Sports nutrition – As an athlete, consuming the right balance of food and staying hydrated is crucial to your performance. Athletes require a higher calorie intake than the average person. Carbohydrates, Proteins, and fats provide your body with the necessary fuel to maintain. Carbohydrates are the primary fuel used by working muscles. It is important to intake enough carbs before activity to prevent muscle fatigue.
It is also important to intake carbs following physical activity to restore energy levels which were burnt during exercise. Protein is present within every cell of the body and is crucial to building and repairing muscle tissues which were broken down during physical activity. Having the right diet and nutrition can be a game changer to any athlete looking to get an edge on the field and to increase their quality of life in general.
Supplements – Supplements are a great way to boost strength, performance, and recovery. They are used by athletes around the world and have been shown to increase performance in the gym which leads to increased performance on the field. However, before an individual decides to invest in any form of supplement, they should ensure that their diet is healthy, balanced, and geared towards their sport to ensure they are getting the maximum results. They should also consult somebody who specializes in sports nutrition and performance to ensure they are taking the right supplements at the right time.
Nutrition is a key component to enhancing athletic performance. Often overlooked, eating a good diet can provide you with the energy you need to perform at your maximum potential and to also recover as quickly as possible. Typically, not enough calories, carbohydrates, fluids, and protein can lead to you not performing at your maximum potential and at extreme levels even lead to injury. With a well rounded and balanced diet, athletes can take their performance to another level and get a step ahead of the competition.
Pre workout nutrition – To fuel up prior to a workout it is necessary to not only hydrate properly, but to consume easily digested carbohydrates such as whole grain pasta, brown rice, and fruits and vegetables that digest fast and are able to be burnt as energy. To avoid feeling sluggish, avoid saturated fats and slow digesting carbohydrates. If done properly, you will see your training performance increase almost instantly!
Post workout nutrition – After a tough training session, you want to immediately replenish your body’s glycogen levels (energy) and begin to intake carbs to help aid in recovery and glycogen synthesis as well as intake protein to begin rebuilding muscle. The ideal carb to protein ratio post workout is 1:3. For example, 40 grams of protein for every 120 grams of carbs.