If you’re a runner, it’s important that you get the vitamins and nutrients you need to recover and be successful. With that in mind, we have gathered the best supplements for runners to ensure you are taking what your body requires. These supplements help your body internally, especially your joints and bones, when you push yourself during a run. Keep reading to see what our research suggests is best.
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Do runners need supplements?
This question enters into the medical debate as to whether or not vitamins are necessary. Scientifically speaking, daily nutrition can be met from your diet alone. However, this relies on you eating the right foods that are high in vitamins and minerals. Examples include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy products, low-fat protein, and beans.
However, if you are running a ton, burning lots of calories, and have a hard time getting in the level of nutrients you need, then you should definitely look into taking some supplements. As we know, “supplements” mean exactly what they say in that they should supplement your diet, so it often depends on each individual person.
What supplements are good for runners?
We found a few options that we recommend as good supplements for runners. These help with joints, hormones, and blood pressure. It’s definitely important to take good care of your joints, bones, and heart as a runner.
- GNC TriFlex Fast Acting – It is a supplement that is fast acting, and it will help with stiffness and increase flexibility and mobility when running.
- Adrenal Restore – Help balance hormones like adrenaline, cortisol, DHEA, progesterone, and testosterone, which are essential to keep your body functioning.
- SuperBeets Heart Chews – Helps control blood pressure if you are known to have it without exercising.
These are just a few supplements for runners. This is a good starting point and a preview of what you can expect to see for other supplements we have listed.
Best supplements for runners joints?
12. Physio Flex Pro, $58
The Physio Flex Pro supplement contains selenium, glucosamine, bromelain, ginger, turmeric, Bioperine, Chondroitin Sulfate, and methylsulfonylmethane. All these ingredients help loosen stiff joints and restore movement, making your runs more comfortable. It helps with any aches and pains you might be experiencing, especially after a run. When your legs feel sore, this is an excellent supplement to look into.
11. Performance Lab Flex, $49
The Performance Lab Flex is the world’s most advanced supplement for daily joint health. This supplement contains turmeric, glucosamine sulfate, phytodroitin, and Methylsulfonylmethane. With these ingredients, it helps with providing long-lasting joint relief and joint lubrication so you can move in a smooth, comfortable motion. What makes this the best supplement for joints is that they target multiple joint health, so it hits all the pathways to provide bone strength, and comfort, hydrating the cartilage and giving a healthy repair to the joints.
Best supplements for runners recovery?
10. SCIENCE IN SPORT REGO Rapid Recovery, $58
The Science in Sport Rego Rapid Recovery is by far the best supplement for runners recovery. It contains thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, and vitamins C, E, B12, and B6. When running, you put a lot of pressure on your joints and muscles in your legs. Having a recovery supplement helps with rebuilding the muscles, making them stronger and more durable, which causes you to be less likely to fall and break a bone. It comes in three different flavors: strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla.
Best supplements for runners over 50?
9. Vitamin D3 with Sea-Iodine, $10.50
The Vitamin D3 with Sea-Iodine helps support the bone, cognitive and immune systems. When running, especially when you are older, your bones need all the support because you have put them through wear and tear over the years. Vitamin D helps with healthy aging, ensuring your bones stay nice and strong and keeping your immune system in check, and it helps prevent you from getting sick. As a runner, it helps keep the bones in your legs and prevents them from breaking easily.
8. Micronized Creatine Monohydrate, $33
The Micronized Creatine Monohydrate can be good for people over 50 because it can provide power and strength, thereby reducing the risk of falls or injuries while running. If you’re interested in taking it, be sure to talk to a doctor before you do so because creatine isn’t for everyone. Five grams is the usual amount if you are beginning to try it, so we suggest taking half a scoop or less. Do not use it if you have a medical condition or are taking certain prescription medications specified on their website.
What about supplements for female runners?
7. Thorne Iron Bisglycinate, $14
The Thorne Iron Bisglycinate only has one ingredient: iron bisglycinate. It is essential to have iron in your body because it helps with growth and development as you get older. As women, it is a mineral that we can get depleted of especially after that time of the month. Also, iron helps you from getting tired so quickly. Some say that you can tell if you have low iron by how you feel throughout the day. Runners can have low iron due to the amount of physical activity on the body. By taking a supplement like this, female runners will safely replenish their body.
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6. Sunwarrior Ormus Super Greens, $30
The Sunwarrior Ormus Super Greens contain calcium, iron, sodium, and potassium, which are all essential to runners, especially females. Mix it with water in a smoothie if you want something that has more flavor. After drinking this supplement, you will feel more energy within thirty to sixty minutes. The supplement is planet based, so anyone can use it regardless of their dietary restrictions. We suggest using this supplement in the morning because it will give you that energy you need for a good run and when you go to work.
5. OmegaWell, $21
Lastly, OmegaWell is perfect for female runners because it is made up of fish oil that contains omega-3 fatty acids. This supplement helps reduce stress in the body that you might feel when running. It helps with the brain, heart, and joint health by keeping the areas strong and ensuring you don’t have any joint discomfort. You would take it daily with a meal. Whether you take them before or after you eat, they will still help the body no matter what time of day you run.
What supplements help with endurance?
4. SCIENCE IN SPORT Electrolyte Powder, $34.11 – 41.53
The Science in Sport Electrolyte Powder is a supplement you put in your water and drink. It helps boost energy to provide better performance with your running. It includes calcium, magnesium, and potassium ingredients that will help with your endurance to get you to the finish line. The powder comes in three flavors orange, lemon-lime, and raspberry. It will keep you hydrated even when you are sweating. It is designed to replace critical electrolytes while you run to support the best physical performance.
3. Hi-Lyte Electrolyte Replacement Capsules, $26
The Hi-Lyte Electrolyte contains potassium, magnesium, sodium, calcium, manganese, L-Tyronsine, and vitamins D3 and B6. This supplement is designed to help athletes to gain rehydration for endurance. The formula is to help minimize heat stress and muscle cramping, something you would experience as a runner. It is the ultimate hydration to keep you hydrated when you are running. It also supports muscle recovery, energy, and endurance. Take it thirty to sixty minutes before running with water. It will help push you to the finish line of your run.
Best supplements for marathon runners?
2. Runner Vitamin, $23.74
The Runner Vitamin is just what it sounds like— a multivitamin for runners. It contains vitamins D, C, B12, B6, B2, A, and E. They provide energy and help with your eyes if you train early or late at night. Specifically, vitamin A helps improve eyesight. It’s handy because this pill provides all the nutrients you need in one supplement, and you won’t have to take others on top of it. It provides 3x antioxidants to help with immunity, health, and recovery. It is an all-in-one kind of supplement that covers many bases.
1. Ultimate Omega-D3 Sport $28
The Ultimate Omega D3 Sport is an excellent supplement for marathon runners because it has many key factors in this one supplement. It is targeted to help with joint mobility, endurance, healthy muscle, and body composition. Vitamin D is good for you because it helps build strong bones and you can wear your bones down when running marathons. It contains other Omegas like fish oil, too, to help with heart and bone health.
Why do marathon runners need supplements?
Supplements can be helpful to marathon runners because training to run 26.2 miles can be hard on the body. These supplements can help give your body nutrition to fuel and recover correctly after long runs. The above supplements we have listed will help with endurance and keep you going until the end to finish the marathon.
Tips to consider when choosing supplements
- Read reviews online from other runners
- See if your doctor recommends any particular ingredients based on your healthy history
- Read the ingredients to ensure nothing will make your stomach upset or interact with current medications
- Read dosage or serving information carefully
Are calcium supplements good for runners?
Absolutely! Calcium is an essential nutrient for runners. If you are not getting enough calcium with your food as a runner, you should find a supplement to help. It maintains bone health and supports a healthy running lifestyle. Since you are running on your legs a lot, they need support to help avoid injuries and perform well.
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Who may not benefit from running supplements?
During our research, we realized some people may not benefit from running supplements. Namely, vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free eaters, and other special diets because some vitamins contain extra ingredients they cannot consume. The goal here would be to adjust your diet to include the right nutrients you need the most of. If supplements are too tricky to incorporate, try to introduce these same ingredients naturally.