Read the guide · Nutrition

Supplements: What Has Evidence and What Does Not

The list of supplements with a consistent effect in healthy individuals is short, and that is good news: you can learn the essentials in five minutes. Creatine and caffeine have a solid foundation for performance; isolated BCAAs do not build muscle when total daily protein is already adequate; and older adults need more protein per meal to achieve the same effect. Letz does not sell supplements and does not recommend doses — it presents what the literature supports.

Numbers derived from this rule

ParameterRangeWeightRule
Protein per meal0.3–0.55 g/kg/meal50%About 0.4 g/kg per meal across four or more meals maximizes protein synthesis; older adults need the upper end of the range.Distribute protein throughout the day · Protein in older adults

Rules and studies

  1. 01Creatine monohydrateCreatine monohydrate is the supplement with the strongest evidence for improving performance in high-intensity efforts and supporting lean mass gains with training, with a favorable safety profile.Only appears as educational information when the user asks; the coach reinforces that the decision belongs to the user and their healthcare provider.
  2. 02Caffeine and PerformanceCaffeine at doses of 3 to 6 mg/kg improves aerobic performance, strength, and muscular endurance; higher doses do not help and increase adverse effects.The coach only mentions caffeine for informational purposes and advises against its use when logged sleep is already short.
  3. 03Isolated BCAAs Do Not Build MuscleBranched-chain amino acids on their own do not sustain muscle protein synthesis; whole dietary protein fills this role.When the question comes up, the coach redirects focus toward the daily protein target instead of recommending a supplement.
  4. 04Protein in older adultsOlder adults need more protein per meal to stimulate muscle synthesis; consensus guidelines recommend 1.0 to 1.2 g/kg/day or more for those who train.The per-meal target in the meal plan increases with age; the coach provides reminders for breakfast protein, which is typically the lowest-protein meal.