Sports Nutrition 101
Introduction
The prime directive or purpose of nutrition from a biological point of view is to supply the body with the energy it requires for nourishment, maintenance of life and optimum function. In addition, food should also provide intrinsic factors that protect against infection, degenerative disease, injury and age-related decay. Collectively these are known as vitamins, minerals, enzymes and many phytochemicals that occur naturally in plants.
Taste, texture and culinary pleasure although important, are secondary to provision of such nutrients in relation to biological demand. The function of food is to sustain life, not simply to gratify sensory pleasure. Food should not offend the body, cause damage or weaken the immune system.
Sports nutrition is nourishment for life. At the center of its core lies the discipline of training surrounded by the science of nutrition. Sports nutrition is also an art and a science. The art consists of nourishing an active body with high quality nutrient-dense food and dietary supplements in a skillful, safe and consistent manner. This pertains not only to what we eat, but also how and why.
The science of sports nutrition helps all of us to understand the how and the why. Through observation, research and repeated experiment, scientists investigate the effect of controlled exercise, food and supplements on the health, recovery and performance of athletes. To be successful in the world of fitness and health and to remain well and injury free, one must apply the art as a derivative of sound science. This is the essence of the natural health food & fitness movement. Both are equally essential to understand and apply to optimize health and performance.
Fresh organic foods free of unnecessary chemicals, preservatives, contaminants and other harmful substances are vital to your health and well-being. Eat a diet rich in a variety of whole, unrefined foods and the quality of your brain, bones, blood and entire body will continue to repay the favor for the rest of your life. We are what we eat, digest, absorb, assimilate, utilize and don't excrete. Whole food can heal the body, repair injuries and prevent cancer, heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Don't underestimate the power of whole natural food, it is our ancestral heritage.
Supplements are no longer used to compensate a poor diet. The new paradigm is that you add the finest supplements you can find to the best possible diet you can eat, and then combine that strategy with controlled exercise and physical activity. Sports nutrition focuses on health, biological age and function. It parallels nutrition science and clinical research in human performance. The objective is to minimize damage to your body as you age, extend your health span and maximize the quality of your life. Baby boomers want to live well for as long as possible.
