Nutrition Basics

 

Good nutrition is as important as the exercises we perform.

By eating wisely we are assisting our body to perform better in our chosen fitness program or sport.

The food we choose needs to be of high nutritional value to supply us with the necessary building blocks, in the form of vitamins and minerals to aid in recovery after strenuous workouts and to give us the energy to perform better during our exercise time. 

Not only do we need to be supplying our body with the right vitamins and minerals but they also need to be in the correct balance.
When any one of these are out of balance and we are getting more or less than we should be, there will be an imbalance that will affect our progress.
This imbalance can even lead to illness, so buying good quality supplements is essential and knowing how much to take is also vitally important.

Another thing that needs to be addressed is your calorie intake as this will determine whether you are getting enough fuel to benefit your workouts or whether you are getting too much and adding fat to your body.

Foods high in refined sugar or animal fat should be avoided where possible, as they will be detrimental to your health.

If you are on a bodybuilding or resistance training program then you will need additional protein, as this is the muscle building food.
These foods, such as red meat will also supply you with the necessary B vitamins and Iron that are essential for strength training.
Other quality protein foods such as cheese, eggs, fish, poultry and milk should be included in your diet so you are getting variety in your diet.

These foods contain the essential amino acids, which are the building blocks of the body.

Vegetables are also another good source of amino acids however they generally have certain aminos missing and that is why the base protein foods listed above need to be included in your diet for complete nutrition.

A mix of foods is required as relying solely on meats for your protein can lead to other problems such as high levels of cholesterol.
Meat also is relatively high in fat, which is linked to the hardening of the arteries and heart disease.

It is all about getting the correct balance with both your food and exercise.