Yesterday, I had the distinct pleasure of catching up with a good friend of mine, Ben Browning, to record an episode of his superlative podcast, Recruiting Better.
After the cameras stopped rolling we continued to chat for about half an hour about a variety of topics, one of which was the value of sports supplements.
My opinion on this divisive topic is a simple one.
I think they’re a waste of money for most people. (Subject to the obvious caveat of supplements prescribed by an appropriately qualified medical professional like a dietitian or doctor).
Consequently, I don’t touch stuff like pre-workout, “natural” testosterone boosters, fat burners, etc., etc.
I did say to Ben that I don’t even have whey protein, but I need to correct the record here because Jess told me she uses it in her delicious ice cream. Not because there’s anything special in it – she’s just found it’s the best ingredient to bind everything together.
But yeah, other than the minuscule amount of whey protein in Jess’ ice cream, I don’t consume any sports supplements at all.
Why?
‘Cuz I believe there’s scant evidence they actually work as advertised.
You see, substances that have a significant impact on the body almost always have side effects.
These side effects can range from mild to lethal, and the various regulatory agencies take incredible care to ensure consumers can only access safe products. This means supplements have to be tested before they reach the market, and surveilled afterwards.
If a supplement or ingredient with a supplement is found to be unsafe (as was the case with supplements containing DMAA way back in 2012) it gets banned.
Simple as.
I’m not saying all supplements don’t work. I’m sure some do.
However, if they enhanced performance significantly, they’d also likely have a nasty side effect profile leading to them being made “prescription-only medications” (as many anabolic steroids are) or banned from sale outright.
Hence, the chances are their impact is minor, at best.
Very advanced trainees, athletes, and similar might need that 0.1% advantage.
But the Average Joe who just wants to get into better shape for himself and his family?
He’s probably better off focusing on improving the quality of his sleep, eating right, lowering his stress, and training with discipline and intent.
Another thing I was shocked to discover yesterday was just how expensive sports supplements are these days.
£30 for a tub of pre-workout… £25 for some amino acids… £85 for collagen peptides…
Not to mention whey protein, which is obscenely expensive if you have it every day (I saw a 2.5kg bag for over £90).
That’s a lot of money to spend, especially if it doesn’t have a measurable impact on your results.
By contrast, a subscription to The Phil Tyreman Letter will set you back a mere £100/month (£3.29/day) and for that, you’ll get the strategies and tactics you need to exceed your goals and virtually unfettered access to me for advice and support.
If you’re interested, there’s more info here:
www.philtyreman.co.uk/information
Thank you,
Phil Tyreman