Dietary Enhancement - Optimal Nutrition Strategies

Dietary enhancement involves improving the nutritional quality of one's diet by adding beneficial foods or supplements to support health and well-being.

Dietary Enhancement FAQ

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What is a dietary supplement?

1. Introduction A dietary supplement is broadly defined as “a food, food component, nutrient, or non-food compound that is purposefully ingested in addition to the habitually-consumed diet with the aim of achieving a specific health and/or performance benefit” [ 1 ].

Can dietary supplements improve performance?

“Athlete” includes individuals competing in a range of sport types, such as strength and power (eg, weight-lifting), team (eg, football), and endurance (eg, marathon running). The use of dietary supplements can enhance performance, provided these are used appropriately.

What supplements enhance performance?

Performance supplements shown to enhance performance include caffeine, beetroot juice, beta-alanine (BA), creatine, and bicarbonate. 40 Comprehensive reviews on other supplements including caffeine, creatine, and bicarbonate can be found elsewhere. 41 In recent years, research has focused on the role of nitrate, BA, and vitamin D and performance.

How can dietary strategies improve performance?

It is likely that combining several strategies will be of greater benefit than one strategy in isolation. 5 Dietary strategies to enhance performance include optimizing intakes of macronutrients, micronutrients, and fluids, including their composition and spacing throughout the day.

What are dietary supplements?

In addition to vitamins, dietary supplements can contain minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and many other ingredients. Dietary supplements come in a variety of forms, including tablets, capsules, gummies, and powders as well as drinks and energy bars.

How can dietary supplements promote research?

The process outlined by the Office of Dietary Supplements in promoting research endeavors in this field reduces bias, enhances product integrity through quality control measures, can add to the scientific base. All studies should be registered in clinicaltrials.gov.