Supplements, necessary or not? We’ll get into that later. When it comes to cardio, running is one of the best workouts your body can get. Don’t listen to anyone saying it’s bad for your knees. Science has proven that it’s not. In fact, studies have shown that it can improve knee health as well as increase your bone mass overall. Running just five to ten minutes a day, even at a jogging pace, can reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Some of this has to do with the fact that, every time you go for a run, you decrease your heart’s resting rate, so it doesn’t need to work as hard to circulate your blood.

Why do runners need supplements?

If you’re thinking about taking up running or have been pounding the pavement for years, you should know that good nutrition is a great way to fuel your body and help propel you forward. Still, we often don’t get everything we need from what we eat so this is where supplements come in. Also, while everyone can benefit from a good multivitamin, there are certain nutraceuticals that a runner’s body will require, much more so than someone else.

Supplements for the muscles

– Whey protein

When you run, you burn a lot of kilojoules. This is great, but you need to remember that if you’re not taking in enough of them, your body won’t discriminate as to where it draws its energy. This could result in the loss of muscle tissue as opposed to what we’d all prefer – fat. To promote muscle growth while offsetting any loss, you need to ensure you’re eating an adequate amount of protein and getting it from a whey protein shake it a great way to do it. Whey protein and the muscle-building amino acids that it contains are absorbed directly into your muscle tissues where it can help repair them.

Top pick: RID Whey Protein with MCT contains medium chain triglycerides (MCT) that can help boost your energy and improve your endurance.

– Glutamine

Glutamine is an amino acid that’s naturally produced by your body and mostly stored in your muscles. A “building block” of protein, it’s essential to muscle-building and plays an important role in many other bodily functions, including supporting your immune system. Alas, after periods of intense exercise or illness, your body’s glutamine supply diminishes. All this makes it essential for athletes, plus the fact that a shortage of glutamine has also been linked to the occurrence of torn muscles.

Fortunately, you can get glutamine from certain foods, the best sources being meat, fish, milk and eggs. If you’re not a vegetarian, you should be fine, but if you’re eating a plant-based diet but feel born to run, a glutamine supplement is a must.

Top pick: Renewal Institute L-Glutamine.

Supplements for the joints

– Krill oil

Omega-3 fatty acids are the good fats that everybody needs more of, but they’re a must for those who run. As they fight inflammation and reduce the build-up of lactic acid in your muscles, this means you’ll get to enjoy a faster recovery time and less soreness and cramping. You can get your omega-3s from fish oil supplements but scientists have deemed krill oil to be a far superior source. This is because it’s much easier for your body to absorb so, if you’re swallowing krill oil, you get more bang for your buck than you would with fish.

Top pick: Renewal Institute Krill Oil also contains the mega-antioxidant astaxanthin.

The bottom line

If you’re a runner or any kind of endurance athlete, your body’s going to have specific nutritional needs. Ideally, you want to get what you need from your food, but this isn’t always possible, especially if you’re eating a diet that limits you, such as a vegetarian one.

Fortunately, you can ensure you’re getting the right nutraceuticals by taking high-quality supplements. Make an appointment today chat with your doctor who can help you create a custom supplement prescription to help you perform at your very best.