Nutrition - A Paramount To Athletic Success

Nutrition is, no doubt, a paramount to athletic success. It is nutrition that provides the required energy for sporting events and vigorous physical activities involved.

Proper nutrients are required for muscle growth and for overall performance as well. Also, a planned nutritional diet allows for optimal body fat required for our sport.

Now-a-days, there are several misconceptions about the right nutritional plan. The aim of an ideal nutritional plan is to instill basic guidelines that can be followed throughout one's athletic and lifelong career.

Following an eight week diet that merely consists of some sort of tasteless cabbage soup will fetch you nothing!

In this article and also in a few related upcoming articles, I have attempted to throw light on the basic principles of a good nutrition and supplementation program that is needed to achieve optimal performance.

To start with, here are some basic components that are of prime importance for athletes.

• Protein:

Proteins constitute the most important macronutrients that all the athletes should be concerned with. They not only help in building muscles but are also needed by the body to replenish the protein pool inside the body.

Proteins that are ingested are an important source of essential amino acids in the body. The most important sources of protein are meats and dairy products.

• Carbohydrate:

Carbohydrate is the main source of energy for the body. To remain healthy, you need to choose the right types of carbohydrates. Fiber is a kind of carbohydrate that is a must for athletes.

Fiber not only helps with digestion but will also help to keep your bowels clean. Grains are the best source of carbohydrates.

• Fats:

If you think that any kind of fat can be detrimental to the health of an athlete, let me tell you that you are highly mistaken. On the contrary, fats have proven to be extremely helpful in nutritional plans.

Certain oils have preferable benefits to other junk fats, usually found in fried food. Oils, dairy products, and nuts are common sources of fats.