{"id":573990,"date":"2019-03-25T08:08:50","date_gmt":"2019-03-25T08:08:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intouchrugby.com\/magazine\/?p=573990"},"modified":"2020-11-03T13:15:51","modified_gmt":"2020-11-03T13:15:51","slug":"the-best-supplements-for-rugby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intouchrugby.com\/magazine\/the-best-supplements-for-rugby\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Supplements for Rugby"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Best Supplements for Rugby<\/b><\/p>\n

Rugby is unique in that it requires speed and endurance, strength and size, power and resilience through contact. Not only does it demand the entire spectrum of athleticism, but each individual position come with its unique challenges. <\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s one of the best parts of rugby – anyone can play. But once you start taking it seriously at the top levels, nutrition and supplementation make the difference between victory at the final whistle and calling for a sub 20 minutes in.<\/span><\/p>\n

For you, my friend, we offer the best supplements for rugby to provide that physical and mental edge you need.<\/span><\/p>\n

The best supplements for rugby tackle five main areas:<\/b><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Every Day Supplements <\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Building Strength, Size, and Power<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Aerobic and Anaerobic Capacity<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Recovery from Training and Competition<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Injury Prevention and Return to Play<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Every Day Supplements <\/b><\/p>\n

    Like a good shower and brushing your teeth, certain supplements should be a staple in your routine as a rugby player. You train harder than the average bear, so treat your body like the sports car it is with daily maintenance. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Ultimately, your go-to every day supplements are fish oil, multivitamins, and electrolytes.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Fish oil<\/b><\/p>\n

    Theoretically, you could just eat a lot of fish. But, I mean, a LOT. So much so that you\u2019d probably be too stuffed to play. Instead, get the benefits of the good fats in fish from fish oils. These little capsules extract out the good stuff so it can go straight to nourishing your cells.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Omega-3 fats help build the lipid bilayers of your cells, especially your brain cells which are high in fat. These beauties also counteract exercise-induced <\/span>inflammation<\/span><\/a> in order to recover faster. For daily supplementation, take 2-3 grams of fish oil, possibly more depending on body weight or injury status.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Multivitamin <\/b><\/p>\n

    While we all say we eat enough fruits and vegetables to get our vitamins and minerals, how often is that actually true? Even the healthiest rugby player needs a little extra boost at times, whether it\u2019s iron for oxygen transfer in our bloodstream, vitamin D when it\u2019s been cloudy for months, or vitamin C and zinc when we\u2019re a little under the weather. <\/span><\/p>\n

    To become the best rugby player, the secret is practice, practice, practice. Yet the more training stress you submit your body to, the more nutrients it requires to function optimally. <\/span>Multivitamins<\/b><\/a> are the perfect daily solution to capture the benefits of fruits and vegetables without having to eat yourself into a coma. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Electrolytes<\/b><\/p>\n

    Sports drinks have long been renowned for their performance-enhancing abilities. In competition and training, the combination of quick-digesting carbs and salts keeps your body fueled like no other.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Yet outside of training, in our day-to-day, we don\u2019t need those sugars. They can actually be inflammatory, cause extra weight gain, and lead to a lethargic crash. Isolated electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, provide the hydration benefits of sports drinks without the extra sugar.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Our cells need salts to retain water, and our nervous system craves electrolytes for signaling. Pick a daily electrolyte supplement and stay ready.<\/span><\/p>\n

    One easy way to do this is to choose a pre-workout supplement containing electrolytes. Performance Lab\u2019s Sport <\/span>Pre-Workout<\/b><\/a> includes Himalayan Pink Salt, while the same company\u2019s <\/span>Post-Workout<\/b><\/a> contains Organic Coconut Water Crystals to keep you performing at your best.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Building Strength, Size, and Power<\/b><\/p>\n

    If you want to build size, you have to eat for it. Strength and power are built in the gym, and lean body mass follows with proper nutrition and supplementation. Did you know that what you eat in and around your training sessions can have a massive impact on the efficacy of your workouts?<\/span><\/p>\n

    What you eat around your workout will make or break your success. Protein, carbs, salts, and creatine lay the groundwork for elite performance. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Protein and carbs <\/b><\/p>\n

    You\u2019ve heard of the importance of post-workout protein to build muscle. In reality, it\u2019s even more important for recovery. Your post workout shake can be altered for mass gain by doubling the calories and carbs. <\/span><\/p>\n

    After high-intensity sessions especially, you need carbs to refill those glycogen stores and amino acids to stimulate anabolic processes such as muscle protein synthesis.. Remember, <\/span>recovery<\/span><\/a> is when you really build. A 3:1 carb-to-protein ratio works best for high intensity lifts or mass gain, while a clean whey is great for lifts with long rest periods.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Creatine<\/b><\/p>\n

    While carbs provide energy for aerobic and Anaerobic metabolism, Creatine fuels power. Anything lasting less than 6 seconds, like a 40 meter sprint or a power clean, requires ample creatine to produce the highest output. And higher output in the gym each session equates to larger gains over time.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Great <\/span>pre-workouts<\/span><\/a> for strength or power sessions contain Creatine and a mix of essential amino acids to get the job done.<\/span><\/p>\n

    BCAAs<\/b><\/p>\n

    BCAA\u2019s<\/span><\/a> replenish energy by restoring <\/span>glucose levels<\/span><\/a> and managing blood sugar. The three BCAAs, leucine, isoleucine, and valine, comprise around 40% of your amino acid requirement. During exercise, they enhance your strength capacity, and afterwards they promote muscular recovery. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Aerobic and Anaerobic Capacity <\/b><\/p>\n

    See above for the significance of carbs and hydration here. Aerobic and anaerobic training, such as conditioning, scrum work, or a regular practice and game require glucose metabolism. AKA carbs. Research has shown that mild <\/span>dehydration<\/span><\/a> decreases anaerobic endurance up to 10%. So get those taken care of first.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Find a <\/span>post-workout supplement<\/span><\/a> that counteracts dehydration and adds to protein synthesis and glucose metabolism.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Beta Alanine<\/b><\/p>\n

    Glucose metabolism (you know, the very thing that provides the energy to play) produces byproducts in the form of hydrogen ions. When these molecules collect in your muscle and bloodstream, your body slows down in an effort to clear them. Beta alanine, however, acts as a buffer to shuttle these little hydrogen ions away, allowing you to continue to operate on all cylinders.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Unfortunately, beta alanine isn\u2019t something you can just pop before a game and feel the effects. It requires a pretty long loading period, and only works if you\u2019re pushing your body to the point that excess hydrogen builds up. But if used right and combined with intense training, your body adapts to a higher level of performance.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Amino acid blends <\/b><\/p>\n

    Amino acids don\u2019t only stimulate protein synthesis. L-Glutamine, L-Citrulline, and L-Carnosine clear build up of the ammonia byproduct of anaerobic metabolism as well. They also improve power output and increase blood levels of bicarbonate on their own. That way, you can hack into your body\u2019s existing bicarbonate source to balance out the negative acidic effects of training. A good <\/span>pre-workout amino acid blend<\/span><\/a> extends time until failure, letting you train harder for longer. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Recovery From Training<\/b><\/p>\n

    It\u2019s not only about how hard you train, but how fast you recover. Playing rugby and training break your body down. It\u2019s necessary, as you build practice, strength, and resilience through new challenges and demands, In order for your body to adapt to those demands, however, you have to recover. Otherwise you\u2019re just on a constant downhill slope.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Antioxidants, post-workout glycogen stores, protein before bed and supplements that facilitate high quality sleep are key. Your top three supplements for recovery are:<\/span><\/p>\n