ConsumerLab.com Answers
Question:
I do moderate exercise for about an hour a few times a week. Which supplements might help me?
Answer:
When working out, nutritional needs to consider include hydration and electrolytes, energy, and protein. So let's discuss each of these briefly, as well as supplements providing other vitamins or ingredients — some of which you may want to avoid when working out.
Hydration/Electrolytes/Energy: As long as you are fairly healthy and eating a balanced diet, if you work out for an hour, you only need water to recover; you don't need an "electrolyte" supplement. This was shown in a study which compared water to coconut water and a rehydration sports drink (as discussed in the Coconut Waters Review). Only when doing strenuous exercise for long periods of time (i.e., 90 minutes or more) are you likely to be sweating out enough electrolytes (primarily sodium) to require replenishment. However, after a long-period of strenuous exercise, a drink or food which provides some sugar (energy) may help restore blood sugar levels.
Protein: Extra protein from a powder or drink can help athletes build muscle and older people prevent or reverse age-related loss of muscle strength when used in conjunction with resistance-type exercise (such as free weights, weight machines, resistance bands, or your own body weight — as with squats). If you are not doing resistance-type exercise, extra protein won't help. This is discussed in the Protein Powders and Drinks Review, which includes information about types of protein, dosing, and our ratings and comparisons of products.
Evidence for Other Supplements:
Branched-chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) may help reduce muscle breakdown during exercise (and reduce soreness from long-distance intense exercise,) but BCAAs do not appear to have performance-enhancing effects. (BCAAs may reduce muscle loss due to inactivity, such as around the time of knee surgery). For more about this, see the Muscle Enhancers Review (Creatine and BCAAs).
Creatine may improve muscle strength and endurance during repeated high-intensity exercise of short duration, such as weight lifting and sprinting. It is not of benefit in purely aerobic exercises. For more information about this, see the Muscle Enhancers Review (Creatine and BCAAs).
Curcumin (from turmeric) has reduced muscle soreness due to intense exercise in some studies, but not all. For details see the Turmeric and Curcumin Supplements Review.
Fish oil has been shown to help increase strength from training in women but not in men. For details see the Fish Oil Supplements Review.
Vitamin D supplementation helps increase strength from training among people deficient in vitamin D. However, among people who are not deficient, supplementing with vitamin D may reduce the benefits of exercise. This is explained in the Vitamin D Supplements Review.
Vitamin D isn't the only anti-oxidant which can potentially blunt the benefits effects of exercise. This has also been shown with resveratrol and high-doses of vitamins C and E. It has been speculated that during exercise, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are created which trigger positive changes in muscle, but anti-oxidants remove ROS, preventing this from happening.
ConsumerLab.com Answers
Question:
Can coconut water help with muscle cramps or restless legs syndrome?
Answer:
As discussed in the Coconut Waters Review, coconut water can be a rich source of potassium, a mineral which is essential for proper muscle and nerve function. Potassium deficiency can cause muscle spasms, which may be one reason it's sometimes promoted for muscle cramps.
One preliminary study suggests that potassium may be helpful for restless legs syndrome, however, there are no clinical studies on the use of coconut water for muscle cramps or restless legs syndrome. Be aware getting too much potassium may also cause leg cramps — and there have been reports of elevated blood levels of potassium and related serious adverse effects in people who consumed excessive amounts of coconut water. For more information, see the "Concerns and Cautions" sections of the Potassium Supplements Review and the Coconut Waters Review.
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Product Reviews Coconut Waters Review -- Tests of O.N.E., Vita Coco, and Zico |
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Initial Posting: 8/2/11 Last Update: 7/17/18
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Choose the Best Coconut Water Some Coconut Water Brands Don't Deliver on Promised Magnesium & Other Electrolytes
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What is coconut water? It's the natural juice in green coconuts -- and it's now being bottled and sold as a natural alternative to sports drinks due its electrolytes. But does it really deliver? That depends on the brand, according to our tests.
Before you buy coconut water, read our Coconut Water Product Review. You need to join to get ConsumerLab.com's valuable information about coconut water and the products reviewed. In this comprehensive report, you'll discover:
- The potential benefits of coconut water.
- Which coconut water -- O.N.E., Vita Coco, or Zico -- rated best for truthful labeling.
- How coconut water brands compare on nutrients, taste, and price.
- Which coconut water may be best for rehydration.
- Potential side effects of coconut water.
Learn More About Which Coconut Water Passed the TestQuestion:
I do moderate exercise for about an hour a few times a week. Which supplements might help me? Get the answer >>
Question:
Can coconut water help with muscle cramps or restless legs syndrome? Get the answer >>
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Update:
(9/13/2012): Based on findings from this report, a class action suit was brought against the maker of one of the coconut waters reviewed. As part of settlement of the suit, the company agreed to changes to its labeling and quality control procedures and to provide payments to people who had purchased its products. See the details in the Update in the report.
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