How much thought do you give to your nutrition? Many people eat whatever they like; however, not paying close attention to your nutrition can have repercussions for your physical performance.
Most people need between 1,300 and 3,000 calories per day to keep their body fueled. Athletes can require many more calories than this, and some Olympic athletes can end up consuming up to 12,000 calories a day. Our physical therapists can offer tips and services designed to help you improve your performance. They also suggest that you focus on five performance-boosting nutrients when building your nutrition plan.
These five nutrients are vital if you want stronger performance
Your car won’t run properly without gas. But it won’t run properly, or at all, if you feed it nothing other than gas. Like a car, your body needs a mix of several different types of nutrients. Five nutrients your physical therapist may suggest paying closer attention to for improved performance are:
- Carbohydrates — Carbs are an important nutrient for maintaining good energy levels. They burn more readily than other energy-creating nutrients. This makes them a key fuel for both short-burst activities and endurance training.
- Protein — It’s estimated that the human body contains up to 400,000 different types of proteins. These nutrients are made up of 20 amino acids, and they’re the building blocks of muscles. Getting enough protein is vital for athletes who need to build or maintain muscle mass.
- Fats — These nutrients have gotten lots of negative press over the years. However, getting some healthy fats are important for several reasons. Fats are stored as a reserve fuel supply, but they’re also involved in tasks like:
- Brain health
- Inflammation management
- Hormone production
- Joint lubrication
- Micronutrients — When micronutrients are discussed, the person talking about them means vitamins and minerals. B-complex vitamins are very popular among athletes because they help increase energy availability. You’ll also need vitamins and minerals such as:
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Water — This nutrient may be the most important when it comes to athletic performance. Without enough water, getting enough of these other nutrients won’t be as effective. This because water does the following:
- Transports nutrients throughout the body
- Regulates internal temperature to prevent overheating
- Helps lubricate your joints
Panther Physical Therapy can help you find ways to improve athletic performance
Are you looking for help finding nutrition and other factors to boost your athletic performance? Our team at Panther Physical Therapy is here to help you. We offer free screenings that can reveal joint misalignments and other issues that can be holding back your performance. In addition, our team excels at building personalized therapy plans designed to treat injuries and improve your performance.
Not able to find time to come to an in-person therapy session? No worries! Our team offers virtual therapy and at-home care sessions that you can do at home. You can even start using our physical therapy services without first getting a doctor’s referral.
Contact our team today for more information about how we can help you or to schedule an initial appointment.