Supplements
Athletes use dietary supplements for a number of purposes that go beyond mere survival or gustatory indulgence. Many reasons being:
To improve general health and fitness, build muscle mass, lose fat, improve aerobic and anaerobic energy, reduce pain and inflammation, improve tissue repair, strength and recovery also to help improve and keep mental focus.
Why take Supplements? If you are unsure of why you should or shouldn't take supplements lets consider some of the following reasons:
~ Supplements supply measurable amounts of nutrients and are a sure way of getting adequate amounts of essential nutrients.
~ Supplements can help prevent or cure the nutritional deficiencies that are commonly found in athletes. They can also ensure optimum supplies of nutrients for maximum athletic performance.
~ Supplements make up for the poor nutritional contents of many of the foods we eat. They replace nutrients that have been destroyed by poor diet, alcohol, drug use, pollution and smoking.
~ Most supplements are either calorie and fat-free or nearly so. Special supplements are available for those with food allergies andv egetarians.
~ Stress can increase the body's need for certain nutrients, which can be easily obtained from supplements.
~ Supplemental amounts of protective nutrients such as he antioxidants can slow the effects of against, prevent cellular damage, and deter the development of a number of disorders.
There are many forms that supplements come from, it's not always a pill. However pills, tablets and caplets are the most popular form of supplement. But in the modern sports age many manufactures are getting creative. Powder supplements are becoming popular to add to protein shakes and health drinks. They can serve as a meal replacement or nutrient additive. Also liquid supplements are on the rise, not only in the form of drinks and shakes but also liquid vitamins and minerals. These are on the rise do to the quicker absorption into the system as well as ease of taking. Many bars are becoming the "thing" as well. I don't think there is a bar out there that doesn't specialize in something. Make sure you read the labels, just because it says 'protein bar' doesn't mean it isn't loaded with refined sugars. If you have the time to try, make your own bar tailored to your fitness needs, it's not too hard to do.
Each of these supplements do different things for your system. So by taking your vitamin tablet every morning might not be enough, you could still be lacking. The most common form of supplement is your multi-vitamin & multi-mineral. These supply the athlete with both essential and non-essential nutrients, all of which are needed in high supply. Multi-amino acidsupplements are also popular. They contain full profiles of the amino acids in their free forms, which elevated the biological value of the protein obtained from dietary sources. These can also be taken between meals to ensure a constant high pool of amino acids in the blood for muscle repair and recovery.
Anti-oxidant supplements protect the body from free-radical damage on the cellular level. These are very easy to find, coral calcium is one of the more popular. Also green and white tea are excellent and easy forms of anti-oxidants found and very easy to take. Lipotropic and fat-burningsupplements are formulations for athletic and weight loss purposes. They function by way of controlling the appetite and increases fat metabolism. Energy supplements are pills, tablets or capsules made up of various herbs, vitamins, and minerals that help boost your energy. If you decide to use an energy supplement, you must keep in mind that most of them are designed to stimulate mental energy an to provide energy-metabolizing cofactors. Use them sparingly, they can lead one to mental fatigue, drain physical energy levels and rob the body of properly stored and saved energy.
Liquid and powder weight-gainsupplements are one of the biggest money makers in the health-food industry. However most athletes feel they can go without them. Most of the users are teens and athletes (body builders) that are geared toward gaining muscle mass. This type of gain is not always positive on an athlete in training. Many of these muscle builders are very high in sugars and too many calories. While they way say they contain 2 - 4,000 calories, your body can only handles 800 to 1,600 calories per meal. Liquid and powder weight loss supplements are simply nutrient drinks that are low in calories and can be used to replace meals. Although they are intended for athletes they really aren't appropriate since they don't take into consideration muscle mass, strength, endurance or stamina. Liquid and powder protein supplements are excellent sources of pure protein for special purposes but not to be used as meal replacement. They offer easy ways to increase protein content of a meal or snack.
A tip for those that build Lactic Acid... who is pretty much all of us!
I played around with this for a bit till I got it right for myself, but the key is molasses. Molasses contains high amounts of potassium and calcium that are
needed and required to keep lactic acid at bay. Tried and true, I mixed 1 part molasses with 1 part local honey and took it regularly during my 104.6 mile ride
and walked away from it without any muscle soreness.
Also taking a spoonful of molasses after your work out will keep your muscles from building the lactic acid as well. Keep in mind there are different levels of
potassium depending on which molasses you buy. Many people have shared concern about too much potassium, the truth is you body's tolerance levels out around 18,000 mg of potassium. Molasses contains 240 - 800mg a tablespoon full.
Molasses shouldn't be taken at high training or performance levels for long periods of time. The body usually isn't accustom to taking such high quantities. Lower quantities are completely acceptable on a daily basis. Mothers and Grandmothers for years have faithfully taken Molasses daily because of it's nutrient values. Little did they know how well it really works.
To improve general health and fitness, build muscle mass, lose fat, improve aerobic and anaerobic energy, reduce pain and inflammation, improve tissue repair, strength and recovery also to help improve and keep mental focus.
Why take Supplements? If you are unsure of why you should or shouldn't take supplements lets consider some of the following reasons:
~ Supplements supply measurable amounts of nutrients and are a sure way of getting adequate amounts of essential nutrients.
~ Supplements can help prevent or cure the nutritional deficiencies that are commonly found in athletes. They can also ensure optimum supplies of nutrients for maximum athletic performance.
~ Supplements make up for the poor nutritional contents of many of the foods we eat. They replace nutrients that have been destroyed by poor diet, alcohol, drug use, pollution and smoking.
~ Most supplements are either calorie and fat-free or nearly so. Special supplements are available for those with food allergies andv egetarians.
~ Stress can increase the body's need for certain nutrients, which can be easily obtained from supplements.
~ Supplemental amounts of protective nutrients such as he antioxidants can slow the effects of against, prevent cellular damage, and deter the development of a number of disorders.
There are many forms that supplements come from, it's not always a pill. However pills, tablets and caplets are the most popular form of supplement. But in the modern sports age many manufactures are getting creative. Powder supplements are becoming popular to add to protein shakes and health drinks. They can serve as a meal replacement or nutrient additive. Also liquid supplements are on the rise, not only in the form of drinks and shakes but also liquid vitamins and minerals. These are on the rise do to the quicker absorption into the system as well as ease of taking. Many bars are becoming the "thing" as well. I don't think there is a bar out there that doesn't specialize in something. Make sure you read the labels, just because it says 'protein bar' doesn't mean it isn't loaded with refined sugars. If you have the time to try, make your own bar tailored to your fitness needs, it's not too hard to do.
Each of these supplements do different things for your system. So by taking your vitamin tablet every morning might not be enough, you could still be lacking. The most common form of supplement is your multi-vitamin & multi-mineral. These supply the athlete with both essential and non-essential nutrients, all of which are needed in high supply. Multi-amino acidsupplements are also popular. They contain full profiles of the amino acids in their free forms, which elevated the biological value of the protein obtained from dietary sources. These can also be taken between meals to ensure a constant high pool of amino acids in the blood for muscle repair and recovery.
Anti-oxidant supplements protect the body from free-radical damage on the cellular level. These are very easy to find, coral calcium is one of the more popular. Also green and white tea are excellent and easy forms of anti-oxidants found and very easy to take. Lipotropic and fat-burningsupplements are formulations for athletic and weight loss purposes. They function by way of controlling the appetite and increases fat metabolism. Energy supplements are pills, tablets or capsules made up of various herbs, vitamins, and minerals that help boost your energy. If you decide to use an energy supplement, you must keep in mind that most of them are designed to stimulate mental energy an to provide energy-metabolizing cofactors. Use them sparingly, they can lead one to mental fatigue, drain physical energy levels and rob the body of properly stored and saved energy.
Liquid and powder weight-gainsupplements are one of the biggest money makers in the health-food industry. However most athletes feel they can go without them. Most of the users are teens and athletes (body builders) that are geared toward gaining muscle mass. This type of gain is not always positive on an athlete in training. Many of these muscle builders are very high in sugars and too many calories. While they way say they contain 2 - 4,000 calories, your body can only handles 800 to 1,600 calories per meal. Liquid and powder weight loss supplements are simply nutrient drinks that are low in calories and can be used to replace meals. Although they are intended for athletes they really aren't appropriate since they don't take into consideration muscle mass, strength, endurance or stamina. Liquid and powder protein supplements are excellent sources of pure protein for special purposes but not to be used as meal replacement. They offer easy ways to increase protein content of a meal or snack.
A tip for those that build Lactic Acid... who is pretty much all of us!
I played around with this for a bit till I got it right for myself, but the key is molasses. Molasses contains high amounts of potassium and calcium that are
needed and required to keep lactic acid at bay. Tried and true, I mixed 1 part molasses with 1 part local honey and took it regularly during my 104.6 mile ride
and walked away from it without any muscle soreness.
Also taking a spoonful of molasses after your work out will keep your muscles from building the lactic acid as well. Keep in mind there are different levels of
potassium depending on which molasses you buy. Many people have shared concern about too much potassium, the truth is you body's tolerance levels out around 18,000 mg of potassium. Molasses contains 240 - 800mg a tablespoon full.
Molasses shouldn't be taken at high training or performance levels for long periods of time. The body usually isn't accustom to taking such high quantities. Lower quantities are completely acceptable on a daily basis. Mothers and Grandmothers for years have faithfully taken Molasses daily because of it's nutrient values. Little did they know how well it really works.
