As confidence in supplements grows all over the world, 76% of adults report that they perceive the dietary supplement industry as trustworthy. This is good news for the industry, as supplements can be a great way to ensure that your physical and dietary needs are being met. However, while supplements are widely used all over the world and becoming increasingly more popular, the supplements you’ll need for combat sports vary than those needed for general weight or endurance training.
Substances to Stay Away From
Even though a majority of Americans admit taking dietary supplements, many are unaware of the substances inside of them, and the same is generally true of those living abroad really anywhere in the world. When supplementing your martial arts training and general dietary routine, it’s important to understand what you’re putting into your body and what will benefit you instead of harm you but you’ll also want to understand what is important to stay away from. In general, it’s suggested to avoid purchasing your supplements online and always buy from a trusted retailer. When browsing supplements, try to look for ones that are FDA-approved (if they are from an American source) or one that boasts a seal of certification from the country of origin. Always read the labels and stay away from supplements that list sodium benzoate, fluoride, hydrogenated oils, dinitrophenol and sibutramine in the ingredients.
Supplements to Fuel Your Martial Arts Body
Because you’ll be training hard and living life outside of the gym, you’ll want to look for supplements that help you recover quickly and fuel your body in ways that will allow you to not feel too sluggish after a workout. Glutamine is great for martial arts as it will help shorten your recovery process while also replenishing your body’s fuel that helps increase stamina and strength. BCAAs are another great supplement and the substance actually makes up a third of all of the muscle protein in your body. Taking a BCAA in combination with your training will help reduce fatigue and decrease your body’s loss of amino acids. Lastly, creatine is particularly great for those training in martial arts as it allows your muscles to contract harder and for longer, which is great for power kicks, punches and everything in between.
Taking Care of Your Body
When training martial arts, it’s important to take care of your body before, during and after your workouts by giving it the right amount of fuel and also giving it time to rest. Supplementing your workouts is a great way to ensure you’re getting everything you need in order to succeed, but you’ll want to be smart about the supplements you take. If you can, look for supplements with the least amount of ingredients possible and aim for only taking all-natural supplements without any of the dangerous fillers. Your body will thank you and you’ll likely see a kick up in your strength and stamina too.
