What is so important about good nutrition when you are exercising? What role does nutrition play in how you benefit from exercise? In this article I will explain how you can improve your physical performance through nutrition and achieve your full potential.
You are what you eat. We hear this phrase thrown around a lot these days, but what does it mean? Put simply: every cell in your body was created using the fuel you supplied your body with.
Everyone needs good nutrition in order to be the best they can be. However, when a person does a lot of physical exertion, the need for nutritional support increases. Why is this?
Well, firstly, as you are burning up more energy, your body requires more energy from food. Secondly, the process by which the body converts food into energy requires nutrients to aid this conversion. This is why consuming empty calories in the form of sugary foods and energy drinks is counter-productive. Thirdly, your body needs protein and nutrients in order to repair any damage done to muscles, ligaments, etc.
In addition to this, when the body is under physical exertion, it uses up its temporary energy store, known as glycogen. Top athletes and sportsmen will prepare for an event by "loading up on carbs", which involves eating a large amount of complex carbohydrates (such as pasta, potatoes, rice, etc.). This carbohydrate is then stored temporarily as glycogen for immediate use when needed during the event.
Note: if you do not burn off this energy with physical exercise, the glycogen will eventually convert into fat. This is why people who eat high-carbohydrate diets without doing exercise tend to put on weight.
After you have finished exercising, your glycogen stores will be depleted and will need replenishing. At this point, low blood glucose levels may make you crave sugary foods or refined carbohydrates, but it is best to avoid those kinds of foods and instead eat natural whole foods which will support your body nutritionally, such as fruit for example. This is why you often see professional tennis players snacking on bananas in between playing.
So, to summarize:
Always eat natural wholefoods;
Stay away from sugar and refined carbohydrates;
Consume complex carbohydrates & protein before exercising to load up your glycogen stores;
Consume complex carbohydrates & protein again immediately after exercising to replenish glycogen stores and aid in the repair of any damage.
We should all pay close attention to this advise and act accordingly if we want to be fit and healthy.
#4 by jhenz, Oct 8, 2008
nutrition is important when exercising because they play a vital role in helping our system cope with all the work going on. and nutrition serves as their fuel to make it conditioned and always on the go. :)
