Nutritional Preparation for Athletes

Endurance athletes and those involved in more than 90 minutes of continuous activity daily have specific nutritional requirements due to the increased demands on their bodies. Prepare! Succeed!

“Success is where preparation and opportunity meet” - Bobby Unser 

More Minerals – increased perspiration and metabolic processes means higher intake of minerals is required. Electrolyte drinks during training sessions and a sports multivitamin/mineral supplement such as the PharmaSports HealthGuard, may be a safety net to help ensure top performance with minimal long term adverse health effects. HealthGuard is specifically designed to meet athlete’s needs and provides an array of added antioxidants to help protect muscle cells from oxidative damage.

Feed Thy Muscles - recent studies indicate that protein requirements increase during strenuous activity. When protein intake is inadequate, lean muscle becomes the primary source, giving the over-trained athlete a gaunt appearance. Immune function may also become impaired and recovery time may become longer. Researchers recommend 85-100 grams of protein for a 70kg athlete. This can be easily obtained by supplementing the diet with a high quality protein powder such as PharmaSports 100% Instantised Whey.

Recovery Nutrients – low magnesium levels can contribute to early fatigue, cramps and increased risk of osteoporosis and anaemia. Nutritionists recommend intake of 500 to 800 milligrams of magnesium daily for endurance athletes. PharmaSports MagMax can help achieve this. Supplementation with PharmaSports L-Glutamine may also merit consideration, particularly if endurance exercise aggravates symptoms of impaired mental processes, poor immunity and gut disturbances.

(Originally published in Health & Herbal News Magazine Volume 19, Issue 1)