Athletes practice and train hard to improve overall performance. Proper sports nutrition can enhance the improvements by decreasing recovery time, increasing lean muscle mass and decreasing body fat. Shopping for sports nutrition can be overwhelming with the variety of companies and products. Start your search by looking at the best products for sports nutrition.
Protein
Protein was one of the first sports nutrition products and continues to be one of the best for the overall benefits it provides to the athlete. During a game or practice, the muscles get small microscopic tears causing inflammation and electrolyte imbalances. For the athlete, recovery is important to repair the tears, reduce the inflammation and restore electrolyte balances before the next practice or game. According to Dr. Phillip W. Harvey, chief scientific officer of Max Muscle Sports Nutrition, when a protein supplement--about 28g--with carbohydrates is consumed within 15 to 30 minutes following exercise, recovery time is reduced. Protein also improves recovery by increasing the ability to restore glycogen in the muscles.
Creatine
Found naturally in the skeletal muscle tissue, creatine became a popular sports nutrition product in the 1990s with its ability to increase muscle mass and enhance athletic performance. During high-intensity exercise, creatine is converted to creatine phosphate that supplies energy. Supplementing with creatine allows the muscle to store extra creatine that may improve your ability to sustain a high-level of intensity during sprints. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, creatine may improve athletic performance by increasing strength and lean muscle mass during high-intensity, short-duration exercise.
Glutamine
Glutamine--also referred to as L-glutamine--is a non-essential amino acid stored within the skeletal muscles and released during exercise and stress. The body releases glutamine to enhance recovery after stress such as prolonged, intense exercise, and may use 34 to 50 percent of the stored glutamine. Without a sufficient supply of glutamine, your body may experience difficulty repairing damaged muscles. Supplementing with glutamine can refill the glutamine stores to enhance protein synthesis and prevent muscle atrophy. Glutamine may also regulate glucose and glycogen to replenish energy stores.
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