Use of Diet Supplements & Ergogenic Aids in Sports: Introduction
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In this section we will discuss the use of supplements in sports and the activities and other practices athletes use to enhance performance. Combined, these supplements and other performance-enhancing methods are known as “ergogenic aids”. They are sometimes healthy and safe, and in other cases unsafe or illegal. The most common ergogenic aids used in sports are dietary supplements. We will outline the most frequently used of these supplements, how they are regulated, and guidelines used for labeling these products. We will also describe the need for these supplements in the diet of bodybuilders and weightlifters, and the dietary guidelines common to that field of athletes.
You will be asked to explore the benefit of ergogenic aids used in your life and, more specifically, the dietary supplements you have used or seen advertised. This section will also discuss the role of protein and carbohydrate supplementation and reinforce the importance of fat in the diet.