|
|
|
Bengals' quarterback Carson hurt his left knee
NFL Carson Palmer has a torn anterior crucial ligament; when he
was tackled on his first pass last Sunday in Cincinnati's NFL
playoff game against Pittsburgh.
Kimo von Oelhoffen hit Palmer's leg causing it to bow inward at
the knee, when...
Paintball Safety
The fact that Paintball is now the 4th most popular Extreme Sport is not solely do to the fact that it is one of the most fun sports around it is also because of the fact it is also safe to play. How can a sport where people go around shooting each...
Snowboard Safety: Injury Prevention and Treatment
Snowboarding is one of the most popular snow sports and like any other physical activity, it is susceptible to injury. However if the right precautions are taken and the correct protective gear is worn, the body can be protected from any severe...
What exactly is Nitric Oxide (NO2)? Why is it such a POWERFUL bodybuilding supplement?
What is Nitric Oxide anyway?
The chemical compound nitric oxide is a gas with a chemical
formula NO. It is an important signaling molecule in the body of
mammals including humans, one of the few gaseous signaling
molecules...
Who Is Our Daddy? - George Steinbrenner, That's Who.
Who Is Our Daddy? - George Steinbrenner, That's Who.
Thank goodness the Yankees have him.
Big Daddy, George Steinbrenner, is a Yankee fan's delight. As a Yankee fan I love that so many other fans hate what George has done and continues to do....
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Nutrition For Your Young Athlete
Nutrition for Your Young Athlete
Nutrition is extremely important for any young person, especially an athletic one, and even more so during the developmental years of their life. Whether your child is involved in soccer or football, gymnastics or swimming or Little League, he or she needs a good nutritive balance in order to be successful in any endeavor. It cannot be stressed enough that anorexia and bulimia, chronic malnutrition, are absolutely devastating not only to an athlete’s career, but also to overall health and well-being. You should always watch for decreased eating in your child, no matter how robust and healthy they may seem.
Interestingly enough, very few scientific studies on the nutrition of child athletes have been published. You don’t really need to be a scientist (or an alchemist) to create a healthy menu for your active youth, though. All you need is a little bit of creativity, and, of course, the facts about different kinds of foods. As is dictated by common sense, it’s necessary for kids who are active to consume more caloric energy than their couch potato counterparts. Sometimes, they must take in several hundred - or even a thousand - healthy calories more than the average child, depending upon their age and upon the intensity of the sport they’re participating in.
So what types of food should you give your gymnast? I'll help you out.
In General
Everyday nutrition calls for a healthy balance of protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals. The most important type of caloric intake for a child athlete is carbohydrates. Without carbohydrates, the body cannot readily replenish its stores of energy in the muscles and in the liver.
Simple carbohydrates, like those found in most candies and chocolates, are usually not enough: they are used up too quickly and if eaten before competing can cause changes in blood pressure (of course, you can splurge every once in a while -- just not constantly).
Pasta, bread, and rice -- in other words, foods from grain -- are best overall for carbohydrate intake. Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of carbs and of vitamins and minerals. Dairy products are especially important for building strong bones and teeth. Meat -- or meat substitute -- is needed for protein intake.
Did you know that if you know... if you put beans and rice together, they create a perfect protein?
Most plants don’t produce all of the proteins we as human beings need to
survive -- but if they are eaten at the same time, they give you all the protein you need. That means you can have refried beans with rice, or meatless chili with rice, or a variety of other combinations, if indeed you don’t want to eat beef, chicken, pork, or other animal proteins.
Before an Event
Approximately two to three hours before your child is to participate in an event, or indeed in training, you should have them eat a light meal filled with carbohydrates: a bowl of spaghetti, a sandwich with lettuce and a glass of fruit juice, carrot sticks and a piece of cheese, or something else to their taste. It’s always advisable to have them exert themselves on a slightly empty stomach, because they may experience cramping or fatigue otherwise.
During an Event
During an event or practice, it is vitally important that your athlete remain hydrated. When he or she sweats profusely, water is lost to the atmosphere via evaporation. A lot of vapor is also lost through deep breathing.
This is the body’s natural cooling system. It needs to be replenished, just like the cooling elements in your air conditioner. Every twenty to thirty minutes during strenuous exercise, your child should drink six to eight ounces of water. A sports drink is acceptable sometimes, so long as it has few carbohydrates (under 15-20 grams is best). Even diluted fruit juice (one part water to one part juice) will work well.
Keep in mind that dehydration is a very serious problem with athletes -- and when they begin to feel thirsty, it may already be too late. Whether or not they are thirsty, you should keep them hydrated with water, juice, or sports drinks.
After an Event
After an event, it’s a good idea to let your child have something full of carbohydrates to eat - just like the pre-game meal. This will replenish their energy stores and ease their recovery time.
With all of this, good luck!
By Murray Hughes Gymnastics Secrets Revealed ”The book EVERY gymnastics parent should read”
http://www.gymnasticssecretsrevealed.com/gymnastics-articles/gymnastics_nutrition.htm
About the Author
If your child is a gymnast and you enjoyed this article, you will definitely enjoy reading the zero cost, 5-day course Gymnastics Tips Course written especially for gymnastics parents by a gymnastics parent. http://www.GymnasticsSecretsRevealed.com For AOL Users - Girls Gymnastics
|
|
|
|
|
|