Feed your body with the nutrients it needs to help charge up your performance

Words: Louise Pyne

We all know that what we eat plays a big role in performance, and when it comes to upgrading our training, supplements are often the first port of call. You might feel the need for an energy boost when you’re on your period or need extra support for your bones if you’re menopausal. Maybe you follow a plant-based diet and require a top-up in specific hard-to-obtain nutrients, or you pop a daily multivitamin as a kind of health and fitness insurance. There are many reasons why we seek out help from supplements, but as the cost of living remains high, it’s never been more important to make sure that you’re getting the most value you can from your supplement routine

Consumer demand for readily available protein options made from egg, milk and plants is steadily growing, and we’re seeing a huge influx of protein products formulated with added extras such as exotic superfoods, functional mushrooms and even Ayurvedic herbs. Head to your local supermarket and you’ll find protein-based ice cream, cookies and pancakes and even kefir with added protein lining the shelves.

Supplements come secondary to a balanced diet, and should always be seen as an addition to rather than a replacement for healthy food. Having said that, with our increasingly busy lifestyles, supplements can be a useful way to acquire those crucial vitamins and minerals that promote muscle growth and recovery, support energy levels and focus during times that your body needs an extra helping hand.