Ahh I see I won't agree with you so your gonna take offense and try and pick my stance apart by pointing out anything I ingest could be considered a "suppliment.
So for the record I "take" the following:
Electrolite drinks only when its hot water all the rest of the time. Salt tablets when its hot. Potassium and magnesium since I find it seems temper the tachicardia I have (which limits how much caffine I can have dispite the fact I love coffee). I take an emergency c each night most to stave off sickness from being in public buildings and riding mass tansit its prolly bunk my I hate being sick. In truth I could do without all of that and ride just as well tho I might cramp more since my diet is iffy. I did try taking Beta alanine for a few months a few years ago and while I seemed to notice some improvement I felt like it wasn't anything worth spending money on or that I could achieve on my own.
Im not really interested into getting into if gatorade is "doping" I know you can easily make and argument for and aginst that.
What Im arguing is that you (because you seem to be defending the idea that supplements are nessary) are pushing the fact that to reach the next level you have to take something and yes I think that help build the whole idea that taking "something" is permissible and there starts the slipper slope. When you get past basic multi vits you quickly get into a land of suppliments that claim to basicly give the effcts of illegal doping products I find that pretty lame.
Personally I think the view point that you don't have to take anything should be out there too as well as all the people spouting that you need this or that to taking to the next level.
I've never said supplements are necessary, nor have I said one should use them.
I just think it's a very low bow to draw to say that someone looking to use a supplement leads to doping. I'm just pointing out the fallacy of your argument, that's all.
e.g. Since you are using a range of supplements yourself, has that made you more susceptible to the use of doping products?
I don't say Gatorade is doping. I do say it's a supplement.
Doping is whatever WADA defines it to be.
Note that not all prohibited substances improve performance.
BTW - there's no evidence that Vit C supplementation has any impact on preventing sickness (colds/flu). So not only are you taking supplements but you are using one that has no basis in evidence to provide the effect you are after.
My guiding principles on supplements are pretty clear:
A supplement is just that, supplemental to the primary means for improving performance which are: hard training, recovery, good diet and good equipment and set up.
When considering their use then I am guided by:
- is one already maximising their gains through hard training, recovery, good diet and equipment and set up
- evidence - does it actually work? how, why, under what circumstances? Let the science guide you (and avoid the sort of marketing clap trap we've seen on this thread)
- legality - is it legal under the laws or whatever jurisdiction you happen to be in?
- is it prohibited by WADA or relevant governing bodies?
- is it ethical to take?
- does it have other potential negative impacts (e.g. gastric distress)?
- what are the costs (balanced against the actual benefit)?
even if the above boxes are ticked as being OK, it still does not mean one should necessarily use it. Nevertheless, by using these principles, one is not on a path to doping but rather a process to educate themselves on what's worthwhile considering.
