Monday, July 25, 2011

Sports Nutrition Supplements

Sports Nutrition Supplements.If one wants excellent performance, he must train well and fill himself with good nutrition.  This must be clear to all athletes and health buffs.  One cannot cope with mere exercise. 

A healthy diet and good nutrition must be the springboard of all activities.  If that is the case, optimum performance will come almost automatically and naturally.

Unfortunately, though, not all essential nutrients are available in food.  At times, also, some people have certain limitations when it comes to food intake.  With this, sports nutrition supplements are very important as they effectively fill in the gaps. 

Sports nutrition supplements need not be complicated.  In the first place, health must be within reach and never difficult. 

However, it should not be seen as mere swallowing of pills or tablets.  Sports nutrition supplements are simple in a way that they generally mean three things. 

First, smart training must be done in whatever sport one is in.  Second, one must be sure that most of the nutrients that he is taking in come from healthy food.  Third, sports nutrition supplements must be taken to fine tune performance. 

To identify what one needs to take sports nutrition supplements for, he must watch what he eats.  He must record what he craves for before, during, and after the workout. 

From there, he will see the trend of what nutrients he normally gets because of the food he eats and what he does not get at all.  He will then be able to identify what needs sports nutrition supplements.

Indeed, both healthy eating and workout must be practiced well to eventually be incorporated in one’s daily routine.  If one happens to lack the discipline, a strict diet plan including both regular foods and sports nutrition supplements must be laid down well. 

This should be based on certain nutritional information that are well-considered and that are incorporated to a workout routine that is most favourable to the person.  One must think of ways to make the routine likeable as much as possible to ensure sustenance.

Setting clear cut goals at the very start will also help one identify and decide on which food and sports nutritional supplements he must take in. 

He might want to take into consideration target body fat composition, body type, presence of good and bad fats, frequency of meals, cardio training, and weight training.  Such targets may likewise be good forms of motivation.

In the market, there have already been lots of sports nutritional supplements introduced. 

In spite of such diversity, they may still be classified into the following major categories: protein supplements, vitamin supplements, weight loss products, creatine, glutamine, and protein bars.  Popular brand names are as follows: Xendadrine EFX, Hydroxycut, Muscletech, EAS, Twinlab, Optimum Nutrition. 

Indeed, it may be confusing to choose as each brand would normally have unique promises but one has to remain focused on the nutritional value of each and its relevance to one’s routine and needs.  

The bottom line here is awareness of one’s needs, practices, and goals in terms of health.  Without it, no matter how good the market of sports nutrition supplements is, not one product will match well. 

It is true that certain nutrients have been found to be commonly beneficial for all but in some cases, there happens to be enough already in the body as they are regularly taken in through food.  This will obviously be not evident without proper awareness and information gathering as well. 

One must remember that these nutrition supplements are intended to fill in the nutrition gap and not cause an excess that will only be harmful to the body. 

Sports nutrition supplements need high levels of protein

What Keeps The Athletes Going? If you are one of those ill-witted who perceive athletes as gods who don’t need to stop to take in air, or to relax when there is need for relaxation, then perhaps it would be much of a disappointment to you to find out that athletes are not so different from those who are not athletes for they also make use of supplements to get them going.

It is part of their diet to take in supplements to have an enhancement of their endurance, and also to increase or, if not increase, maintain the appropriate muscle mass to be able to improve size and strength.

Protein supplements are part of sports nutrition, without these said sports nutrition supplements; athletes would not be the way they are at present. However, contrary to what most people think, diets jampacked with protein do not necessarily build up muscle strength.

Building up muscle strength would be the job of regular physical activity. So if you want those big muscles you have to do exercises, not necessarily at gyms but could be also at your residences, daily. Doing so not by the day would not be producing the same result if you do so daily.

Sports nutrition supplements need high levels of protein, which you can get from protein-rich foods and enumerating all will be a total waste of space in this article.

But to enlighten you, here are a few of the foods that are rich in protein. There is fish, poultry and dairy products,and these are the foods you usually get your protein from because some sources of protein are high in fat and also in calories. So basically, you must take note which sources are high in fat and which are not.

Yeah, sports nutrition supplements sound so good but they can also put a strain on your liver and kidneys, which is the main reason why sports nutrition experts discourage taking them.

Some other sports nutrition supplements also have high amounts of nitrogen, which will only be excreted from your body as urea. But it is not as easy nor is it as safe as it sounds for this said exretion oftenly causes fluid imbalance, which will then lead to dehydration.

There is also a higher risk of heart disease due to the high fat intake associated with sports nutrition supplements that have high amounts of protein from animal sources.

Another disadvantage of sports nutrition supplements is that there is a huge tendency that you will ingest amino acids that are capable of interfering with other amino acids, which will have a result of a metabolic imbalance.

Sports nutrition supplements that have high amounts of amino aids can also cause gout; diarrhea and stomach cramping that can rank from mild to severe pain.

Even if sports nutrition supplements are being discouraged by sports nutrition experts, Bricker Labs, a sports nutrition supplement manufacturer, still do a lot of advertising and manufacturing as well.

Bricker Labs has over thirty years to blame for their success in their provision of sports nutrition supplements. They do not apply to sports nutrition only too, but also to weight loss, diet, health and other nutritional aspects.

So if you have plans to take any kind of sports nutrition supplements, then Bricker Labs is probably the sports nutrition supplement manufacturer to trust. Why? It is because they use ingredients that are safer than what other sports nutrition supplements contain. What kind of ingredients, you ask?

They make us of the L-Carnitine, which is mainly there for weight loss, energy and also for having a healthy heart function; Colostrum, which gives your body a healthy immune system function and also gives your body an improved stamina and also for an easier recovery in almost all cases; Vandayl Sulfate, which is capable of growing your muscles and also has the ability to define your muscles; Protein, everyone knows what protein is for and that is for sports nutrition, and also for health and muscle growth.

Another is the Creatine, which is also for sports nutrition and muscle growth but it also involves bodybuilding this time; HCA or Garcinia Cambogia, for losing weight and suppressing your appetite; and last but certainly not the least, Vitamin B-12, this one is for overall health and nutrition.

So what more could you ask for? Sports nutrition supplements give you what you need, what your body needs and boosts your ego all the same time.

Sports Nutrition Programs

Sports Nutrition Programs.A carefully designed sports nutrition program must be in place to be able to achieve desired results. 

These programs will work best if they are based on scientific research and feedback from various competitive and recreational athletes through the years.  This fact should be confirmed first before fully engaging oneself in any type of program.

Adherence to what sports nutrition programs advise will significantly bring in positive results. 

However, just the same, one should be attuned to his body and to the information that it conveys to further bring in positive outcomes.  The suggestions in the programs must be in synchrony to what is actually and currently happening in the body.   

Moreover, one must take careful note that any sports nutrition program does not intend to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any illnesses.  There has to be a consultation with a physician first.  This should be the case most especially if the program includes very strenuous physical activities or exercise routines.

Sports nutrition programs vary depending on the needs and targets of an individual.  For a very active person intending to maintain general fitness, for example, there is a specific program for him. 

Intake of a recovery drink after workouts containing carbohydrates and protein may be essential for those working out at least seven hours in a single week.  Drinks such as Ultragen and Endurox R4 are recommended.  The protein will help the muscles recover faster from workouts, enhance the immune system, and elicit a positive response in spite of stress during training. 

Intake of multivitamins and antioxidants is likewise essential as such will fight the cellular damage that may take place as an effect of free radical activities induced by exercise. 

Moreover, supplements such as Endurox Capsules not only help the body cope with stress during training, they also decrease body fat levels.  This is just an example of a sports nutrition program for those who are geared at maintaining general fitness. 

On the other hand, for a competitive athlete, there might be some differences in his own sports nutrition program which appears to be stricter. 

Energy drinks or energy gels must contain carbohydrates which are known to sustain energy in spite of regular stressful and tiring trainings.  Carbohydrates also replenish reduced muscle and liver glycogen and prevent dehydration. 

Supplemental protein must be taken in as well as it promotes muscle recovery, enhances the immune system, and makes one stronger in spite of stress.  Both carbohydrates and protein must be taken in during or in-between heavy workouts.  Multivitamins and antioxidants are equally essential as well as high performance products. 

HMB supplements are mostly recommended as they have been proven to significantly improve aerobic endurance, hasten recovery from stress, and reduce levels of fat in the body.  Furthermore, fats in the body are further reduced if the supplements are coupled with Carnitine. 

A lot of factors are common in both sports nutrition programs.  However, the difference lies in the amount, timing, and regularity of intake of the above-mentioned factors.  Thus, it is indeed very important to identify how strenuous the exercise or physical activity will be before starting with any program.  Also, one must be completely aware of the current condition of the body.

These sports nutrition programs aim to bring out the best in all workouts and gear up the body for future activities, whether for competition purposes or for overall maintenance of fitness. 

Whatever the case may be, it remains very important to choose the most appropriate program.  Otherwise, positive results may not be expected and may even bring in the extreme opposite.  Careful examination should be done early on. 

Sports Nutrition Protein For Your Exercise Regimen

Sports Nutrition Protein For Your Exercise Regimen

Let’s be honest about this. Every athlete wants to be considered as somebody in his or her chosen field. And this is true with every single athlete. This is true about you.

But if you want to be recognized as an athlete, you’ve got to have the right nutrients in your regular food intake, specifically sports nutrition protein. While it is true that drinking enough water and eating a balanced diet is enough for the regular guy, sports people — you included — need additional nourishment, for the efficient production of energy and fuel.

Your rigorous training must be accompanied by the right amount of sports nutrition protein. This will help you maximize your athletic talents and in the process gain more power, strength, and endurance as you train.

The dynamic of these factors is simple: you’ve got the talent and are properly driven so you are into sports and need rigorous training. To endure the training, you need sports nutrition protein. And to prepare your self for the next training, the more will be your need for a sustaining formula, like sports nutrition protein. 

The benefits of sports nutrition protein

Let us start with proteins. Proteins come in animal products such as poultry, meats, fish, eggs, dairy products and plant based stuff like beans, nuts, and other foods. These foods should provide 12-15 percent of your daily calorie intake. And this is where the challenge lies -- how to extract the needed percentage from this food without consuming the excess bulk becomes a problem. This is exactly the reason why sports nutrition protein was formulated.

The reason behind this is very much like what you have with vitamins. You take vitamin C in its elemental form because, in order to obtain the needed amount of vitamin C, you have to eat lots and lots of oranges and guavas daily. Same with sports nutrition protein. You don’t need to consume kilos of meats and beans on a daily basis.

But why take protein? Because protein is the guy who gives your body the power to create new tissues. But since your body can only take so much, extra protein is either burned for energy or converted into fat. For this reason, a right amount of protein, particularly present in sports nutrition protein is needed.

Other factors to consider

The amount of protein you will need depends on your fitness level, work regimen, and the intensity and duration of your exercise. Total calorie intake, which includes carbohydrate, also plays an important role in your protein intake. But bear in mind that protein, is not only a source of energy, but exactly gives your body the power build new muscle tissues.

When is reconstituting new tissues needed? When tissues undergo a bit of “destruction” during heavy exercise. But don’t worry about this destruction. It is needed by the body to exercise its immune system (hey, your own immune system also needs an exercise, just come to think of it).

Also during exercise, the entire array of your body’s healing power is summoned. This dynamic of the human body is lost to many, specifically for those who do not believe on the necessity of involving into sports, or even simple physical activity. 

In terms of the nature of your exercise, you will need sports nutrition protein as deemed necessary. If you’re a starting athlete, you will need much more protein compared with what you need before you embarked on this journey. And if the type of sports that you are in is an endurance type, you will often burn protein for fuel. The need for sports nutrition protein is more pronounced.

You should also consider that you body burns more protein if you do not consume enough calories for this is your body’s way of compensating to maintain ideal. Not enough food and nutrients coupled with too much exercise causes this to happen.

On the other hand, your body may also use protein for energy if you exercise with low levels of muscle glycogen (a stored form of glucose, yes, sugar) or if you are doing sustained exercise without consuming enough carbohydrates. This is the reason why specially formulated nutrition, like sports nutrition protein, is important.

Sports nutrition products a need or just a marketing invention?

Sports nutrition products a need or just a marketing invention? Even if you are into sports, you’ll only need your regular diet plus plenty of water. Thus, you do not need a sport nutrition product. Right? Wrong.

The need for sports and sport nutrition product

Records of antiquities show that athletics has been an integral part of earliest man’s life.  Athletic life was originally meant for survival through gathering food or for self protection. Later, it developed into a contest for strength, speed, skill, and mental sharpness. With the passage of time, these activities evolved into what we now know as different forms of exercises, or sports. 

Our ancestors even then, fully understand the need of our body for exercise and other forms of physical activities. They instinctively know that in order to maintain their health and further developed their physical whole being, they need to have some activities. And from this early, they understand the need for a special food, the modern version of which is our sport nutrition product.

Basic dietary patterns of our ancestors

Evidences about prehistoric people’s diets can be glimpsed from the artifacts used in food preparation such as milling, baking, and ultimately cooking. From these bits of information, we are informed that the basic diet of early Greeks and Romans for instance was a perfect combination of plant and animal products. They ate several variety of cereals, vegetables, fruits (fresh and dried), and lots of wine (usually diluted with water in varying degree).

Early Greeks’ main meat source is that of goats. In Italy it was pork meat products specially bacon. Beef was occasionally eaten, particularly after sacrifices in numerous temples. Milk, and perhaps milk product, was a very popular food.  Fish and poultry were also part of the regular diet. The slight difference of these early people with our modern diet is that olive oil was consumed in greater volume than butter. The oil was also a main source for household lighting.

Combined with good sport nutrition product, this diet, a formula made thousands of years ago, is a perfect dietary program for a modern sports man. Our ancestors knew then, that although foods abound in nature, there are several nutritional sources that fit better a healthy lifestyle. 

Sports nutrition product

Fast forward into our modern setting. It is important for athletes to have good nutrition for maximum strength, optimum agility, endurance, and improved overall performance. The foundation for any successful athletic program is a good combination of a well-thought based on whole foods (veggies, fruits, whole grains, and proteins, remember the Greeks?) supplemented with a special sport nutrition product, and course a good regimen of exercise.

While it is true that dedication, good training techniques, and genetics are still the main element in an athlete’s effectiveness, the lack of a proper nutrition coupled with the absence of nutritional supplement like sport nutrition product can inhibit an athlete’s performance in any other forms of exercise.

Without a good eating habits combined with sport nutrition product, pre-games and competitions proper may end disastrously. Optimal nutrition is only attainable with perfect dietary practice, combined with sport nutrition product as important element. It is only thru a sustained adherence to this good combination of regimen and sport nutrition product that a stellar performance is assured.

Sports nutrition product sales increasing

In 2003, it was reported that overall retail market for sports nutrition products, reached the value of $3.1 billion. Beverages accounted for 63 percent of sales, according to a new report Packaged Facts. However, these drinks have been marketed more for general nutrition, rather than sports benefits. Packaged Facts confirmed that physically active adults were only 10-percent more likely to use sports beverages than the general adult population.

But at least this is a start. It would still take a while before people realized that a good and sound body is never possible only by eating traditional foods, but by following a particular sports, combined with healthy food, and of course, with sport nutrition product. 

We should learn from the early Greeks and Romans.  By experience, they have learned that involving in a regular physical activities and consuming a well-balanced nutrition can result in a long and fruitful life.