Codgie’s Blog: Improving your performance through better nutrition

Posted by Codgie | September 4, 2007

There is an old saying that “you are what you eat” and that is certainly true for young athletes in training. The average everyday diet of young people in the USA does not include all the minerals and vitamins that are required for optimal training and competition programs in various sports. Proper nutrition and supplements are needed to help with athletic performance.

Current lifestyles and eating habits are fostering the bulge around the middle of very young kids and young athletes often share the same eating trends as the general populace. Increasing the body’s use of complex carbohydrates like fresh vegetables, beans and whole grains would help to significantly improve athletic performance.

Adding amino acids from fresh sources will also help to improve the efficiency of the body under the rigors of hard training and a reduction of animal protein will help the digestive system with a quicker breakdown of the nutrients needed for energy. Supplements of amino acids should add strength, endurance and stamina as well as to help reduce the risk of injuries.

Vegetarian sources of protein like the ones mentioned above, beans, whole grains and vegetables, coupled with limited amounts of animal protein should be easier to digest as well.

A good recommendation then would be to check out your local vitamin store for your daily nutrients. There is Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12. There is Vitamin C, Folic Acid, Vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc. Check the labels on each container for the International Units (IU) listed so you will know what amounts you are ingesting. Then get started on your way to improved athletic performance!

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