Fats are the work of the devil, they should be shunned, avoided, banned from your diet... or not. While the old thinking suggests that all fats are bad, particularly for anyone engaged in an athletic routine personal trainers like myself, alongside labs full of researchers will tell you that not all fats are created equal and that people do indeed use them to boost their athletic performance.
When it comes down to it, those who take part in regular and ongoing training tend to have different nutritional and calorific needs. This is why many athletes turn to supplements to ensure that they are getting what they need.
Supplements in Training
While supplements do most definitely have their place I always try to encourage those in training to try and achieve their nutritional goals through their diet alone. Of course for some this just isn't possible (there is a limit to what and how much a person can ingest!) and so supplements are the answer. Above all athletes tend to look to supplements to boost their omega 3 fatty acid intake as these have been shown via numerous tests and ongoing research to be key to an athlete's recovery while boosting their overall performance.
With this in mind it makes sense to look for a omega 3 rich supplement, particularly as these valuable fats are also known to reduce fatigue, fight inflammation (and by association the signs of aging and some chronic conditions), boost muscle function by as much as twenty percent and even enhance better blood flow in those training and taking or ingesting omega 3 fatty acids.
Food for Thought
As before, I've always advocated for an omega 3 fatty acid rich diet and my point of view on this hasn't changed. While supplements might be the answer for those looking to maximise their intake due to their fierce training regime (or for those who genuinely don't like omega 3 containing foods which are mostly fish-based) there are natural ways to boost your intake too. If you like fish, or better still if you love fish Omega 3 fatty acids are found in oily fish types such as mackerel, herring, salmon and more.
Combining the Two
If you really want to get the most out of this performance enhancing and health boosting fatty acid look at combining a diet rich in essential omega 3 fatty acids (as well as being balanced enough to include other valuable nutrients) and a supplement, such as fish oils. Krill oil is particularly effective and is found on Its own or as part of a combined fish oil supplement.
In Summary
Fats aren't all evil, indeed some fats, such as these fatty acids are not only good for your training performance but also your overall health and well-being. Look carefully at your diet as what you eat is what nourishes you and fuels you and this is of supreme importance, whether you are in training or not. The key to your success will be balancing your diet and your supplements to together find that (healthy) fat-fuelled combination which will protect you while enhancing your training success.