Leucine: is an essential amino acid, which means that the body doesn’t produce

it naturally. It can help burn fat without burning muscle.

The Use Of Supplements

The use of supplements to enhance athletic performance has skyrocketed during the past decade with new products appearing on the market every week.

Athletes will spend hundred of dollars on products that may or may not work.

No supplementation can replace hard work, dedication and a balanced diet in any training program.