Charts on sports nutrition: Guides for a healthier, sportier bod

Charts on sports nutrition: Guides for a healthier, sportier bod.Athletics is an endeavor that has become increasingly lucrative as time goes by. The modern world has come up with more and more ways to expound the potential of athletes in the most convenient ways possible. A wide variety of exercise and diet programs have been conceived to make sure that the body achieves its highest potential.

To aid the athletes in becoming the demi-gods of physical fitness, business have launched many products such as vitamins and exercise gadgets. Media has provided lots of information that can assist anyone who is into getting fit. Resources such as books, videos and other instructional materials have bombarded their way right into cyberspace.

As examples, here are some very helpful knowledge from several charts on sports nutrition which disseminates information coming from some experts in physical fitness.

The web site of the University of Illinois Extension featured a food guide system that helps in evaluating the effectiveness of one's diet. This pyramid training table guide provided five divisions of food groups, each division equipped with the list of major nutrients supplied by those foods included in the group.

Here are the food groups from the chart that can help enhance a diet:

1. Milk, cheese and yogurt Group

Gives calcium, protein, riboflavin and vitamin A.

2. Vegetable Group

Sources of vitamins and minerals, especially vitamins C and A. Includes veggies such as spinach, tomatoes and broccoli.

3. Meat, fish, eggs, nuts and beans Group
Primary protein source. Also contains iron, thiamin and zinc.

Another useful chart on sports nutrition gives off the main functions of the four main nutrients needed by the body and the recommended intake for each.

Carbohydrates - It is the primary source of energy which is especially needed for the majority of bodily functions. Carbs are essential for high-intensity exercise.

Water - the most important nutrient mainly because the human body is composed of sixty percent of it. Water reduces body fat, eliminates toxins and waste, aids in the maintenance of muscle tone and also keeps the skin moist and healthy. It helps regulate body temperature especially during intense workouts.

Protein - Responsible for the growth of body tissue and the creation of hormones, enzymes and antibodies. It is also responsible for the balance of electrolytes and fluid in the body.

Fat - It also provides energy and also maintains body temperature. Fats protect the organs and carries fatty acids essential to the body.

Another chart on sports nutrition gives great food alternatives for those who want to knock off considerable amount of calories from their diet. Here are examples:

-Have English muffins or half portion of a bagel instead of donuts for snacks or breakfast.
-Use 2 egg whites instead of 1 whole egg for cooking.
-Drink water in place of sodas or canned fizzy beverages.
-Opt for skinless chicken instead of the deep-fried variety.
-Put in non-fat dry milk in coffee instead of regular creamers.
-Enjoy jams in place of butter when having bagels and toasts.
-Use light dressings, oils or vinegars over regular dressings when making salads.
-Order pizza with lots of veggies instead of the ones with loads of cheese.

Books On Sports Nutrition

Books On Sports Nutrition,Due to the increasing interest in sports nutrition and a growing number of athletes and health buffs becoming more conscious of the nutrition they take in to power their performance, a lot of books have already been released to disseminate more information and further heighten people’s awareness.  This is, in fact, very beneficial as awareness is most of the time the springboard of concrete actions. 

One of these books on sports nutrition is that of Nancy Clark entitled, Sports Nutrition Guidebook.  This book is a collection of solutions suggested by different sports nutritionists. 

Nancy Clark, a renowned sports nutritionist herself, shows how one can identify well what to eat to get more energy, cope well with stress, control weight, improve overall health, and improve the quality of workouts in the midst of a stressful lifestyle. 

She also gives suggestions on how to lose excess body fat in the body while maintaining the energy for further exercise.  She also provides several tips on maximizing the benefits of what one person eats.  This book is rich with practical tips on sports nutrition that are easy to follow and apply in day to day living. 

Moreover, Susan Kleiner’s book on sports nutrition entitled, High-Performance Nutrition: The Total Eating Plan to Maximum Your Workout, presents what one needs to eat in line with a workout plan to achieve optimum results. 

She advocates the importance of a good partnership between diet and exercise in performing excellently in sports.  She shows how one can bring out the best in any type of workout or exercise, be it aerobics, strength training, endurance training, cross training, and other recreational sports. 

Another sports nutrition book is Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes written by Monique Ryan.  The author’s two-decade experience in counselling athletes about their nutritional needs and intake brought about this book. 

She explains both the general principles which are applicable to endurance athletes of any sport and specific guidelines which are for those engaged in more specific sports like swimming, triathlons, cycling, mountain biking, distance running, and many others. 

She likewise covers the basics of nutrition as well as how to train and make that training persist.  Overall, this sports nutrition book is a detailed, updated, but practical guide to nutrition.

Still adding up to the list of sports nutrition books is the one entitled Eating for Endurance. 

The author is a registered dietician who specializes in sports nutrition as well as an elite endurance athlete.  Strategies on improving one’s diet, maintaining a healthy and ideal weight, successfully handling extreme environments, using sports nutrition supplements, and many other helpful information on sports nutrition are included in the book. 

This is indeed a very credible book as the author speaks from first-hand experience.

One must indeed take the initiative to equip himself with the necessary knowledge and information if he really wants to do well in this aspect.  Besides, putting an effort on sports nutrition will benefit no one else but himself. 

These books are there not to give false promises or misleading information.  Instead, their purpose is to show that achieving goals and targets had already happened in the past and is therefore totally feasible in the present if only one will commit to it.  

There are still many other sports nutrition books out in the market that aim to help in information dissemination and proper education of people.  Sports nutrition is indeed something that is not supposed to be taken for granted.

Mere exercise is not enough as it has to be coupled with the right and balanced diet as well as the right attitude towards one’s health in general. 

Recovery, Body Protection and Sports Nutrition

Recovery, Body Protection and Sports Nutrition

Food gives us energy and fuels physical activity. Not eating enough can cause a drop in energy and endurance levels and, in the world of sports, can lead to painful losses. This is why athletes learn quickly to pack that extra energy bar just in case.

But food is not only good as energy sources to our muscles. They also hold substances that promote our health, boost our immunity to sicknesses, promote tissue repair, protect cells from damage, protect against age-related cognitive decline and increase resistance to cancers, and other illnesses, all of which are important to maintaining good performance and longevity in sports. These protective substances are commonly known as phytochemicals.

Phytochemicals, although not providing any energy, essential vitamins, or minerals, still are an important component of any athlete's sport nutrition.  Phytochemicals means "chemicals from plants." Vegetables and fruits therefore are excellent sources.

Color means protection

Colorful vegetables and fruits have high levels of phytochemicals. In most cases, colorful skins of fruits and vegetables have the most concentrated source of protective nutrients.

A U.S. National Cancer Institute program (www.5aday.com) uses color categories, highlighting the protective compounds predominant in each color of fruit or vegetable.

RED

Red fruits maintains heart health, memory function, lowers risk to some cancers, and ensures urinary tract health. Lycopene and anthocyanins are available in red fruits and vegetables. Lycopede reduces the risk of several types of cancer, heart and lung disease. Anthocyanins helps protect against heart disease by preventing blood clots. Both may slow the cell aging process.

ORANGE / YELLOW

Beta-carotene is abundant in orange and yellow substances. It is an antioxidant that helps reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease, maintain eyesight, help boost the immune system, and promote repair of damaged DNA. With Vitamin C, Bioflavonoids which are also contained in orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, help reduce the risk of cancer, strengthen bones and teeth, heal wounds, keep skin healthy and lower the risk of heart attacks.

BLUE / P URPLE

Anthocyanins and Phenols make up blue and purple fruits and vegetables. Research says they may help reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's and may have anti-aging effects.

GREEN

Green fruits and vegetables are among the best sources of lutein. Lutein helps reduce the risk of cataracts and mascular degeneration, which can cause loss of vision. Green vegetables are also rich in sulforaphane, isocyanate and indoles which hamper the action of carcinogens.

WHITE

Allicin, which are found in garlic, leeks, and onions, helps control blood pressure and cholesterol. It looks like it also increases the body's ability to fight infection. Cauliflower contains sulforaphane, and mushrooms contain selenium. Both are also cancer-fighting.

Because they protect your body from injuries, diseases and untimely aging, colorful vegetables and fruits must be first in mind when buying food to maintain good sports nutrition.

Essentials for fast recovery

Proper recovery is also a main concern in sports nutrition. Sufficient rest and sleep allows the body's systems to recuperate from training stress and makes you stronger and faster. Training gains can be maximized, recovery process speeded up and performance enhanced by correct food and liquid consumption after workout.

Fluid replacement

Timing is everything. After cooling down at the end of each workout, rehydration should be top priority. Drink enough to replace the fluids you sweated out. It is right after exercise that muscles are most receptive to replenishing glycogen stores.

These times, blood flow is on the increase and muscle membranes are more permeable to glucose and the effects of insulin which promotes glycogen synthesis. During this "glycogen window" (which lasts up to an hour) muscles replenish glycogen up to three times faster than at other times.

Second carbo-loading

High-carb foods and beverages are best for fast recovery. Including protein with these foods (4:1 ratio of carbs to protein) enhances muscle repair and glycogen replacement.

The amount of food you need depends on the extent of the depletion of glycogen stores. How much food you need depends on the extent that your activity depleted your glycogen stores.

For a minimum of 2 hours of exercise, sports nutrition experts recommend around 1-1.5 grams of carbohydrate per kilogram of body weight within 15 minutes after cessation of exercise and every two hours until your next complete meal. That’s around 50-120 grams or 200-480 calories of carbohydrates for most athletes.

American Sports Nutrition: Providing health and fitness for everybody

Since more and more people are getting interested in becoming world-class athletes, and the area of sports is one of the most lucrative and popular forms of entertainment and recreation, the study of sports nutrition has developed steadily. Consumable products and instructional materials are being released in the market endlessly in order to help athletes and ordinary people with ample interest in physical fitness achieve their personal goals.

In this respect, American sports nutrition has indeed made very useful discoveries on how to make the human body function to its outmost potential.

Here are some studies and opinions created by some of the most respected health and fitness experts around.

According to a press release from the IDEA Health & Fitness Association, the best kind of nutrition is only based on the type of food one eats, but also, the time that a certain food was consumed. Research states that the food that athletes take in on all stages of a training session, may it be prior, during or afterwards, will make a considerable impact on their athletic prowess and recovery.

The highlights of the press release include:

-The practice of right timing for taking in nutrients also benefits ordinary exercisers, and not only athletes

-The consumption of nutrients in ideal combinations at the most optimal of frequencies will result in the enhancement of athletic performance and the recovery of the body. It also improves the composition and strength of muscles.

-Obesity can be battled by simply upping the amount of calcium that one consumes everyday.

-The right combination of protein and carbohydrates will result in improved workout and training performance.

Another important discovery made in American sports nutrition deals with the possibility of high protein diets to bring about dehydration in most people, even professional sportsmen.

Citing a study from the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, graduate student William Forrest Martin reported on the effect of high protein on five athletes who were made to consume various amounts in the span of four weeks. The researchers stressed that when one takes in high amounts of protein in their body, the amount of fluid intake should also be raised considerably.

Aside from hydration, people who drink less water are prone to catching other health problems, such as heat illnesses. Minimal decrease of water in the body will have a negative effect on certain bodily functions.

The importance and strategies for the recovery of the body after strenuous activity has also been discussed in relation to American sports nutrition.

A good recovery enables one to be well-prepared for the next physical activity. What are the goals in body recovery? they are:

-Replacement of the storage of liver glycogen and muscle in the body.

-Regaining of all those electrolytes and fluids that went down with the sweat.

-Rejuvenation of the body from the damage brought about by exercise.

It is best to consume foods rich in carbohydrates while the body recovers from the activity.

Other tips for quick recovery include:

-Take snacks for within an hour maximum if the next activity is less than 8 hours.

-For people with poor appetite, juice and sports drinks can provide carbs and fluids necessary for recovery.

American Sports Nutrition Sporting Events

The Americans usually dominate sporting events. They appear bigger, stronger and have longer resistance. They say that the secret is through their hard work and training. But their real secret is their diet that gives them that strong physique.

Their diet and nutritional intake is different compared to us. So what is in this american style of sports nutrition? I will elaborate some of their diet and nutritional technique for you to have more strength and energy as you play your game.

Do you want to enhance your performance and increase lean muscle? Try the creatine that is commonly found in American sports nutrition.

This will give you more energy to work out longer and harder that will help you get maximum results. Creatine can also help you recover quickly. This supplement will work for any athlete who does weight lifting and any other quick burst of activity like sprinting. You may be able to do more before you hit fatigue point.

Your body converts this unique powder into adenosine triphosphate, which is the energy of our cells, and stores it into the mitichondria of each muscle cell giving it reserved energy. Every muscle contraction is fueled by atp, so we can do more because of the stored atp. This can enhance your performance and lean muscle gain.

This product is 100% pure pharmaceutical grade creatinh monohydrate. You should at least take 1000 grams per dosage. Creatine does not contain any additive and filters. This chemical is found naturally in many foods so it is practically safe. And it will also not affect hormonal levels.

Whether your goal is for maximum athletic performance, increased lean muscle or prolonged endurance, creatine is the answer for you. It also has cardio protective qualities. Creatine from American sports nutrition is the best way to supplement a healthy diet and active lifestyle.

Another one would be the American sports nutrition whey protein. It is a high quality, lactose free and predigested protein. This nutritional supplement is a great natural source of high potency essential amino acids.

If you want an increase in muscle strength, do it with American whey. The ion-exchanged whey protein in this supplement is the most preferred and bio-available for your body. This means your body can utilize the supplementation of American whey better than other types of protein.

American whey protein is also low on calories, tastes great, and mixes easily with rice, milk and water. It also comes in a variety of delicious flavors.

There are many more diets out there like the American sports nutrition that offers protein as the main component of their nutritional diet. Examples of these are the American whey creamy vanilla extreme, American whey double dutch chocolate, and the American whey wild berry.

They just differ in the dosage as you take them but practically the same results. Some of them require a lot of quantities for the supplement to work. And it also has to be taken in regularly if possible you should follow the diet everyday.

You may have noticed in the American sports nutrition’s that the main nutrient they are focused on are proteins.

So what is in proteins that make it so vital in the nutrition of Americans? Proteins are the main body builder nutrient. Protein focuses on the production of muscle cells. Protein also participates in muscle contraction or the movement of muscles.

If you want to have bigger, leaner and stronger muscles, there should be a massive intake of proteins before and after your training. That is why protein is so important not only to athletes but also to normal people as well. Protein also contributes to the height of a person.

If you want to be as tall as the Americans, you have to have a lot of protein in your diet or at least use the supplements that American sports nutrition offer.

We must remember that it is not about the nutrition we get but it is about how we get it and when we get it.  There are optimal times where the nutrients we get will enhance our performance and boost our nutritional level. American sports nutrition targets these optimal times in order for our body to get the most out of it and help us be healthy and build up our muscles.