Nutrition and Exercise
Proper nutrition can help to enhance exercise performance. You are more likely to be tired and perform poorly if you are not getting a balanced diet. Carbohydrates provide the energy needed to fuel muscle performance. Complex carbohydrates such as pastas, whole grain bread and rice. This is a much better fuel for your body than sugars which give a transient boost in energy.
Nutrition and Recovery
During exercise your muscles undergo stress which leads to minor tissue damage and breakdown. Not to worry, because this is a good thing! This is the stimulus needed for your body to grow stronger! However, in order for proper muscle recovery, good nutrition is necessary. Protein being a key component, your muscles are made of protein and therefore require protein to rebuild. The amount of protein necessary for proper recovery varies from person to person.
Nutrition and Healing
Following tissue injury the body is in a state of hypermetabolism, meaning that your body requires more calories and nutrients in order to repair the damaged area. Eating well can help to augment your body’s natural healing ability, including its ability to fight off infection. The primary nutrients needed during tissue healing are protein, vitamin A, vitamin C and Zinc. Vitamin A can be found in many foods such as leafy greens and carrots. Vitamin C can be found in many foods such as broccoli and citrus fruits. Zinc is many found in animal products such as eggs, meat, fish and whole grain foods.
