Summary: <br> One of the more common questions I get asked is “what supplements should I be taking as a runner”.<br> Almost immediately, that question is followed by something along the lines of…<br> I saw this add for x product. It claims to [insert crazy claim here <br> (eliminate lactic acid, improve recovery, enhance Oxygen utilization, <br> etc)]. Do you think it actually works?<br> Sadly, 90% of the supplements you’re pitched won’t do anything to help your running.<br> But I can’t blame you for wondering and asking about them. The claims<br> look amazing and it’s tough to understand the science sometimes.<br> Plus, many of them are backed by “studies” (notice the word “studies”<br> is in quotes. If you watch the interview below you’ll understand why).<br> I remember having the same questions when I first started running and into my competitive career.<br> I certainly didn’t want to miss out on any potential benefits, especially if they were as easy as taking a supplement.<br> I tried a lot myself. But like I said earlier; none of them really worked.<br> But all this doesn’t really answer the question.<br> Is there anything that will actually help your running? Are there supplements that you absolutely must avoid?<br> That’s why as part of the Marathon Nutrition Blueprint I set out to really find the answers to these questions.<br> So, I went out and found one of the leading experts. More <br> importantly, an expert who had nothing to gain from recommending one <br> supplement over another.<br> Luckily, I knew just who to go to. Kamal Patel.<br> Kamal Patel has a double MBA/MPH (Master of Public Health) from Johns Hopkins University and is the director of Examine.com.<br> Examine.com is an independent encyclopedia on <br> supplementation and nutritionthat is not affiliated in any way with any <br> supplement company. Founded in early 2011, Examine.com is the unbiased source for supplements and nutrition.<br> This interview has been a part of the Marathon Nutrition Blueprint <br> for quite some time, but because the questions about supplements keep <br> coming in (seriously, I get about 3 per week), I wanted to share this <br> with our entire audience.<br> So, if you’ve ever wondered about what supplements work, which one’s <br> don’t, and which ones to avoid, you have to watch or listen to this <br> interview.<br> Interview outline<br> Here is the outline of our interview. This does not cover everything we discussed, but was mainly a framework for the interview:<br> What’s the danger of looking for short cuts with supplements? What <br> are some of the misconceptions people have about how supplements can <br> help or what they can do.<br> <br> What are some of the supplements that research has shown can help <br> runners either recover faster, absorb training better, or flat out <br> improve performance?<br> What are some supplements that many endurance athletes use that <br> don’t have good scientific backing or we’re now coming to find out are <br> basically useless.<br> Finally, what are some supplements that are definitely bad for endurance athletes and should be avoided?<br> <br>
