And the results are in…

Below is a survey SoLéte recently posted, with permission, on the forums of two cycling-specific websites: www.teambulldog.com and www.mtbnj.com, if you care to take a look. After a gestation period of several weeks, we returned to each site in order to see if any responses had started to come in. To our surprise, there were over 100 views between both forums, and although only a total of 16 people actually responded, it was enough information to neutrally pool data and thus generate a general feeling of conclusion, something from which we can then pull from in future endeavors. Results and graphical conclusions are listed after the survey below. If you care to further balance the accuracy of our results by participating, please drop us an email (you can find our email address by clicking to view our complete profile) with a sequentially numbered list of your most honest answers and opinions. SoLéte thanks you in advance.

The following is a survey aimed at analyzing athletes’ concerns with what goes into their bodies, specifically in terms of artificial ingredient and additive consumption via nutritional sports supplements (ie: Endurox, Cytomax, Accelerade, Clif, and so on).

On a whole, as active individuals, we consume a variety of performance supplements on an almost daily basis. If the average serving size for a post-recovery drink is two scoops, roughly 70 grams, a year’s consumption is just over 50 pounds; which still does not include pre-ride, endurance, and gel supplements. For the most part, sports supplements are a source of nutrition and thus health and positive results, but what about the brands that do not offer entirely natural ingredients?

In the food industry in general, companies have a tendency to include artificial additives—such as colorings, flavorings, and sweeteners—in their ingredients. How often do you read ingredient labels before consumption or even before purchase of a product? In most sports supplement brands the artificial additive story is the same. The question is, if we are care enough to maintain active and healthy outdoor lifestyles, should we not also care about what goes into the same bodies we are trying to make healthier?

In order to obtain an accurate reading on your views, concerns, and ideas concerning artificial additives in sports supplements, please respond honestly to the following survey. Thank you in advance for your time.

1. What sports supplements do you use—including gels and powder mixes—for racing and/or everyday riding?

2. Do you research in order to find supplements with all natural ingredients?

3. Is the consumption of artificial flavorings, colorings, or sweeteners something of concern when choosing sports nutrition and supplements?
4. Would you opt for all natural ingredients if the benefits in performance remained equal to those found when using supplements with artificial additives?

5. How much of your decision in choosing sports supplements is dependent upon price?

6. It takes time to research which products do and do not contain artificial additives; and so, if an online store were to provide a varied selection of exclusively all natural sports supplements and products, would you be interested?

-SoLéte Nutrition