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.

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.


 

Posted in Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment
 

Antioxidant Juice

They are mostly found in fresh fruits and vegetables. We've been eating them for centuries and it's only now that scientists are beginning to discover exactly what makes them healthy for the body.

Antioxidants. What exactly are they?

The term is familiar to us. We hear them mentioned all the time whenever there's a new scientific study being released in the American Health Journal or some such explaining how antioxidant juice from berries can aid in liver function or how antioxidant juice from red wine is the scientific reason behind the French paradox.

Antioxidants, it seems, have far more benefits than we realize.

A new study shows that antioxidant juice from pomegranate fruits may help fight the hardening of the arteries. Researchers have found that the antioxidant juice does this by reducing the damage in blood vessels caused by free radicals.

Free Radicals – What are they?

Now, I'm sure you know what free radicals are. This is probably not the first time you've heard about it. But for the sake of those who have only just stumbled on the term, free radicals are those unstable chemical substances that are highly reactive and are by-products of the process of oxidation in the body. Free radicals at a minimum can be good for the body since their function is to steal electrons from atoms of other molecules, but only if the molecule they're stealing the electrons from are foreign molecules in the first place. If they are healthy molecules, well that's a different story all together.

When free radicals start stealing electrons from healthy cells, that process causes many disorders to occur in the body. The cells will grow weak until they are eventually destroyed. Hence, diseases such as cardiovascular disease, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, senility, and cancer are often attributed to the contributing factor of free radicals.

The Effects of Antioxidant Juice

The only way for the body to defend itself from free radicals is through antioxidants. Unfortunately, human beings are one of the few animal species that do not produce their own antioxidants. That is why we depend so much on our diet for our source of antioxidants.

In the study about antioxidant juice from pomegranates, researchers have found that the substance can effectively reverse the progression of atherosclerosis, or the hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis causes decreased blood flow that can lead to heart attacks or strokes.

The tests showed that antioxidant juice from pomegranates reduced the effects of stress on human blood vessel cells by stimulating the production of nitric oxide. This chemical is thought to help keep arteries open and keep blood flowing.


 

Posted in Antioxidants | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment
 

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.

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.

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.

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.


 

Posted in Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment
 

Taking Supplements

Throughout the world, a lot of people have problems with their digestive systems that make it hard to absorb nutrients and break down the food they eat. This is a common problem, one that is usually caused by a poor level of acid in the stomach, toxic in the gut, or a lack of production enzymes that assist with the breaking down process. There are other causes as well, although the above are the most common.

Problems with the digestive tract can be improved quite a bit if you slowly increase your intake of nutrients. A diet that is high in organic matter is the preferred way to improve your digestion, although you may need to use supplements as well. The best thing about supplements is the fact that you don't need a prescription. You can select which ones you want on your own, and purchase them at your local nutrition store or online.

The ideal time to take supplements is with your meals. During this time, your body can absorb the nutrients better, as your digestive system will be stimulated with food. If you are using time released supplements, you should take them with food to ensure that they move through your body at the right pace and release the proper amount of nutrients and vitamins your body needs at the right time.

Vitamins that are water soluble are the easiest to use, as they will pass through the body easily and quickly, and should be taken three times a day. Vitamins that are fat soluble are best absorbed if they are taken with food that contains fat. You should always take vitamins with meals, as the minerals and nutrients found in food will work with the vitamin supplements.

There are some supplements that may interfere with others when you absorb them, so you should always make sure what you are taking is acceptable to take with other forms of vitamin supplements.

Even though you may be on a healthy diet, you should still make sure that you are getting the proper vitamins and supplements as well. Supplements will help your body get the vitamins and minerals it needs, especially on days that you aren't able to eat what you should. Life can get hectic at times, which is where supplements can really come in handy.

If you include supplements in your diet and take them correctly, you'll find that your body will be much healthier. There are many different vitamins and supplements that you can take, although they will depend on what you are trying to achieve. You should always research a vitamin that you are interested in taking, and make sure it fits your needs before you decide to purchase it.


 

Posted in Vitamins | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment
 

Cooking for Children

Cooking for children presents a whole new set of challenges in the kitchen. While you want to provide them with those ever so important nutrients, it is often difficult to get them to eat those foods that are best for their growing bodies. We are all probably well aware of the food pyramid and the number of servings our children need of healthy grains, proteins, fruits, vegetables, and calcium products. Getting them to eat these nourishing products is another matter all together unfortunately.

The good news when cooking for children is that you do not necessarily need to incorporate all the important nutrients into dinner food. The truth of the matter is that raw cucumbers, which are thinly sliced and sprinkled with salt make a much healthier snack than potato chips and many little ones love this for a snack. You get a vegetable in their system and they are getting a treat at snack time. The same holds true for melon and cantaloupes. These make excellent snacks and are a much-needed fruit in these important diets for little ones.

When it comes to cooking for little ones, however man, woman, and child cannot live on macaroni and cheese alone. It's been tried and tested and failed miserably. Try mixing things up whenever you can while keeping meals kid friendly. It is important that you try to introduce whole grains, proteins, and vegetables whenever possible at meal times around your home. The good news is that there are many prepackaged convenience foods that are introducing whole grains like never before in order to meet the growing demand of consumers for healthier meals that can be prepared with little fan fare or fuss.

Cooking healthier meals for kids is now easier than ever before. Fresh fruits and vegetables are best whenever possible. However, if you cannot manage fresh, you should avoid canned (fruits especially as they are often swimming in sugary sweetness) whenever possible. Frozen is far preferable to canned when it comes to both fruit and vegetables, as there are often fewer additives.

If you need some great meal ideas that are kid friendly and easy on the budget, you can often find recipes readily available online. You can meet your child's calcium and dairy product needs by adding milk as the drink of choice for meals or a slice of cheese melted over their favorite vegetable. Ice cream, yogurt, and pudding also make excellent calcium rich treats, in moderation of course.

Encourage your children to try new things rather than cooking the same few meals over and over again that you know they are likely to eat. This prevents two things from happening. First of all, it helps you not to get bored when cooking for your children. Second, it allows your children to try new flavors and textures and form opinions about them. By trying new things they will learn not only about the things they dislike but also the foods they really enjoy.

You should also keep in mind that your children are people too when cooking for them. Just as you have foods you like and dislike they also will develop tastes over time. Those tastes may also change in time as well. It's frustrating, I know, to spend time and money preparing a meal only to have your child push the plate away and refuse to even try the meal. For this, I recommend enlisting their help in the kitchen. Children are much more likely to eat the things they had a hand in preparing as a matter of accomplishment and pride. It's psychological warfare I know but all is fair in war and dinnertime.

Perhaps the greatest gift you can give yourself (much greater than the help in the kitchen) by 'forcing' your little ones to help prepare dinner is that they will learn to better appreciate your culinary efforts and eat peacefully rather than sullenly. This tactic has met with great success in my household when cooking for little ones. And I know you will be successful as well.


 

Posted in Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment
 

This Flirting With Fitness Nutrition, Diet & Healthy Eating Section sponsorship is currently available:

Sponsor the Nutrition, Diet & Healthy Eating Section Starting Today - Click Here For Info!