Brain Food

Q: I often hear the expression “brain food.” What does it mean, and is it important for strength training?

A: Brain function is an especially important factor to consider when designing a weight-training workout. One reason I don’t prescribe more than six reps per set to hockey players is they can’t count higher than that! Seriously, the quintessential supplement that all athletes should use is docosahexaenoic acid, an omega-3 fat. I say that because speed is critical in most sports, and DHA is found mainly in the fast-twitch muscle fibers. A DHA deficiency reduces the potential conduction velocity of the muscles, and a suboptimal DHA count will impair your weight-training workouts and sport performance.

Editor’s note: Charles Poliquin is recognized as one of the world’s most suc-cessful strength coaches, having coached Olympic med-alists in 12 different sports, including the U.S. women’s track-and-field team for the 2000 Olympics. He’s spent years researching European journals (he’s fluent in English, French and German) and speaking with other coaches and scientists in his quest to optimize training methods. For more on his books, seminars and methods, visit www.CharlesPoliquin.net.  IM