ABSTRACT
Nutritional ergogenic aids fall into three major categories: macronutrient manipulations, essential micronutrient and intermediate metabolite supplementation, and addition of other dietary substances. This chapter examines the results from studies on each type of nutrient and provides guidelines on use of nutrients to foster applicability of latest data. Water repletion during exercise appears to be the most important nutritional ergogenic aid yet studied, and is recommended by every expert on exercise performance. Athletes, especially weightlifters, have imbedded in their psyche a desire to consume large amounts of protein. This desire stems from the tradition, fostered by centuries of anecdotal, but not totally correct, conclusions that meat ingestion increases muscle mass. It is now apparent that protein catabolism can account for 5 to 10 percent of energy production during endurance exercise. Unlike other fats, Medium-Chain Triglycerides possess unique physiological properties that strongly indicate a need for further study as an ergogenic aid.
