Sports Nutrition for Health and Performance

What are Sports Supplements?

Sports supplements (also called ergogenic aids) are products used to enhance athletic performance that may include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs, or botanical plants — or any combination of these. These products are generally available over the counter without the need of a prescription.

How Does Nutritional Supplements Enhance Your Performance?

• Provide “Essential Foundation” for cellular health.
• An appropriate Meal Replacement providing critical support for muscle growth and repair while providing a steady supply of energy.
• Provides hydration before, during, and after exercise.
• Speed up post workout recovery.

What you consume after a workout is as important as the workout itself.

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Reach the Peak of Athletic Performance

Eating more carbs - Supply the body with sufficient energy found in grains, starchy vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy products, and high-fiber superfood drinks.

Get enough water and electrolytes - Water is crucial for all sports activities—electrolytes are only important for extreme endurance exercise.

Take a multivitamin - When your diet isn’t enough, extra vitamins and minerals will help your body get the nutrition it needs for exercise.

Try vitamin C - Take 1000 mg per day, for two weeks before and four days after intense exercise to reduce pain and speed up muscle strength recovery.

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Nutrients Which Are Helpful in Fitness

Nutrient:	Importance for Fitness:
Whey Protein	Helps increase gains in lean body mass resulting from exercise. Take 20 grams daily up to 1.2 grams per 2.2 pounds of body weight.
L-Arginine	May help with muscle stimulation and growth. Weight training with Arginine showed increase in total strength and lean body mass.
L-Glutamine	Helps support athlete’s healthy immune system. Helps promote healthy muscle growth and reduce muscle wasting. May boost metabolism and promote cellular detoxification.
Branched Chain Amino Acid	Promotes muscle protein synthesis and healthy muscle growth. Supports fat burning and may help with post-exercise muscle soreness.
Creatine	Involved in cellular ATP production which helps in energy production. Helps in muscle protein synthesis and boosts athletic performance.
Fish Oil	Omega-3 essential fatty acids from fish oil have been shown to support lung function, and to promote blood flow and oxygen delivery to active muscle by enhancing blood vessel function. This may help enhance endurance and promote joint flexibility, mobility, and comfort.
Vitamin C/Antioxidants	Neutralizes exercise-related free radicals to prevent any damage caused to the body. Antioxidants may aid in exercise recovery and improve exercise performance.
Vitamin B-Complex	B-complex vitamins are needed to produce energy from carbohydrates especially vitamins B2, B6, and B5.
Co-Enzyme Q10	Strenuous physical activity lowers blood levels of co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) which is essential for energy production and maintaining healthy cardiac function.
NMN (Nicotinamide Mononucleotide	Helps improve energy production and supports physical endurance.

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VitaKids Recommends

For Muscle Health:

• A good source of protein drink
• Whey Protein
• Branched Chain Amino Acids
• L-Arginine
• Creatine
• L-Glutamine
• Magnesium
• Omega 3 fatty acids

For Energy:

• A good source of protein drink
• A high potency anti-oxidant complex
• Vitamin B - complex
• NMN (Nicotinamide Mononucleotide)

For Weight Management:

• Omega-3 fatty acid, meal replacement, Acai Berry, Fiber, Coconut oil/MCT oil, Digestive Enzymes, Green Tea.
• (Refer to “How to maintain Healthy Blood Sugar Levels, Lose Weight and Burn Fat” health note for more details).

For Joint Health:

• Glucosamine, MSM, Chondroitin, Turmeric, Omega 3/6/9.
• (Refer to “How to maintain Healthy Bones and Joints” health note for more details)

Essential Nutrients:

• High Potency Multivitamin & Mineral
• Essential Fatty Acids: Complete Omega 3/6/9