Food supplement

A dietary supplement is a variable substance that is intended to support the body’s metabolism through its intake and effectiveness. One also speaks of so-called supplements. As the name suggests, dietary supplements are “supplements”, which means that the intake of carbohydrate supplements, for example, is not intended to replace intake through food and the preparation is considered the only source of carbohydrate.

The purpose of dietary supplements, including carbohydrate supplements, is to compensate for a deficiency. This can be caused by an increased need for carbohydrates due to intensive sporting activity. However, athletes often take carbohydrates as a dietary supplement as part of their muscle-building training, despite eating foods rich in carbohydrates and protein, in order to optimize muscle regeneration.

It is definitely important, however, that the supplement should not be a substitute.Carbohydrates are considered one of our three main nutrients and are therefore a popular supplement. By taking carbohydrates as a dietary supplement, energy production can be positively influenced. The main purpose of carbohydrates is to provide energy quickly via ATP.

In another form, the so-called glycogen, carbohydrates can also be stored in the body. These stores are then used to provide energy when needed. A large part of the energy we need is provided by carbohydrates, so we should take in sufficient quantities of these through food, approximately 4g per kilogram of body weight per day.

Depending on sporting activities or physical demands, the requirement can of course be increased. If this need cannot be met through normal food intake, various carbohydrate supplements are available today. This is because the body is not able to produce carbohydrates and thus the main energy supplier itself.

That’s why it is so important to use food supplements when necessary. Carbohydrates are mainly found in foods such as pasta, bread, rice and potatoes. Food supplements are available either as powder preparations or in the form of bars or capsules.

These can be taken throughout the day, before and/or after training, depending on your requirements. In order to understand the role of carbohydrates in proper nutrition after physical exertion, it is important to remember that, especially after endurance training, the glycogen stores of the body’s cells are largely depleted. In this situation, the enzymes and metabolic processes responsible for replenishing these stores are particularly active.

Therefore it makes sense to consume carbohydrates to support this process and thus facilitate the regeneration of the body. It is useful to consume mainly quickly utilizable carbohydrates, because the increased utilization capacity of the body’s cells can only be observed in a short period after exercise. The supply of carbohydrates in the form of juices or fruit after sport seems to be particularly useful, as they contain mainly quickly digestible carbohydrates and at the same time counteract the fluid deficiency that occurs during sport.