In the field of sports nutrition, supplement companies proudly promote their products, claiming that they have the “magic bullet” for weight loss, weight gain and/or performance enhancement. Many of these products are costly, combined with a number of artificial chemicals or are lacking in evidence. Some can even have adverse effects on your health, such as energy drinks that cause restlessness and insomnia and some herbs that can potentially cause kidney and liver damage.
Supplements should not be considered a substitution for healthy eating. Ideally, optimal nutrition and nutrient timing should be used to enhance your performance. Many of the foods you have access to can be used as ergogenic aids.
Note: If you are an online nutrition coach, try to incorporate these ergogenic foods into the mix for your clients.
What are Ergogenic Aids?
An ergogenic aid is simply something that enhances athletic performance. In the realm of nutrition, this falls under the purview of ergogenic foods (foods that enhance sports performance through their specific nutritional benefits).
Here is a list of some ergogenic foods and their performance perks.
Ergogenic Foods for SPorts Performance
Watermelon Juice
Consuming watermelon before exercise helps cut recovery time and boost performance. Watermelon is a rich source of citrulline, an amino acid that can be metabolized to arginine, a conditionally essential amino acid for humans. Arginine is the nitrogenous substrate used in the synthesis of nitric oxide.
It plays an essential role in cardiovascular and immune functions by accelerating lactic acid removal, and allowing better physical performance by enabling athletes to carry out more intense training. The end result? A faster recovery after each workout. Dose: 500 mL of natural watermelon juice.
(Collins, 2007) (Tarazona-Diaz, 2013)
Beetroot Juice
Beetroot and leafy greens are good sources of nitrate. Dietary nitrate is absorbed rapidly from the stomach and small intestine. Six days of dietary nitrate supplementation in the form of beetroot juice (~0.5 L/d) has been reported to reduce pulmonary oxygen uptake (VO₂) during submaximal exercise and increase tolerance of high-intensity work rates, suggesting that nitrate can be a potent ergogenic aid.
(Cermac, 2012)
Green Tea
A study testing the effect of green tea extract (GTE) found that over 10 weeks, endurance and exercise performance was boosted by up to 8-24% with 0.5% GTE supplementation. Researchers at the Biological Sciences Laboratories of Kao Corp., Tochigi, Japan, said the 8-24% increase in swimming time-to-exhaustion was accompanied by lower respiratory quotients and higher rates of fat oxidation.
The results indicate that GTE is beneficial for improving endurance capacity and support the hypothesis that the stimulation of fatty acid utilization is a promising strategy for improving endurance capacity.
Results came from the equivalent of drinking about 4 cups of green tea a day.
(American Physiology Society, 2005)
Coconut Water
In a study by Saat et al., eight healthy male volunteers exercised at 60% of VO2max in the heat until 2.78 +/- 0.06% of their body weight (BW) was lost. After exercise, the subjects sat for 2 hours in a thermoneutral environment and drank a volume of plain water, coconut water and a carbohydrate electrolyte beverage on different occasions representing 120% of the fluid loss.
Coconut water was found to be significantly sweeter, caused less nausea, and fullness without stomach upset, and was also easier to consume in larger amounts compared with a carbohydrate electrolyte beverage and plain water ingestion.
Researchers concluded that the ingestion of fresh young coconut water could be used for whole body rehydration after exercise.
(Saat, 2002)
Peppermint
Peppermint is a natural herb with analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antioxidant, and vasoconstrictor effects.
In a study of twelve healthy male students, one 500 ml bottle of mineral water, containing 0.05 ml peppermint essential oil, was consumed for ten days. The results of the experiment showed peppermint essential oil to have favorable effects on performance, gas analysis, spirometry parameters, blood pressure, and respiratory rate in the young male students who completed a standard treadmill exercise test.
The plausible explanations were relaxation of bronchial smooth muscles, increase in the ventilation and brain oxygen concentration, and decrease in the blood lactate level.
(Meamarbashi, 2013)
Protein
The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) proposes that exercising individuals need approximately 1.4 to 2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight per day, with the actual amount dependent upon the mode and intensity of the exercise, the quality of the protein ingested, and the status of the energy and carbohydrate intake of the individual. Concerns that protein intake within this range is unhealthy have been unfounded in healthy, exercising individuals.
Optimally, one should seek to obtain protein requirements from whole foods (e.g. eggs, meat, fish, poultry and dairy as well as vegetable sources such as soy and legumes). Supplemental protein is also a safe and convenient method of ingesting high quality dietary protein. The timing of protein intake shortly after exercise can improve recovery and lead to greater gains in fat free mass.
(Campbell, 2007)
Fat: Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT)
The effects of regularly consuming medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) on swimming endurance was investigated by Fushika et al. The group fed MCT showed significantly greater swim capacity than the control group. These findings were evident in both trained and untrained subjects.
The major metabolic consequences of the adaptations of muscle to prolonged MCT administration during endurance training were higher activities of enzymes involved in energy production and macronutrient utilization.
MCTs provide about ten percent fewer calories and are more rapidly absorbed by the body and more quickly metabolized as fuel because they cross the mitochondrial membrane very rapidly, and do not require the presence of carnitine, compared to long chain fatty acids. The result of this accelerated metabolic conversion is less fat storage and greater conversion into fuel for immediate use.
MCTs have gained in popularity with athletes seeking to increase energy levels and enhance endurance during high-intensity exercise, as well as serving as an alternative energy source (i.e. nutritional ketosis) for athletes on high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets. Additionally MCTs can be quickly mobilized in the post-exercise recovery phase to rebuild muscles and prevent catabolism.
The dose of MCT (e.g., organic extra virgin coconut oil) is about 1/4 teaspoon several times daily. MCTs can cause nausea and gastric discomfort, so start low and increase dose only as tolerated.
See also: Foods High in Healthy Fats
(Fushika, 1995) (Dean, 2013)
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates and fats are the two primary fuel sources oxidized by skeletal muscle tissue during prolonged endurance exercise. The contribution of these fuel sources depends on the exercise intensity and duration, with a greater contribution from carbohydrate as exercise intensity increases.
Endurance performance and capacity are influenced by the availability of carbohydrates. Therefore, improving carbohydrate availability during prolonged exercise through carbohydrate ingestion is an important strategy for performance enhancement.
Carbohydrate ingestion during prolonged moderate-to-high intensity exercise (>2 h) can significantly improve endurance performance. This is likely related to the sparing of skeletal muscle glycogen, prevention of liver glycogen depletion and subsequent development of hypoglycemia.
Small amounts of carbohydrate ingestion during exercise may also enhance the performance of shorter (45-60 min), more intense (>75 % peak oxygen uptake; VO(₂peak)) exercise bouts, despite the fact that endogenous carbohydrate stores are unlikely to be limiting. The mechanism responsible for the ergogenic properties of carbohydrate ingestion during short, more intense exercise bouts are likely mediated by the central nervous system.
Carbohydrate ingestion during exercise also benefits athletes involved in intermittent/team sports. These athletes are advised to follow similar carbohydrate feeding strategies as endurance athletes, but need to modify exogenous carbohydrate intake based upon the intensity and duration of the activity.
In a study by Lunn et al., researchers looked at using chocolate milk as a recovery drink. The study examined effects of fat-free chocolate milk consumption on kinetic and cellular markers of protein turnover, muscle glycogen, and performance during recovery from endurance exercise.
The effects of consumption of milk after endurance exercise on post-exercise muscle protein fractional synthetic rate (FSR), signaling molecules of skeletal muscle protein turnover, leucine kinetics, and performance measures, suggests unique benefits of milk compared with a carbohydrate only beverage.
There is growing scientific evidence supporting the use of low-fat milk and chocolate milk following exercise by both individuals and athletes who habitually undertake strength or endurance training.
There are a number of studies suggesting that fat free milk and chocolate milk are as effective and possibly more effective, than commercial sports drinks, at promoting recovery from strength and endurance exercise. Milk also has the added benefit of providing additional nutrients and vitamins that are not present in commercial sports drinks.
For those who are lactose intolerant, there are lactose-free options. Also, a healthier alternative to “conventional” milk could include organic grass fed milk with raw cacao and local honey.
(Cermak, 2013) (Lunn, 2012) (Roy, 2008)
Bananas
While on the topic or sports drinks and carbohydrates, bananas have been shown to be an effective option. Nieman et al. compared the acute effect of ingesting bananas versus a 6% carbohydrate drink on 75-km cycling performance and post-exercise inflammation, oxidative stress, and innate immune function using traditional and metabolomics-based profiling.
They found that the ingestion of bananas before and during prolonged and intensive exercise is an effective strategy, both in terms of fuel substrate utilization and cost, for supporting performance.
See Banana Nutrition Facts for more great info!
(Nieman, 2012)
Raisins
Dietary carbohydrates have varying glycemic indexes and may differentially affect metabolism and endurance.
In a study by Kern et al., they examined the potential differences in metabolism and cycling performance after the consumption of raisins versus a high glycemic commercial sports gel.
Eight endurance-trained cyclists completed 2 trials in random order. Subjects were fed 1 g carbohydrate per kilogram body weight from either raisins or sports gel 45 minutes prior to exercise on a cycle ergometer at 70% VO2max.
After 45 minutes of submaximal exercise, subjects completed a 15-minute performance trial. Blood was collected prior to the exercise bout, as well as 45 minutes after exercise, to determine serum concentrations of glucose, insulin, lactate, free fatty acids, triglycerides, and beta-hydroxybutyrate. Performance was not different between the raisin and gel trials.
They study concluded that raisins appeared to be a cost-effective source of carbohydrate for pre-exercise feeding in comparison to sports gel for short-term exercise bouts.
(Kern, 2007)
By choosing “whole foods” as ergogenic aids, one can not only enhance performance, but can also provide nourishment to support optimum health.
References
American Physiology Society. (2005, January 31). Green Tea Extract Boosts Exercise Endurance 8-24%, Utilizing Fat As Energy Source. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 17, 2014 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/01/050128221248.htm.
Campbell B, Kreider RB, Ziegenfuss T, La Bounty P, Roberts M, Burke D, Landis J, Lopez H, Antonio J. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: protein and exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2007 Sep 26;4:8.
Cermak NM, Gibala MJ, van Loon L. Nitrate supplementation's improvement of 10-km time-trial performance in trained cyclists. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2012 Feb;22(1):64-71.
Cermak NM, van Loon LJ. The use of carbohydrates during exercise as an ergogenic aid. Sports Med. 2013 Nov;43(11):1139-55. doi: 10.1007/s40279-013-0079-0.
Collins JK1, Wu G, Perkins-Veazie P, Spears K, Claypool PL, Baker RA, Clevidence BA. Watermelon consumption increases plasma arginine concentrations in adults. Nutrition. 2007 Mar;23(3):261-6.
Dean, W. Nutrition Review http://nutritionreview.org/2013/04/medium-chain-triglycerides-mcts/
Fushiki T, Matsumoto K, Inoue K, Kawada T, Sugimoto E. Swimming endurance capacity of mice is increased by chronic consumption of medium-chain triglycerides. J Nutr 1995 Mar;125(3):531-9.
Kern M, Heslin CJ, Rezende RS. Metabolic and performance effects of raisins versus sports gel as pre-exercise feedings in cyclists.J Strength Cond Res. 2007 Nov;21(4):1204-7.
Lunn WR, Pasiakos SM, Colletto MR, Karfonta KE, Carbone JW, Anderson JM, Rodriguez NR. Chocolate milk and endurance exercise recovery: protein balance, glycogen, and performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2012 Apr;44(4):682-91.
Meamarbashi, A, and Rajabi, A. The effects of peppermint on exercise performance. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2013, 10:15 doi:10.1186/1550-2783-10-15
Nieman, D, Gillitt, N, Henson, D, Sha, W, Shanely, RA, Knab, A, Cialdella-Kam, L, Jin, F. Bananas as an Energy Source during Exercise: A Metabolomics Approach. PLOS One. May 17, 2012.
Roy, Brian. Milk: the new sports drink? A Review. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2008, 5:15.
Saat M, Singh R, Sirisinghe RG, Nawawi M. Rehydration after exercise with fresh young coconut water, carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage and plain water. J Physiol Anthropol Appl Human Sci. 2002 Mar;21(2):93-104.
Tarazona-Diaz, M., Alacid, F., Carrasco, M., Martinez, I., Aguayo, E. Watermelon Juice: Potential Functional Drink for Sore Muscle. J. Agric. Food Chem., 2013, 61 (31), pp 7522–7528.
