As athletes looking to maximize our performance and the effectiveness of our training, the use of dietary supplements that are actually beneficial is something we should definitely be interested in.  The real crux, though, is determining which supplements will be beneficial for us as climbers and which are simply a waste of our time and money.

To help you make these judgments for yourself, here’s an article from Brian Rigby of Climbing Nutrition in which he examines the scientific research behind some common supplements in an effort to determine whether or not they will actually provide climbers with any worthwhile benefits.

“Most of my recommendations for supplements have not changed; this isn’t surprising since it takes a large amount of research to the contrary to move a scientific consensus. For the supplements without a large body of research to back them, the studies performed in the past year reinforce our current hypotheses.” – Brian Rigby

Supplements Covered:

Rigby has covered all of these supplements individually in greater detail.  In this update, he conveys the latest research about each one and arrives at a verdict about whether or not he would recommend its use to climbers.  They key point here is that Rigby isn’t trying to provide a comprehensive list of supplements we should and shouldn’t be using.   Instead, he is examining the available evidence from actual scientific studies and making his judgments based on that information.

Here’s the list of supplements covered:

• Beta-Alanine
• Citrulline Malate
• Creatine
• Glucosamine & Chondroitin
• Sodium Bicarbonate

Click through below to read about these supplements individually.  Rigby does a great job of describing the promised benefits of each one and whether or not they are actually beneficial to climbers.  Additionally, if you find you are interested in learning more about any of these supplements, there are links to his more in depth articles about each one individually.

Overall, supplements are a highly attractive way of potentially gaining a performance edge or aiding in recovery.  However, before you start taking anything, it definitely pays to do your research.  While most supplements probably won’t have negative impacts on your climbing performance, taking something that doesn’t provide any benefits is just throwing money away.  If you are considering taking any supplements, this article is a great place to start.

Full Article: Supplements for Climbing

(photo courtesy of climbingnutrition.com)

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