NASM Nutrition Series : Making Sense of Supplements

No matter how hard you try, there is no escaping the endless stream of advertising for all the nutritional supplements out there. From protein and creatine, to caffeine and other more-controversial performance aids, there is something tailored to every health, wellness, and fitness goal. Since each one claims to be the best and most effective, how do you separate research-supported hope from marketing hype?

This course will help you make sense of the common trends in supplements. More than 20 experts in nutrition, psychology and behavior change were consulted to provide the most reliable guidance for people of varying ages, ethnicities, backgrounds, food preferences, and goals.

Upon the completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Describe the role of supplements across various goals
• Explain the strengths and weaknesses of the supporting evidence for commonly used supplements
• Communicate the pros and cons of using supplements
• Identify the position of supplementation within the hierarchy of programming components

The 4 modules included in this online learning course are:

• Module 1 - Introduction to Dietary Supplements
• Module 2 - Supplements for Muscle Gain and Recovery
• Module 3 - Supplements for Fat Loss
• Module 4 - Performance Enhancing Supplements

A brief summary of the module content:

• Module 1: Introduction to Dietary Supplements
  Prevalence of use, regulations, guidelines for supplement selection, dietary patterns to optimize health, multivitamin and mineral supplements
• Module 2: Supplements for Muscle Gain and Recovery
  Creatine monohydrate, protein, whey, essential amino acids (EAAs), and HMB (Hydroxy-Methylbutyrate)
• Module 3: Supplements for Fat Loss
  Stimulants, caffeine, capsaicin, starch/fat blockers, and meal-replacement formulas
• Module 4: Performance Enhancing Supplements
  Creatine monohydrate, caffeine, beta alaine, and sodium bicarbonate

The course includes:

• 4 in-depth modules including: Introduction to Dietary Supplements, Supplements for Muscle Gain and Recovery, Supplements for Fat Loss, and Performance Enhancing Supplements
• 1 video on "Fat Burner" Supplements
• Visual learning aids, including charts and infographics
• Final online exam (15 questions)
• Certificate of Completion

The content in this course was developed for NASM’s Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC) program.