Being an athlete is a surprisingly challenging endeavor. Not only does an athlete need to work constantly at their chosen sport, training tirelessly and constantly, but they also need to care for and maintain their body as well.
Many athletes turn to the benefits of different supplements and superfoods, all aiming to improve their physical fitness. Or, like many, they are just looking for a way to care for their bodies and replace a nutrient that they are missing.
One of the stranger developments in recent years is that athletes are starting to use things like 1000mg CBD oil instead of other, more common supplements.
Is this the right thing to do? And what kind of food and supplements are actually good for athletes to take?
What Are Supplements?
When considering whether or not to start taking supplements and other superfoods as an athlete, it is imperative to understand what a supplement is, to begin with.
A supplement is basically anything that a person takes that is designed to supplement their diet, not just replace it. This means taking something that works in addition to their regular diet plan rather than in place of something entirely else.
Supplements can be made up of almost anything – they can be packed with nutrients, vital proteins, and other missing ingredients.
Or they can be something that a person doesn't usually take as part of their regular diet but also has the potential to help supplement their body in other ways. This kind of supplement is frequently CBD tinctures, but there is also a wide range of other supplements coming from the natural world, like mushrooms.
Supplement #1: CBD Oil
It used to be the case that most people had never heard of CBD oil or any of its related products.
Anything to do with cannabis or things made from the cannabis plant was very taboo, and most people would never even consider going near them.
These days, however, CBD oil has become something of a regular product, available in pharmacies and store shelves all over the western world.
CBD oil is a supplement because it can supplement a person's normal cannabinoids in their body.
Studies have shown that the human body, and the body of all mammals, in fact, produces its own cannabinoids for its own purposes.
Cannabinoids like CBD oil merely supplement the body's natural cannabinoids, triggering specific desirable effects, like reducing pain and diminishing any inflammation felt within the body.
CBD oil can thus be used to help improve an athlete's abilities, as well as help to improve their general wellbeing.
Supplement #2: Protein Powder Supplements
Protein powder supplements are especially common in the athletic and regular world and are a great addition to an athlete's diet.
Protein powders are designed to supplement the protein intake of athletes, who typically need a lot more protein than a regular person.
They come from many different sources, but these days they are usually made from whey protein or vegan alternatives like soy.
The key thing about protein powders is that they can be added to almost any meal, as they usually come in a powdered, dry form.
This allows athletes to imbibe their chosen protein powder supplement by making a quick drink out of it, or by mixing it into smoothies in the morning, or any kind of liquid meal.
Extra protein in an athlete's diet can help them not only gain further muscle mass but also help to regenerate and heal from any muscle tears or minor injuries they might pick in the course of training.
Supplement #3: Vitamin Supplements
Probably the most common type of supplement there is, vitamin supplements are a vital addition to athletes and regular people alike.
An incredibly diverse and all-encompassing term, vitamin supplements are any supplement designed to help add a missing vitamin or micronutrient that a person might be missing.
For example, many people struggle with getting enough vitamin D in their bodies because most of it is synthesized through direct contact with the sun.
For those who don’t get enough real sunlight year round, vitamin D supplements can do wonders in improving general wellbeing and mood.
Other common supplements are designed to replace nutrients that a person should ideally get from their diet but struggle with for one reason or another.
A typical food nutritional supplement is omega 3, something that many people struggle with due to eating too many grain-fed animal products. Too much grain-fed meat results in a higher quantity of omega 6, and the balance of omega 3 and omega 6 is vital for ensuring that a person’s body functions properly.
Vitamin supplements are a great way to help replace missing nutrients, but they should never be used as the only way of obtaining those nutrients. Instead, a varied, diverse, and changing diet is the key for budding athletes and people aspiring to be healthy.