On Board with ZMA? - Page 13

Andy Robinson · 12-01-2009, 08:27 AM

I had trouble sleeping thru the night on ZMA. I attibuted this to the B vitamins. I ran out of ZMA about 2 weeks ago and had no trouble sleeping without taking it. Got Zinc and Mag separately yesterday and woke up after about two hours, had trouble falling back to sleep.
What about taking these during the day? Any reason not to? Would they still be as effective for recovery, or is this combo something that is bedtime specific?

Garrett Smith · 12-01-2009, 12:36 PM

I take mine during the day (at least the mag). I'd take the zinc in the morning if I could, but zinc on an empty stomach is no good.

I see no magic to taking it in the night-time. Just get the levels up, everything will be the same.

Blair Lowe · 12-01-2009, 07:53 PM

How much better is ZMA than Cal-Mag-Zinc, Dr. G? I probably researched this a few years ago when I tried ZMA but I can't honestly remember.

Garrett Smith · 12-01-2009, 08:18 PM

Most athletes don't need much more calcium, they nearly always need more magnesium.

The calcium issue IMO, is typically one of vitamin D deficiency (which is the signal for calcium to be absorbed by the intestines).

Jay Ashman · 12-04-2009, 07:44 AM

I take ZMA nightly, have for a very long time and let me tell you how much I love it and the fact that I have gotten some insanely out of control dreams from it... I mean like whoa.

The science behind it is sound, and its one of those supplements that will only help and not hurt.

Garrett Smith · 12-04-2009, 08:21 AM

Jay,
I don't believe there is any magic to the ZMA combo in particular.

Put simply, most athletes are deficient in zinc and magnesium. Correct that deficiency, the body functions more like it is supposed to. Nothing magic really.

The science is pretty sound that health and performance will improve with nearly any mineral deficiency that is corrected. Zinc and mag are simply HUGE players in that game.

Jay Ashman · 12-04-2009, 12:56 PM

Garrett, magic or not... it works. So why mess with a good thing

Donald Lee · 12-04-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay Ashman

Garrett, magic or not... it works. So why mess with a good thing

B/c it's overpriced. B/c believing in marketing hype is a bad mindset to have.

Jay Ashman · 12-04-2009, 01:40 PM

Donald, I get mine pretty cheap... less than 10 bucks a month... and it works fine for me. Its extra zinc and mag..

Steven Low · 12-04-2009, 02:04 PM

ZMA is pretty expensive actually, compared to cal/mag/zinc supplements. ZMA is like ~$10 per month and cal/mag/zn is like $3 per month.

Albeit there's some competitive inhibition with ca/zn IIRC. Albeit probably not big enough to be that detrimental.