Athlete nutrition/supplementation
July 25, 2011 | 15,00 EUR | answered by Uni-Arzt Freddy Feuerstein
Our 18-year-old son is actively playing soccer in a club, constantly pushing himself during training and games. As a result, his concentration and performance in school (he is about to graduate) have significantly declined, reflected in his grades (a strong drop in performance). Is there a vitamin iso-drink or similar that he can take? There are thousands of offers on the internet, but they don't seem quite trustworthy to me. Please provide a clear recommendation on this matter. Thank you. Sincerely, H.C.
Dear questioners,
I'm sorry that I can't provide you with a solution on a silver platter. There is no scientifically proven drink that boosts your son's performance and increases his concentration.
A healthy balanced diet, apple spritzer, and sufficient water are completely sufficient for a young healthy person to achieve an age-appropriate coverage of minerals and vitamins. You can save money on additional "vitamin supplements" that are offered for sometimes hefty prices on the internet. Most of the time, they don't do more than possibly have a placebo effect, and some drinks are downright counterproductive. For example, energy drinks with high caffeine content may provide a temporary performance boost, but then concentration drops below the initial level. Plus, most contain far too much sugar.
An isotonic drink after exercise is "apple spritzer," or NON-ALCOHOLIC "shandy," or "wheat beer."
However, engaging in sports is not a reason for your son to fall behind academically. On the contrary, physical activity leads to improved brain circulation and the reduction of stress hormones.
You should look for other possible causes. Is there a lack of sleep (due to going out, using the computer, watching TV)? Are there too many parties? Are there any other psychological problems in his social circle, love life? Is the pressure built up at school too great, resulting in an anti-attitude? The possible reasons are varied, but the problems probably have nothing to do with sports and definitely cannot be solved by a drink.
If your son is playing semi-professional soccer and training 4-5 times a week, then he may indeed be overworked. In that case, you just need to reduce the training and focus more on school until graduation.
Best regards
