Sports Nutrition & Health - 5 Foods All Athletes Should Eat

There are several foods all athletes should eat in the days before an event to ensure peak performance. They include:

1. Whole grains-whole grain food such as cereal, bagels, pasta, and bread give good,long-lasting energy to the whole body. As the most important food group, athletes should eat many whole grain carbohydrates before an event.

Nutrition

2. Peanut butter-peanut butter is a good source of protein and essential fats, and it is easy to carry and eat on the go. Other protein sources will work as well, such as lean meat or dairy; the important thing is to get adequate protein before and after a work out. Protein helps the body in maintaining aerobic metabolism instead of anaerobic metabolism, which prevents the body from taking protein from lean tissue. Adequate protein speeds recovery and helps in actual performance situations.

Sports Nutrition & Health - 5 Foods All Athletes Should Eat

3. Fresh fruits and Vegetables-fresh produce is a great way to get vitamins and minerals that help the body function as normal. They are usually fat-free and contain lots of energy for the body to use during exercise. Some fruits, such as bananas, contain potassium, a mineral that regulates water levels in the body and stabilizes muscle contraction. Low potassium levels can lead to muscle cramps and fatigue, so eating potassium-rich foods is a good idea. However, it is important to regulate potassium intake, because too much too quickly can lead to a heart attack. Athletes should take in 435 milligrams of potassium for every hour they exercise. While potassium does not aid in actual performance, it speeds recovery and should be considered as one of the most important supplements to an exercise program.

Another benefit of fruits and vegetables is iron. Chick peas, spinach, asparagus, broccoli, apricots, and figs are all good sources of iron, a nutrient that prevents fatigue, headaches, lack of stamina, and boosts the immune system. Athletes are generally at risk for anemia, having too little iron in the blood, because of the amount iron used in exercise. Recommended daily intakes are 6-11 milligrams, a number easily attained by eating leafy green vegetables or foods rich in vitamin C.

4. Calcium-Rich Foods-foods such as cheese, yogurt, and milk contain necessary calcium, which creates strong bones and protects athletes from injury. These dairy products are also a good source of protein, but they should be eaten well before an event, as they take some time to process. If the body does not tolerate dairy well, supplements should be included to ensure that athletes receive the recommended daily intake of 1000 milligrams. As an example, a cup of skim milk provides about 300 milligrams of calcium.

5. Fiber-Rich Foods-Fiber is the nutritional component that keeps athletes full and regulates the digestive tract. Many of the foods already mentioned include fiber, but it is important for coaches to know which foods help athletes regulate fiber levels. Examples of fiber-rich foods include whole grains, apples, berries, almonds, and legumes. A simple way to determine the necessary amount of fiber is to add 5 to the athlete's age. For example, a 10-year-old athlete needs about 15 grams of fiber daily. After the age of 15, athletes need 20-25 grams of fiber a day.

Sports Nutrition & Health - 5 Foods All Athletes Should Eat

Kenny Buford spent years playing baseball at the college level. Today, he coaches 3 youth development teams and shares his extensive coaching knowledge on his blog, you can visit him here: http://www.baseball-tutorials.com

Sports Nutrition & Health - 5 Foods All Athletes Should Eat

There are several foods all athletes should eat in the days before an event to ensure peak performance. They include:

1. Whole grains-whole grain food such as cereal, bagels, pasta, and bread give good,long-lasting energy to the whole body. As the most important food group, athletes should eat many whole grain carbohydrates before an event.

Nutrition

2. Peanut butter-peanut butter is a good source of protein and essential fats, and it is easy to carry and eat on the go. Other protein sources will work as well, such as lean meat or dairy; the important thing is to get adequate protein before and after a work out. Protein helps the body in maintaining aerobic metabolism instead of anaerobic metabolism, which prevents the body from taking protein from lean tissue. Adequate protein speeds recovery and helps in actual performance situations.

3. Fresh fruits and Vegetables-fresh produce is a great way to get vitamins and minerals that help the body function as normal. They are usually fat-free and contain lots of energy for the body to use during exercise. Some fruits, such as bananas, contain potassium, a mineral that regulates water levels in the body and stabilizes muscle contraction. Low potassium levels can lead to muscle cramps and fatigue, so eating potassium-rich foods is a good idea. However, it is important to regulate potassium intake, because too much too quickly can lead to a heart attack. Athletes should take in 435 milligrams of potassium for every hour they exercise. While potassium does not aid in actual performance, it speeds recovery and should be considered as one of the most important supplements to an exercise program.

Another benefit of fruits and vegetables is iron. Chick peas, spinach, asparagus, broccoli, apricots, and figs are all good sources of iron, a nutrient that prevents fatigue, headaches, lack of stamina, and boosts the immune system. Athletes are generally at risk for anemia, having too little iron in the blood, because of the amount iron used in exercise. Recommended daily intakes are 6-11 milligrams, a number easily attained by eating leafy green vegetables or foods rich in vitamin C.

4. Calcium-Rich Foods-foods such as cheese, yogurt, and milk contain necessary calcium, which creates strong bones and protects athletes from injury. These dairy products are also a good source of protein, but they should be eaten well before an event, as they take some time to process. If the body does not tolerate dairy well, supplements should be included to ensure that athletes receive the recommended daily intake of 1000 milligrams. As an example, a cup of skim milk provides about 300 milligrams of calcium.

5. Fiber-Rich Foods-Fiber is the nutritional component that keeps athletes full and regulates the digestive tract. Many of the foods already mentioned include fiber, but it is important for coaches to know which foods help athletes regulate fiber levels. Examples of fiber-rich foods include whole grains, apples, berries, almonds, and legumes. A simple way to determine the necessary amount of fiber is to add 5 to the athlete's age. For example, a 10-year-old athlete needs about 15 grams of fiber daily. After the age of 15, athletes need 20-25 grams of fiber a day.

Sports Nutrition & Health - 5 Foods All Athletes Should Eat

Kenny Buford spent years playing baseball at the college level. Today, he coaches 3 youth development teams and shares his extensive coaching knowledge on his blog, you can visit him here: http://www.baseball-tutorials.com

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Sports Nutrition: Water - Hydration - & Athletic Performance

Every athlete has a different hydration requirement, which changes due to weather conditions. Generally, it is recommended that everyone drink 64 ounces of water a day to stay in a fully hydrated state. Sweating, which often occurs during physical activity, releases water and sodium from the body. To function at their peak, athletes need to replenish this loss through water and sports drinks. Neglecting to replace both fluid and sodium loss results in dehydration, which causes impaired mental focus, impaired energy metabolism, and an imbalance in electrolyte levels. It also results in rapid fatigue and decreased energy.

As a general rule, athletes should drink 16 ounces of water or sports drink 2 hours before activity. They should then consume another 8 ounces 30 minutes before activity. During an activity, fluids should be readily available for athletes as they need it. Coaches should watch for athletes expelling a higher-than-normal amount of sweat and ensure that the athlete is drinking as much as they need. It is recommended that athletes replenish half of the fluid lost by sweat.

Nutrition

Athletes involved in short-term activity lasting over 30 seconds are at a high risk for dehydration due to the intensity of the activity. These athletes should drink the recommended fluids before their activity and replenish the lost fluids as soon after finishing as possible. Short-term activity lasting less than 30 seconds has little effect on dehydration and does not pose a hazard.

Athletes involved in long-term activity, such as running, cycling, and skiing for more than 30 minutes need periodic fluid intake to reduce dehydration levels, even though this may cause cramping and gastrointestinal problems. To prevent such problems, athletes should train themselves to take in the necessary liquid to accustom their bodies to the fluid.

During an activity, athletes should drink 8 ounces of fluid every 20 minutes. For activities over 40 minutes, water is not sufficient, because it does not provide the necessary sodium intake to maintain electrolyte levels. If water is all that is available, mixing 1 teaspoon of salt per liter of water is enough to maintain the balance.

Too much water can cause another problem, hyponatremia, when the sodium levels in the body are too low. Symptoms of hyponatremia are nausea, muscle cramps, disorientation, slurred speech, confusion, and inappropriate behavior. This occurs when there is an intake of water to replace lost fluids, but no intake of salt to replace lost sodium. Hyponatremia is much more dangerous than dehydration, and it is important that coaches monitor how much fluids are taken in to ensure that their athletes do not run the risk of suffering from this potentially life-threatening disease. The old method of "drink as much as you can" is now seen as dangerous because of the effects it can have in lowering sodium levels.

If your athletes are still unclear as to how much fluid to drink, there is a simple urine test that determines the hydration levels of a person. Athletes should have clear urine, showing that they are fully hydrated. If the urine is dark or there is restricted flow, the athlete needs more fluids. There is not a set amount for each person, so it is important that as a coach, you train your athletes to learn what their individual bodies need.

Sports Nutrition: Water - Hydration - & Athletic Performance

Kenny Buford spent years playing baseball at the college level. Today, he coaches 3 youth development teams and shares his extensive coaching knowledge on his blog, you can visit him here: http://www.baseball-tutorials.com

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The Importance Of Sports Nutrition In Your Exercise Or Muscle Building Regime

I have been working out for many years, but I only recently started paying a lot of attention to what I eat. After all, just working out was enough to keep my weight under control and keep me in good health. Do not get me wrong - I was not exactly on the junk food diet. I ate a reasonably healthy meal plan, and only binged about one day a week. Nonetheless, I did not realize that I could have been greatly increasing my athletic performance by eating sports nutrition supplements. The problem is, once I discovered them, I was shocked by the price. I certainly ended up suffering from sticker shock!

You see, buying sports nutrition supplements can cost an outrageous amount of money. Unless you can find good discount sports nutrition, it might be outside of your price range. I know that it was for me when I first discovered it. Then I found a discount sports nutrition outlet store. It really changed the way I worked out and the way I ate. I knew that having good vitamin nutrition was healthy, but I did not know other things about nutrition supplements. Apparently, many minerals that are very good for your body and are essential for bodybuilding are left out of your standard diet. Unless you find good discount sports nutrition or are willing to pay top dollar for custom-made meal plans, you will not be able to get as effective a result as you would otherwise.

Nutrition

The only problem with buying discount sports nutrition is that you have to be a little but flexible about what you eat. Sometimes, for example, one form of protein will be very expensive while another form will be cheap. You have to be able to know the equivalents - what supplements can be substituted for each other - or else you will not be able to save money on your discount sports nutrition purchases.

The best way to buy discount sports nutrition when you are just starting off is to take a more experienced friend with you shopping. Anyone who has been bodybuilding seriously for a while knows all about the sports supplements, and what they help you out with. Some discount sports nutrition products will help you bulk up your muscles, for example, while other ones will help you develop a leaner, stronger physique. Usually, combining many different supplements works better than having any one in particular.

The Importance Of Sports Nutrition In Your Exercise Or Muscle Building Regime

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