The Best Sports Nutrition
Wednesday, February 4th, 2009What is the best sports nutrition for an athlete? There is no definitive answer to this question. No athlete has the same need. It depends on the physiques of the athlete and the kind of sport he or she is into.
So if you plan to join an endurance sports competition, the best sports nutrition for you is the nutritional table fit for a good athlete that expects long hours of physical activity and mental alertness even when tired.
Endurance sports test includes the physical and mental strength of an athlete, if you are not well fed for this kind of competition, it would be better for you to back off from the competition.
- Before the day of the event, do not overwork yourself. It would be wise if you only want to stretching and a few kilometers of jogging, eating foods rich in protein, hydrate you. Rest for the remainder of the evening because you need to go up early, as soon as four hours before the match.
- The best sports nutrition in endurance sports is hydration. You must be your own hydration one week before the match. This keeps your body cleansed, fed and watered for the next event.If you do not hydrate, the day of the event, you will not hold too much water. Most liquids that you intake does seep through the sweat. So if you want to go to the party in full tank, drink lots of water beforehand.
- Eat foods rich in protein, to keep your muscles in shape, and carbohydrates so that your glycogen stores will be at their best. You may well hydrated with sports drinks that contain minerals to balance your electrolytes level.
- Before the hour of the event, eat a meal before you run. This is the best sports nutrition advice, you must keep in mind. You need glucose to keep your blood sugar to normal levels. Glucose fuels the brain and muscles during an activity.If you lack of glucose in your body, you can not think properly because your brain does not have enough fuel it needs. Worse, you might faint even before the race begins of hypoglycemia.
Having enough reserves of glucose in your body will keep you alert and going even forlong hours of physical activity. So remember to eat a light meal prior to moderate course.
Long hours of running, swimming and cycling will deplete your stores of glycogen in the liver. Thus, a meal rich in carbohydrates will be your best pre-race meal. It can quickly restore your reserves of glycogen in the liver and put the focus back to normal. You can bring with you the carbohydrates bar that you can nibble during the race, and drain it with water or sports drink.
- According to health experts, the best sports nutrition tip to get the carbohydrates you need is to eat the food that you do make your stomach. Stress can cause diarrhea. Add the food that your digestive system hates and you see yourself sitting on the throne while your competitors have started running after hearing the gun fires.
When to eat your pre-race meal? Sports nutrition experts recommend one to four hours before the time of assembly time and snacks to 50 grams of carbohydrate every hour before the match begins.
Instant oatmeal, bananas, low fat milk and energy bars are good sources of carbohydrates. Always follow a meal with water or sports drink. Do not drink soft drinks or caffeinated beverages because they function as diuretics. According to the best sports nutrition magazines in the country, caffeine drains the body of liquid.
Add salt to your food meal. Salt will help you retain more water in your body.