Sports Nutrition

Sports Nutrition is the foundation of athletic success. It is a well-designed nutrition plan that allows active adults and athletes to perform at their best. It supplies the right food type, energy, nutrients, and fluids to keep the body well hydrated and functioning at peak levels.

The energy required for living and physical activity comes from the food we eat and fluid intake. Macronutrients in the following food groups supply the energy essential to optimal body function.

Carbohydrates are either simple or complex, and the most important energy source for the human body. Simple carbs include sugars naturally occurring in foods like fruits, vegetables, and milk.

Whole grain bread, potatoes, most vegetables, and oats are examples of healthy complex carbs. Your digestive system breaks down carbohydrates into glucose or blood sugar which feeds energy to your cells, tissues, and organs.

Proteins are made up of a chain of amino acids and are essential to every cell of the human body. Protein can either be complete or incomplete. A complete protein contains all the amino acids needed by the body, and include animal sources like meat, fish, poultry, and milk.

Incomplete protein sources (typically plant-based proteins) often lack one or more of the essential amino acids. Essential amino acids can't be made by the body and must be supplied by food. Protein plays an important role in muscle recovery and growth. Those with higher protein needs might benefit from using one of these dietician recommended whey protein powders.

Fats can be saturated or unsaturated, and they play a vital role in the human body. Unsaturated fats are considered healthy and come from plant sources like olive oil and nuts. Saturated fats are found in animal products like red meats and high-fat dairy, which are indicated to increase the risk of disease.

Healthy fats provide energy, help with body development, protect our organs, and maintain cell membranes.

Active adults and competitive athletes turn to sports nutrition to help them achieve their goals. Examples of individual goals could include gaining lean mass, improving body composition, or enhancing athletic performance.

These sport-specific scenarios require different nutritional programs. Research findings indicate the right food type, caloric intake, nutrient timing, fluids, and supplementation are essential and specific to each individual. The following are different states of training and competitive sport benefiting from sports nutrition.