Question:
This is the best book ive read on
the subject of sports nutrition.
It gives the perspective of what
is known in science. It is very
readable and and explains why some
things work and others dont very
clearly.
It also avoids
the common problematic attitude
of many scientists from this general
area : the i-dont-understand-how-this-could-work-therefore-it-doesnt
attitude. I wish I had the time
to present some summaries but i
say go buy the book. It has a very
interesting chapter on bogus-ergogenics
which includes stuff that doesnt
work and stuff that does but with
some disturbing side-effects. One
interesting experiment he reports
is on the use of Vanadyl Sulfate
in diabetic rats. At concentrations
where it showed insulin like activity
about 50% of the rats died. I have
yet to dig up any studies on healthy
humans.
Another point
he makes quite strongly is the post-workout
nutrition. After reading his arguments
ive increased my intake to about
1200cal in the 2hr period after
workout (50-60g from protein). Like
I said read the book. has anyone
else read this? What did you think?
Answer:
I'd have to agree with you there.
I bought the book last Saturday
and gulped it down in 2 days - it's
absolutely the best book I've ever
seen on the subject. It's even very
useful just for general nutrition
information.
It has good
chapters on anabolic steroids and
growth hormone, as well as the most
up to date scientific information
about the stuff that supplement
manufacturers claim to have anabolic
effects. Things like chromium (which
many people are deficient in), boron,
dibencoside (don't do diddley),
ferulic acid and gamma oryzanol
(both pretty damn useless), inosine
(crap as well), and LOADS of other
things. Besides this, it has everything
you can possibly conceive about
nutrition (protein, quality, how
much, etc., carb loading, pollution
in common meats, water, minerals
and vitamins, etc). Thoroughly recommended!
It IS a great
book and very very useful but you
still have to read between-the-lines.
Colgans puts stuff like Inosine
and Vanadyl Sulfate in the Bogus
Ergogenics category even though
if you read carefully what he says
you see that they DO work but with
side-effects that he considers too
serious.
For Vanadyl
Sulfate he quotes this experiment
with diabetic rats. The control
population lost 20%, the ones treated
with vanadyl sulfate lost 50%. But
I have yet to see tests with diabetic
humans, sedantary humans and athletes.
For inosine his reservation is that
continues use causes buildup of
uric acid and eventually it stops
having any positive effects.
Dr. Hatfield
(Dr squats to us iron-heads) the
guy who first pushed this stuff
in the US, also notes that problem.
He suggests one use inosine ONLY
on the very heavy lifting days and
even for those who use it continuously
he found that going off for a few
days removed uric acid buildup.
