Hi, HOt Foot, plus other members:
Profuse apologies for my long absence! last week was very busy. During weekdays it is next to impossible for me to visit forums, I have to fit several runs into my weekday evenings, plus many other things.
With regards to supplements, US govt issued a report back in 1932 with an alarming conclusion that soil has become dangerously depleted of minerals, which poses health risks for the population.
Body has over 350 magnesium metalloenzymes, more than 70 zink metalloenzymes, plus many others. Those can be formed ONLY if you get those minerals with diet.
I talked once to one top-level Canadian runner, who was at Seoul Olympics, he said he sometimes get a loss of taste sensation after a workout or a race.
This is a typical sign of zink deficiency.
James Fixx, a famous running advocate, died of cardiac myopathy, which is a classical case of selenium deficiency.
Unless you buy your produce from a farmer, who uses "stone flour" (a ground stone dust), there is no way you can get all the minerals in required quantities from food.
There are several copper metalloenzymes inside red blood cells. A lack of copper can significantly impair endurance performance.
Even with such a basic mineral as potassium, an active athlete can develop dangerously low levels of it. It can lead to arrhythmia and even cardiac arrest. This is a medical fact!
You, no doubt, heard of runners dying of cardiac arrest on a race. I have a whole website about that (noCardiacArrest).
I ran at least 3 races, where a runner collapsed and died. Plus I hear almost every year on the news about someone dropping dead, with no known history of medical problems.
If you are an active runner, this is something you definitely need to know.
So you may want to do an internet search for terms like "mineral supplements", "magnesium deficiency", "zink deficiency", "selenium deficiency", "metalloenzymes", "magnesium enzymes", "zink enzymes", "copper enzymes".
Lots of info is out there!
Again, my apologies for not replying sooner: (and if I again disappear for a wk or two, you know why!)
Good running!
icepack