Lots of people dream of becoming world-class athletes. They know that becoming one takes lots of patience and training that can test one's physical and emotional limits to the outmost. Since the business of sports has become more and more lucrative, the concept of sports nutrition has grown into Herculean proportions.
It is a good thing then that those resources such as sports nutrition articles have proliferated in cyberspace. It gives people endless amount of information on how to make their bodies fit for competition.
Here are the summaries of some several of the sports nutrition articles that can give Internet researchers gems of information on athletic fitness.
Citing a press release from the IDEA Health & Fitness Association, the article states that the timing and duration of one's eating is as important as the content of the food itself. This holds true especially for athletes. A recent research indicates that the kind of food athletes consume prior, after and during the course of the training matters a lot when it comes to recovery and general athletic performance.
The experts from IDEA shared some key information regarding the subject, such as:
-To enhance performance, nutrients should be ingested in ideal combinations in the most optimal frequencies. This also aids in improving the integrity of one's muscles.
-The right timing in mixing protein and carbohydrates will result in the improvement of workouts and training.
-Obesity can be fought off by taking increased amounts of dietary calcium everyday.
-One should know the difference between good and bad carbohydrates on order to survive the latest low-carbohydrate diet trends.
Another sports nutrition article coming from the web site Rob's Home of Sports, Diet and Nutrition, puts emphasis on the kind of foods necessary in order for the body to bulk up. According to dietician Clare Wood, there are three essential requirements for gaining muscles.
-Potential of one's genes, which can be usually seen from the body structure of one's parents.
-An exercise program that focuses mainly on building strength.
-A diet that provides the body a high amount of energy.
Bulking up can be achieved by adding the amount of one's total energy intake. This will help in providing the body extra carbs needed to energize training.Increasing the amount of food that one eats can be a difficult task, but here are some tips to go about it:
-Come up with an organized eating plan and make sure to stick with it. The plan should include the kind of foods that should be eaten and the time they should be consumed.
-The frequency of meals per day should be increased, as opposed to increasing the size of the meals. Ideally, one should take 5-6 meals daily, which includes snacks.
Athletes should be immensely responsible regarding the amount of food that they eat and how to properly maintain their physique. For those striving to achieve a fit body and emulate their strict fitness regimen, sports nutrition articles, such as these, can be easily found on the internet.
The Best Source Of Information On Sports Nutrition
Guidance on the Proper Nutrition for Teens
Although it is a difficult task to watch over the health of your teenage child, it is an important time of growth and development for him or her. As your teenager moves into adulthood, his or her body goes through rapid changes, many with permanent effects.
It is important to ensure that your teenager is getting the right nutritional balance each day. The best way to do this is to provide your teenager with the resources that he or she needs in order to know the consequences and benefits of dietary choices. In doing this, you can help your teenager to want to eat the right type of meals each day.
Issues concerning teenagers today
Of course when dealing with teenagers on health or any other topic, you have to recognize the powerful influence that their peers have and will have on them. Teenagers are also prone to developing personal issues with their looks. The rapid changes in their bodies also present them with a feeling of awkwardness in their appearances.
Be aware of any behavioral signs of anorexia or bulimia. These are more and more common diseases among teenagers who suffer from issues of self-esteem. If you monitor your teenager enough to be sure that he or she is eating healthy food each day, you will not have to be as concerned with these issues.
Educating your teenager about proper nutrition
Teenagers need a full nutritional complement every day. In addition to making sure that your teen eats a well balanced diet, including all five food groups, you should also make provision for them to receive nutrients they may not be receiving in their daily diets.
Because teenagers are at an age of partial autonomy, they will make decisions on a daily basis such as whether to eat out or grab a snack at a vending machine. Educate your teenager on what nutrients are in the foods that he or she eats as well as what nutrients his or her body needs every day. Do this and you provide the proper information that your teenager needs to formulate and adapt meals to include the nutrients that will make him or her healthy. More importantly, your teenager will know how to grow a healthy body, one that he or she can be proud.
For most parents, it is only feasible on weekdays to monitor either a teenager's breakfast or supper. Provide your teenager with several nutritional options on those times that you are around. Doing so may help encourage your teenager to make healthier choices when you aren't around. Have nutritious food options around the house and set a good example for your teenager to follow. Remember that when you are not around, your teenager is more likely to do what you do than what you say to do.
Engage your teenager in healthy physical activities
Do not forget that good teen health is more than just providing the proper nutrients. A teenager must also be active and exercise the body. Encourage your teenage child to join a gym or health club if he or she is uninterested in participating in sports at school. While your teenager may decide that these are not viable options, you should still let your teenager know that you feel it would be a healthful benefit.
Helping your teenager make the right choices
As your teenager gets older and gains increasing independence, he or she will make more and more choices about food and exercise. Your guidance along the way can help your teenager learn how to make these decisions thoughtfully. As your teenager becomes an adult, the lifestyle you have implanted in him or her will continually have its influence.
Nutrition Certification Programs in a Nutshell
Find Nutrition Certification Programs in the United States and Canada. If you enjoy a healthy lifestyle and would like to share your innate skills on leading a healthy life, then enrolling in any one of several nutrition certification programs will give you cutting-edge knowledge in eating nutritious diets to promote overall wellness and longevity.
There are a variety of specialized training opportunities like holistic nutrition or sports nutrition; however, most nutrition certification programs include basic studies in biology (human, plant, animals, etc.), anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and chemistry. Other subject matter involved in nutrition certification programs are studies in nutritional assessment, preventive nutrition, digestion, metabolism, macrobiotics, soil ecology, herbology and biochemicals, herbs, vitamins and minerals, among others.
Nutrition certification programs vary in course duration, and may be offered at a more advanced level for the established medical professional or more introductory for the novice. Typically, most nutrition certification programs run from 26 weeks to 72 weeks.
Additional therapies that are sometimes integrated into nutrition certification programs include natural healing modalities like applied kinesiology, Ayurvedic medicine, aromatherapy, naturopathy, homeopathy, and other massage therapies.
As a supplementary study, students participating in nutrition certification programs will gain essential education in prescription drug and nutritient interaction, and how adverse effects of these interactions or lack thereof (vitamins, minerals) can affect body functioning. Subsequently, many nutrition certification programs teach students about food allergies and how to identify these sensitivities and manage health through customized diets.
Graduates of nutrition certification programs should know that the vast majority of the United States requires licensure, certification and/or registration. Once candidates have fulfilled all educational and training requirements, they can advance to becoming professional nutritionists or dieticians, where they can work in a variety of healthcare settings including hospitals, family practices, or other health-related facilities. Earnings vary, however experienced nutritionists have the potential to earn well over $63,000 annually.
If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding nutrition certification programs, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.
Salary source: Bls.gov (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Nutrition Certification Programs in a Nutshell
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Improving Your Own Health and Wellness While Saving the World
Having worked on several public health projects and in several human services settings, I have a strong concern for the health and wellness of others. The overlaps I've recognized between individual health, environment, global discord, and social justice have led me to make some major changes in my own life.
If our work involves helping others and improving the world, it's particularly important that we manage our own health and wellness. Fortunately, there are several ways we can do both simultaneously! In fact, many habits that benefit our health or the environment also have personal financial benefits (Blix & Heitmiller, 1997).
Uncontrollable factors like genetics and injuries aside, we generally stand a greater chance of living a long and productive life if we proactively maintain our own health. This gives us more time to pursue our visions in the world, share our gifts with others, and leave a lasting legacy.
However, we sometimes neglect ourselves while saving the world. In settings where the focus is upon helping others, I have seen and heard numerous examples of people who don't give themselves the care they deserve.
Upon returning from a trip to assess public health needs of tsunami victims, a colleague told me of the signs of stress exhibited by many of the professional aid workers. Many of them, he observed, appeared highly anxious and engaged in behaviors like smoking at very high levels. The trauma surrounding them was taking a toll. Likewise, I have noted many visibly unhealthy professionals (including medical doctors) in health and human services settings where poor health was also a common issue among clients.
So what can we do to take better care of ourselves while also saving the world? Outside of addressing obvious factors like overextended workweeks in high-stress settings, there are a number of possibilities.
First, we may generate health-related benefits for ourselves simply by giving generously to others in our own unique way. This doesn't need to be money; it can include expressing gratitude for someone's friendship, sharing an artistic talent, or even lending a listening ear. Outside of fulfilling us and making us happy, giving can actually improve our health and longevity. Post and Neimark (2007) cite studies suggesting the following:
-Giving as a high school student predicts good physical and mental health up to 50 years later, into late adulthood.
-Giving and helping others reduces mortality in older adults, and depression and suicide risk in adolescents.
-Giving is more powerful than receiving in reducing mortality.
These powerful impacts, note Post and Neimark, may occur through a variety of mechanisms. Giving increases our feelings of self-efficacy, allows us to forget about the stressors in our own lives, enables us to forgive ourselves for our own mistakes, and enhances our sense of being part of a supportive larger community.
Secondly, we can assess where we are in different health-related areas of our life, and take actions in each. In his holistic wellness model as cited by Michael Arloski (2007), Don Ardell suggests that we need to take personal responsibility for our choices in several dimensions of life:
-stress management
-physical fitness
-nutritional awareness
-sensitivity to our physical, social and personal environments
I'll outline a few ideas that blend the above dimensions while connecting personal and collective health and wellness.
As for stress management and physical fitness, think beyond traditional "exercise" like going to the gym if you find it difficult to motivate yourself. Arloski suggests viewing exercise as "movement." To do this in a way that benefits both yourself and the world, consider your modes of transportation throughout the day.
For example, rather than getting in the car, can you walk or ride a bicycle? Rather than taking an elevator, can you use the stairs? These options give you a workout, save energy, and minimize pollution. Additionally, they can reduce stress, as "pedestrian rage" is much less common than "road rage." They also have social benefits, given that it's difficult to talk to a friend as they're speeding by in their car, but relatively easy if you bump into each other on the sidewalk.
Perhaps you live in an area that has few or no sidewalks, no safe places to ride a bicycle, and no amenities within walking distance. In such cases, you may wish to look at how your choice of living location impacts health and well-being on both a personal and community level. Does your location support your values and priorities? If not, what would your ideal setting look like, and what steps would it take to attain that?
Also consider the energy efficiency of your home, and take steps such as insulating and utilizing low-energy lighting and appliances. Are you heating a house that's much larger than you need? Fewer costs require less time at work to pay the bills, which contributes to life balance and well-being. These considerations also benefit others' health in that energy savings often decrease air pollution (e.g., mercury) from coal-fired power plants.
Next, consider your diet. This has not only personal nutrition implications, but extensive environmental, economic and public health implications. What do you choose to put directly into your body every day, and does it support the self and world you envision? Food production and distribution requires energy and resources that affect the world in various ways.
Learn where your food is grown--the further it is shipped, the more energy it utilizes, which contributes to greenhouse gases. According to the "100 Mile Diet" project, our food ingredients travel an average of 1,500 miles. It's a bit more challenging to eat produce in season year-round in colder climates, but making an effort to eat as locally as possible can have sizeable benefits. Support your local farmers and grocers carrying their goods.
Also related to diet, consider organic foods when possible, as pesticides can have unintended and unpredictable impacts upon your health and the environment. As more people demand such products, they will continue to become more available and more affordable. If you have some spare time and a little space in your yard, consider planting a garden. Then you'll know what's going into your food and where it comes from, and you'll get some exercise, too!
You may also wish to explore the personal and environmental benefits associated with reductions in animal protein consumption. There is a sizeable well-documented (but not yet well-publicized) body of public health research on the risks of consuming animal-produced proteins, particularly meat and dairy, as well as literature on the "protein myths" that continue to circulate. Other important factors include consumption of whole foods (i.e., as they occur in nature) and dark leafy greens, but the animal protein factor alone is a significant one (Campbell & Campbell, 2006; Eisman, 2006; Robbins, 2006).
Additionally, it takes many times more energy, food and water to produce animal flesh than it does to produce plant-based food with the equivalent energy and nutritional value. By some estimates, it takes five pounds of grain and 2,500 gallons of water to produce each pound of beef (Kostigen & Rogers, 2007). Imagine how many additional people could be fed by taking out the "middleman"--or "middlecow."
Concentrated animal farming also takes a toll on both individual health and the environment. Five tons of animal manure are produced every year per every individual in the U.S. (Greger, 2006). Waste water and runoff, which often includes hormones and other chemicals, pollutes local water sources. Not all chemicals can be filtered out by drinking water treatment, and their impacts upon humans are still being discovered.
When large numbers of animals and humans are frequently in unnaturally close quarters to one another, it creates additional opportunity for diseases (e.g., avian flu) to mutate and jump species (Greger, 2006). Additionally, when forests are cleared to support animal production (e.g., growth of food crops), it increases breeding areas for disease-transmitting insects like mosquitoes (Greger, 2006), and destroys larger pollution-absorbing vegetation.
Maintaining personal health and wellness takes a certain degree of time and commitment, as does improving the world. However, it doesn't always have to be an "either/or" dilemma. Depending upon our own values and priorities, there are a number of ways in which we can integrate our efforts on both fronts and maximize our positive impact. I invite you to conduct your own research on these areas, and to create a life that works for you!
Sources
Arloski, M. (2007). Wellness Coaching for Lasting Lifestyle Change. Duluth, MN: Whole Person Associates.
Blix, J. & Heitmiller, D. (1997). Getting a Life: Real Lives Transformed by Your Money or Your Life.
Campbell, T.C. & Campbell, T.M. (2006). The China Study. Dallas: BenBella Books.
Eisman, G. (2006). A Basic Course in Vegetarian and Vegan Nutrition. Watkins Glen, NY: The Vegetarian & Vegan Association.
Greger, M. (2006) Bird Flu: A Virus of Our Own Hatching. New York: Lantern Books.
Kostigen, T. & Rogers, E. (2007). The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time. New York: Three Rivers Press.
Post, S. & Neimark, J. (2007). Why Good Things Happen to Good People: The Exciting New Research That Proves the Link Between Doing Good and Living a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life. New York: Broadway Books.
Robbins, J. (2006). Healthy at 100: The Scientifically Proven Secrets of the World's Healthiest and Longest Lived Peoples. New York: Random House.
The Correlation Between Health And Diet
Healthy living doesn't happen at the doctor's office. The road to better health is paved with the small decisions we make every day. Healthy people may not be very much affected by foods grown in distant climatic regions.
Everyone is so focused on fat loss and building abs that they forget they are LOSING muscle mass. Our forum members share nutrition and amp; training tips and supplement ideas to keep that muscle! Everyone knows what the answer is, and it's a little frustrating even from my point of view, because no matter how much research you do, you're going after a monolithic dogma, in effect. And dogmas protect themselves.
Carbs are actually your body's preferred choice of fuel. The trick is to choose healthful complex carbs such as fruits, veggies, and whole grains.
Carbohydrates are important, however it's the volume of carbohydrates that are the most important. When people are on the first phase here at the Rice House, the total calories are low. Carbohydrates include all substances which end in -ol or -ose. The diet is often very sensitive to even small amounts of these carbohydrates.
Typically, patients embark on an elimination diet under the advice of a doctor, although some people may experiment with such diets on their own to see if they can identify the root causes of their medical problems.
Food allergies can cause a wide range of symptoms including intestinal distress, heartburn , hives, rashes, and difficulty breathing; by eating an elimination diet, a patient can identify foods which should be avoided in the future.
Typically, an interview will include a full nutritional and health history, height and weight and determination of Body Mass Index, or BMI. This is a number arrived at by using a formula that factors in height and weight.
General advice was given to increase fish, whale meat, vegetable and fruit intake. Over 5 years the mean difference in serum cholesterol between the two groups was relatively large for a dietary trial - 13% and tobacco consumption was lower in the intervention group. Genes may interact with environmental toxins such as alcohol in the womb, lead, and parental smoking to cause later problems with attention span.
Raw fat is also vitally important in carnivore's diet for optimum health and performance. Raw food is full of naturally occurring water! All the moisture needed to digest raw food is contained in raw food! Raw or cooked, you should not use a meat source that will cause the breed of dog you are feeding nutritional distress.
It has been PROVEN that the differences in per kilogram nutritional requirements of the different breeds makes it impossible for any one diet, including a raw meat diet, to be nutritionally correct for all dogs.
Additional impacts on the environment from a meat-eating diet are the pollution of our water and air. All of the livestock being raised throughout the world produce enormous amounts of manure and urine, which in turn pollute natural resources. Additionally, these advocates endorse the idea that milk (after weaning) and grains were never intended for human consumption.
Add vegetables whenever possible to ensure your five-a-day intake. Experiment with more veggie variety in salads, try new vegetable mixes, include some shredded vegetables in casseroles, and add different vegetables to soups and stews.
Different Types of Health Resources
Behavioral health resources are institutions set up to reform people. They could be alcoholic's anonymous, mental institutions, rehabilitation centers, orphanages, counseling centers, etc. The aim of behavioral resources is to improve a person's life by sharing his or her problem and finding a solution to overcome the problem. It involves sessions to induce positive thoughts in the person, quality services for mentally afflicted patients, thus leading them to lead healthy and happy lives. Helping people with compassion and going to the core of the problem is a part of any behavioral resource centre.
Mental health resources could be mental health institutions, mental health counselors, rehabilitation centers, etc. At such places, mentally retarded patients or mentally affected people get the required assistance. Some mental diseases are curable and with regular therapy and medication, the patient can be brought to his or her normal state of mind. Mental diseases like attention deficiency disorder, various phobias, depressive disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, etc. can be treated at such institutions. These diseases are curable because they are a state of mind and no damage has been done to the brain. However, mental diseases like Alzheimer's, dementia, schizophrenia, etc. can be difficult and sometimes impossible to revert back as they are caused due to damage done to the brain.
Community health resources are organizations that encourage the people of a particular area or community to join as a member of the community health resource centre and aid in providing medical care to others from the same area. These community health centers also aim at providing unpaid healthcare to people who cannot afford expensive health care. Such centers are basically non profit organizations that aim at the welfare of the people. They provide for all kinds of healthcare such as pediatric, family healthcare, cosmetic care, all kinds of surgeries, cardio care, cancer care, ENT care, Ophthalmology, mental care, etc. They also educate other people on health, spread awareness, campaign for important health issues, etc.
Kid's health resources are websites or institutions, which inform how to protect your children from newer diseases, about the nutrition of children, counseling, new researches and studies, preventive medicines, etc. These websites offer help with pediatric care too. Therefore, those mothers of newborn babies don't have to go too far looking for help.
Women's health resources are organizations, which offer diagnosis, treatment and healthcare tips to women. These organizations also provide help with domestic violence, coping with pregnancy, diet, etc. There are different health resources for men and women because each suffers a completely different set of problems. Conditions like menopause, breast cancer, and pregnancy are only seen in women and are difficult to deal with. While heart diseases, obesity, etc. are common in both. Also, in most parts of the world women form the neglected part of the society. So we need to pay more attention to them.
Men's health resources are also organizations, which offer diagnosis, treatment and healthcare tips to men. Men deal with different problems like prostate cancer, impotency, etc. These healthcare centers give pointers about which health issues are more important and need to be focused on. They give information about regular check ups to be done if men are suffering from some serious illness. Men are generally not open when it comes to talking about their problems, because men are supposed to be tough. With the help of such organizations, they might be able to discuss their problems more freely and try to battle them.
Special Pregnancy Nutrition Needs
It is commonly known that nutrition is a critical part of everyday life. However, during pregnancy nutrition becomes even more critical for the health of you and your baby. Not only is nutrition critical during pregnancy, the nutritional needs of your body are different during this period of your life. Different nutritional needs develop because of changes in your body as well as the needs of a developing fetus. Your body is under a lot of physical stress during pregnancy which increases the need for special nutrition and added vitamins.
As soon as you find out that you are pregnant you need to consult your physician. The two of you should develop a pregnancy nutrition and fitness plan, that should be implemented as soon as possible. The first three months of your pregnancy are the most important because this is when most of your baby's organs and brain are being developed. Proper nutrition during pregnancy can minimize the risk of birth defects, malformations and miscarriage. The first three months are when most miscarriages occur.
You should immediately begin taking special prenatal vitamins to ensure the health of you and your baby. This will help to ensure that your developing baby receives all the right vitamins that are needed. Folic acid is one of the most needed vitamins during pregnancy and women rarely obtain a sufficient amount through their diet. Prenatal vitamins need to replace the vitamins that you are currently taking. Your regular vitamins although sufficient when you are not pregnant, may be detrimental to your developing baby during pregnancy. A pregnancy specific nutrition and fitness plan will help ensure a happy and healthy baby and will also make you feel better during your nine month journey.
Turn on the Water Works
Although drinking 6-8 glasses of water is highly recommended for everyone, water becomes more important when you are pregnant. In fact, during pregnancy many experts recommend that you drink 10-12 glasses of water daily. Water does not include juice, soda, coffee of other types of beverages, it only includes water. You need to keep in mind that everything that you consume during pregnancy passes through to your unborn baby. Not only is water extremely important for a multitude of reasons, you should probably avoid or severely limit your intake of soda and coffee. These beverages, provide numerous chemicals that may not be healthy for your developing baby.
Drinking a lot of water may be difficult and many women find it easier to keep a water bottle with them at all times so they can continuously sip water throughout the day. If you do not like the taste of plain water, you can always add a small amount of juice or a twist of lemon to add some flavor. Extra water is needed to aide in your baby's development, to remove waste from your system and to help ensure adequate flow of nutrients to your baby.
Drinking alot of water may also minimize or prevent some of the ailments you commonly experience during pregnancy, such as nausea, constipation, and swelling. Severe constipation is a common symptom during pregnancy because your developing baby depletes the water in your system.
Pregnancy Nutrition - Foods to Avoid
Your body and developing baby are much more vulnerable to bacteria and other contaminants during pregnancy. As a result, there are certain foods that you will be advised to either avoid completely or limit during your pregnancy. Here is a partial list of items that you need to avoid or limit:
1) raw eggs, this may include certain dressings or sauces;
2) unpasteurized milk and cheese, this may include certain soft cheeses;
3) raw or rare fish and meats;
4) fish that tend to have high mercury levels;
5) caffeine and alcohol;
6) unwashed vegetables; etc.
Unwashed vegetables are very bad because of the pesticides and bacteria that they may carry. Caffeine in moderation may be acceptable but make sure you obtain specific details regarding the quantity that is advised. Your doctor and a pregnancy nutritional guide should be consulted to develop a complete list for you to follow.
Summary and Additional Resources
Pregnancy nutrition and fitness are extremely important for the health of you and your developing baby. Your baby has special nutritional requirements that begin at the moment of conception. The first three months of pregnancy are the most important because that is when your baby's organs and brain are being developed. It is also the time that most miscarriages occur.
Proper specialized nutrition can also make you feel better and provide additional energy during pregnancy which is critical because of the added stress that is being placed on your body. You will need to make sacrifices but it will pay off in the long run for you and your baby. When you see your healthy beautiful baby for the first time, you will know that it was all worth it!
There is a lot of information that you need to know about pregnancy and pregnancy nutrition. Although your doctor and loved ones can help, there is too much to learn for this method to be sufficient. We provide comprehensive pregnancy information and recommended pregnancy guides. We review the most popular guides to find the ones that are best for your needs.