GymnaChef 2: A Gymnast’s Cookbook for the Four Seasons: More Meals, Snacks, Shakes, and Desserts for Gymnasts, Athletes, and their Families from a Gymnastics Nutrition Coach and by Laouar Mess & Laouar Betsy McNally

Author:Laouar, Mess & Laouar, Betsy McNally
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2022-02-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Supplements and Young Athletes: Yes or No?

ONE OF THE BIGGEST questions I get when I travel with Betsy Bootcamp is how I feel about athlete supplementation, specifically for gymnasts. Although I am a sports nutritionist, this is out of my expertise and scope of practice, to recommend supplements. I am not an RD, so I stay away from recommending or prescribing supplements. As a parent, I also struggle with some supplements and their marketing strategies. I’ve also had many people contact me, asking I try or sell supplements, so I have developed somewhat of a bad taste in my mouth regarding them. That is not to say there are not good, useful, or even needed supplements. I myself take fish oil, vitamin D, and a multivitamin every day.

In dealing with our young athletes, we need to be smart. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health put out a great article on children and supplement use called, “10 things to know about Dietary Supplements for Children and Teens.” It states that, “according to a 2012 national survey, nearly 12 percent of children (about one in nine) in the USA use a complementary dietary or herbal supplement. Some for weight loss or bodybuilding, which contain harmful substances. In addition, many dietary supplements haven’t been tested in children. Because children’s bodies aren’t fully developed, the side effect of these product in children and adults may differ.”

As a parent of an autistic child with many food deficiencies, I have experimented myself, personally, with a few of these supplements. Sometimes, I have used a physician’s advice, sometimes using my own caution, and other times I just to “try” them out. I have found that trusting my intuition has been beneficial in conjunction with working with my medical doctor. I highly recommend contacting your physician before embarking upon any supplement regime for your athlete. I know it is tempting, as we are always searching for new ways to gain maximum performance, but oftentimes, our athletes can get everything they need from a balanced diet.

Although I am not an expert in supplements, I do think it’s important that parents do their research. That is why I am including, in the next section, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health’s fact sheet on Using Dietary Supplements Wisely. Again, it is up to you and your physician to decide which supplements you would like to explore. Again, as a sports nutritionist and not a certified RD or medical physician, I am limited in prescribing and recommending, but I do recommend that you as a parent thoroughly investigate any and supplements.

The information below is taken word for word from the article found at www.nccih.nih.gov/health/tips/things-to-know-about-dietary-supplements-for-children-and-teens:

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health’s Fact Sheet on Using Dietary Supplements Wisely

1. Although many dietary supplements come from natural sources, “natural” does not necessarily mean “safe.”

2. Federal regulations for dietary supplements are less strict than those for prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

3. Dietary and herbal supplements may be poor quality and contain contaminants, including drugs, chemicals, or metals.

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