To Your Health

To your Health: Exercise Supplements

Jun 7, 2022 | 4:59 PM

PRINCE GEORGE—Frequent gym go-ers are no strangers to adding extras into their water when they go to work out, but for those of you looking to get a bit more active this summer what should you add to your routine?

You have probably seen the tubs in grocery stores. Protein powders, pre-workout, electrolytes and so many other options. For someone who is only doing moderate exercise a few times a week, these kinds of supplements may not be necessary but for someone looking to take their work out to the next level, they might be.

“I feel it’s very important because you are taxing your body and taking out way more than you are able to put in with whole foods,” said Cara Roberts, Owner of Active Body Nutrition PG.

Refueling your muscles after a workout is key to building strength and endurance. That is why protein powders have been popular for decades.

“Typically they are going to be a nice fast-digesting protein, they are going to be lower calorie than eating meat, yogurt or any cheese product. We mostly use them after the gym for a really quick upload. There are going to be some with different stages of release,” said Roberts.

Fast, medium and slow-release products all have their own advantages. Some products are designed to be absorbed quickly to help recover after a workout and some are designed to keep you full for longer periods of time.

Pre-workouts have been gaining traction in the mainstream for several years now and in 2020 the pre-workout industry was estimated to be worth just under $14 billion and is projected to almost double by 2027.

“So pre-workout has a couple different components that help you get the most out of your exercise. So first is going to be your stimulant. We like to talk about a person’s lifestyle, things like caffeine intake so we can determine the amount of stimulant they can handle because less is always going to be best,” said Roberts.

Pre-workout can also contain pump agents to increase blood flow and Nootropics that can help with focus. What can lead to the most success if you are new to supplementing is to make bite-size changes

“Really I feel the most important thing is finding a way to work it into your lifestyle as close to what you are doing right now without trying to bite off too much and making sure you are not setting your goals too big and setting yourself up for failure. So even if you are making small changes, adding a shake to your day, going for a walk. Those are all important things going from where you are to where you want to be,” said Roberts.