In the hustle to keep my edge, popping a few pills has helped a ton.
By Steve Nash
When I hit my 30s, everything started getting harder: building strength and endurance, recovering from workouts, warding off sickness. Of course none of the 20-something phenoms I run up and down the court with care about any of that, so I’m always looking for a legal advantage. I’ve learned that eating the healthiest diet, training a little more, and trying to get a lot more sleep than other players goes a long way, but adding a couple of key natural supplements to my diet about a year ago —————————————————has had the most surprising effect.
Now, at 36, I count on a probiotic pill to keep my digestive system on track, glucosamine to keep my joints healthy, and a multivitamin for overall wellness. What’s essential to all of these supplements is that they come from whole-food sources. I took a synthetic vitamin — the cheaper ones can derive their nutrients from coal tar (yes, coal tar!) — for a long time, but then I started hearing that the body doesn’t absorb them well. When I looked into the alternative, vitamins made from fruits and vegetables, the switch seemed like a no-brainer. These vitamins are quite a bit more expensive, but a number of studies back their effectiveness, and more important, I feel better on them.
But here’s the thing: There’s a lot of legitimate skepticism out there surrounding supplements, and some can even be unhealthy. For example, ephedra, derived from a Chinese herb, was designed to give people a boost of energy but increased heart rates to dangerous levels. My advice? Don’t consume any supplement without first doing your homework. Make sure the ones you choose are made from whole foods and that the company tests the foods that go into them for safety. If you have any doubts at all, check with your doctor. And if you don’t see results after two months, stop wasting money on the supplement. I’m banking on these things keeping me in the game into my 40s; hopefully they’ll keep you performing at your highest level for a long time, too.
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This article originally appeared in the June/July 2010 issue of Men’s Journal.
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May 28th, 2010 at 7:21 am
Steve,
Only mortals need supplements. Mortal you are not. Go Suns!
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May 28th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
The supplements help in adding to the system/body not vital to the system/body. Take your own risk against mother nature! Love ya Nash! You are the champion
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May 28th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Thanks so much for this good, sound advice, Steve! You must be doing something right, you are phenomenal! Love ya, Beat L.A.!
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May 28th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Great advice Steve! Glad to hear that you strive to continue playing into your 40′s. You are a great inspiration to many people of all ages!
Beat L.A.!
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May 28th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Good to hear that, Steve! That assures me I could see you playing more in the next years. And hey, FINALS is almost here! I know you can beat L.A.!
)
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May 28th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Great Great advise Steve.. if I will be doing this diet and taking these supplements, i could be as great as a 2-time MVP like you! Good luck in the series! really looking up to you! Great job Idol!
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May 28th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
Great advice for players who aspire to be in the NBA or people who just wanna stay healthy. Good luck against the lakers, and the celts =)
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May 29th, 2010 at 1:04 am
Will supplements make me ambidextrous??
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May 31st, 2010 at 4:12 pm
This really is helpful! I have been wondering about the effectiveness of a multi and just decided not to take it because I have read how very little they help. But a doctor did once tell me about whole vitamins and when I found them I could not bare the price tag. Ouch! I do take my Vidazorb chewable probiotic every day though and I love it! Thanks for the reminder on a whole foods multi!
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June 1st, 2010 at 5:04 pm
What are the vitamins he takes made of fruit and vegetables that have the glucosamine in them?
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June 2nd, 2010 at 7:51 pm
Steve,
Great to hear your fueling you body with whole food supplements. I have been consuming whole food nutrition since 1994 after years of juicing, so for me it’s much cheaper. What I like about the brand I eat is the 15 years of science behind this specific product. Keep up the great work Steve. My household was cheering you on in every game.
Colorado,
Healthy in Scottsdale
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June 7th, 2010 at 1:20 am
Nice Job Steve Nash.
I’v been working in the health industry for 10 years now and i’m a huge believer in natural and organic supplements. It really has taken a long time for everyone out there to truly accept supplements with a natural foundation – everyone wants a quick fix!
Its great to see such a star as Steve Nash to help put this matter out there.
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July 4th, 2010 at 8:00 am
I’d like to know what supplements in particular Steve is taking. That would help me compare with what I think is good. Plus, I like finding out about new stuff.
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October 29th, 2010 at 10:39 pm
This article does a great job of starting the discussion, but there is a lot more to know, check out: http://www.halfironmantraining.org/ For a lot more information!
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March 28th, 2011 at 6:49 am
Using Vitamin Supplements are an essential fact of life for busy people who don’t get enough critical nutrients from their diet. As far as natural whole-food supplements go Organic Spirulina is my favorite (pill form of course..)
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August 29th, 2011 at 9:21 am
I would say that taking supplements is essential as you get older – is it even possible to get all the nutrients you need through diet alone anymore? Not to mention the toxic load of the modern environment. Good advice though on doing your homework, because the supplement market, to my knowledge, is not heavily regulated.
Amy,
Muffin top exercises
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