What is an Ergogenic Aid?
Before we get to evaluating the merits of an ergogenic aid, it’s important to understand what an ergogenic aid is. An ergogenic aid is any training technique, mechanical device, nutritional practice, pharmacological method, or psychological technique that can improve exercise performance capacity and/or enhance training adaptations. This includes aids that help prepare an individual to exercise, improve the efficiency of exercise, or enhance recovery from exercise. Ergogenic aids may also allow an athlete to tolerate training to a greater degree. Although this definition seems rather straightforward, there is considerable debate regarding the ergogenic value of various nutritional supplements. Some exercise physiologists only consider a supplement ergogenic if studies show that it significantly enhances exercise performance. Others feel that if a supplement helps prepare an athlete to perform, or enhances recovery from exercise, it has the potential to improve training and therefore sh
