# Good performance enhancing substances **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 23, 2018, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-performance-enhancing-substances/811055 "2018-03-23T03:23:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2018, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-performance-enhancing-substances/811055/21 "2018-03-23T20:39:41Z")
Look into [cooling gloves](https://news.stanford.edu/2017/12/27/cooling-glove-helps-athletes-patients/). > [@](#): > > Heller and team parlayed that discovery into a cooling glove that they found could keep a person’s muscles and core from overheating and, in the process, improve athletic performance. Early tests with a gym-frequenting research assistant, Vinh Cao, showed that cooling his palms in between sets increased the total number of pullups he could do in a single workout from 10 sets with 30-minute rests between to more than 600. > > Subsequent tests showed the cooling method also improved endurance during cardiovascular exercise and had lasting effects on strength and endurance, but all of that early testing was in men. The cooling glove is used by Stanford athletic teams and many professional athletic teams in the United States and elsewhere in the world. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-performance-enhancing-substances/811055/22 "2018-03-23T20:46:17Z")
You’d have to be competing at a very high level to even notice the ergogenic effect (if any) of a supplement, but if you are you might consider creatine and/or beetroot: > **[Creatine Health benefits, dosage, safety, side-effects, and more |...](https://examine.com/supplements/creatine/)** > > The latest research on Creatine supplements. Expert analysis on potential benefits, dosage, side effects, and more. > **[Nitrate Health benefits, dosage, safety, side-effects, and more | Supplements...](https://examine.com/supplements/nitrate/)** > > The latest research on Nitrate supplements. Expert analysis on potential benefits, dosage, side effects, and more. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-performance-enhancing-substances/811055/23 "2018-03-23T21:08:31Z")
I have so many weaknesses it would probably take more than a year of 3x/week coaching. But the main two problems are, I have a great serve, actually more than one, but the best ones tweak my back something awful. As in, if there’s a third set I’m probably going to lose it. I don’t think I’ve ever won the third set. And for the rest of my game let me just say I’ve played about six million tiebreaks and I usually lose those, too. I’ve wondered: How would I play if my back didn’t kink up? This was true when I was younger and now that I’m an old lady, it’s worse. (Everything is worse.) The second problem is really common. I play much, much better when I’m behind. If I’m down 4-0, I can catch up. But I can’t seem to play well when I’m ahead, and that’s important if you want to win a match. I think focus would help. There’s quite a lot of stuff on mental toughness, which all sounds good when you’re reading it or watching the youtube video. Out on the court, different story. I don’t know that drugs can help this. “Coach in a bottle” FTW. Now the thing about meldonium is, it sounds like it improves cardiovascular recovery. I can’t find a lot about negative side effects. Online research indicates it can be prescribed for heart murmur. It doesn’t sound unhealthy at all. As for modafinil, a few years ago I got some from some British outfit specializing in nootropics and as far as I could tell it did nothing, but who knows what I really got? No effects or side effects. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2018, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-performance-enhancing-substances/811055/24 "2018-03-24T15:30:33Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > … > > As for modafinil, a few years ago I got some from some British outfit specializing in nootropics and as far as I could tell it did nothing, but who knows what I really got? No effects or side effects. It is powerful enough to be banned from professional sports after many big name athletes used it. If you have a friendly doctor it might be worth it to insure you are trying the real thing. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2018, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-performance-enhancing-substances/811055/25 "2018-03-25T08:07:33Z")
Perhaps a bronchodilator like THC? ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2018, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-performance-enhancing-substances/811055/26 "2018-03-26T13:57:58Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > Hm, I have a sip of water and a sip of a sports drink w/electrolytes at each changeover. Are these better? Yes, they are much better, if your issue is dehydration and cramping. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-performance-enhancing-substances/811055/27 "2018-03-27T00:25:56Z")
Whey protein powder and creatine mixed into a large glass of non fat milk after your workout. I workout every day, (cardio one day, weights the next) and then go out 5 days week and do hard labor running my landscape business. At 65, I’ve never felt better. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-performance-enhancing-substances/811055.md?page=1)