The sportsman's diet must be treated in a rigorous and targeted manner given the fundamental role of diet in its results, from performance, to recovery, from weight loss to increase in muscle mass, but also for the development of strength and endurance.
Lights and shadows in the sportsman's diet
Are you sure that sports nutrition contains enough micronutrients?
The diet of those who practice sports, but also of those who are less active, must be rich in essential macro- and micronutrients so that the complex metabolic-muscular "machine" works at maximum efficiency.
There is a problem: today's diet is poorer in micronutrients than in the past. The intensive agricultural methods of fruit, vegetables, cereals cause a decrease in nutrients and it is difficult to compensate for all the needs with food alone, especially if you are an athlete subjected to intense and continuous training.
The athlete is also in a constant state of oxidative stress which, if ignored, can generate various disorders that risk:
- Altering the resilience
- Deteriorating cellular metabolic processes
- Create more inefficiency
- Promote the inflammatory state
- Weakening of the body's defenses
The athlete with a non-optimal diet therefore becomes even more vulnerable to illness, trauma and the risk of overtraining.
Nutrition and sports supplementation: multivitamins
The solution for a complete sports diet? Use, when needed, nutrient supplements in the correct quantities and times for each need.
We are not just talking about protein intake. Many athletes underestimate the potential of one of the most common and used supplements ever, namely the multivitamin supplement.
How to choose the best multivitamin supplements?
The best multivitamin supplements are those that contain not only a complete mix of vitamins and minerals, but also powerful natural antioxidants. This type of supplement is essential for a correct diet of the athlete because it offers a broad spectrum of essential nutrients such as:
- Vitamin D: of which a large part of the population is deficient, especially in the winter months.
- Vitamin B group: important for energy metabolism.
- Vitamins C and E: together with lutein, lycopene, selenium and other natural antioxidants present, they participate in raising the defenses against free radicals.
The best examples of complete multivitamin and mineral supplements make use of a synergy of natural phytoelements with high beneficial potential (for example, astaxanthin, dry extract of plants and antioxidant fruits such as pomegranate, turmeric, ginger, milk thistle, astragalus etc ...) to help the body fight inflammation, toxins and free radicals.
Another important factor that is worth inquiring about before choosing a multivitamin is the release technology of the active ingredients it uses, so as to understand if it is able to extend its action potential gradually and continuously during the day.
Author
Dr. Gabriele Trapani
Chief Research & Development Yamamoto
