Your car requires adequate fuel and ongoing maintenance. Likewise, your body requires healthy food to maintain its energy level for exercise to support its bones, muscles, joints and ligaments. Professional and recreational athletes may require nutritional and fitness programs that support the specific physiological and biomechanical demands of their sports.
History
The Swedes performed carbohydrate and fat metabolism studies in the 1930s, and were thus pioneers in the field of sport and exercise nutrition. Marie Dunford, who wrote "Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Nutrition," explains that by the 1950s, Scandinavian scientists were studying muscle glycogen storage, usage, and resynthesis during prolonged exercise. The Scandinavians also developed technology that measured human tissue responses to exercise. Then, in 1965, a team of University of Florida scientists developed a sport electrolyte replacement drink. They called it Gatorade.
Time Frame
The exercise physiology laboratories of the 1970s studied distance runners and athletes, who needed to maintain their glycogen stores. Most of the sport nutrition studies published during this period focus on carbohydrate consumption. When sport exercise nutrition emerged as a formal science in the 1980s, researchers began classifying athletes as strength or endurance athletes, and creating dietary programs based on individual sports. The American Dietetic Association now has a special sports, cardiovascular, wellness and nutrition faction known as SCAN.
Expert Insight
SCAN sport nutrition specialists advise athletes about their eating schedules. Pre-exercise or event meals should be low in fat and fiber, in order to ensure timely digestion. Small amounts of protein may reduce post-exercise soreness. Protein should also be consumed in the post-activity meal in order to repair muscle damage.
Prevention/Solution
Dehydration may impede performance, cause cardiovascular stress and increase the risk of heat intolerance. Hydration is therefore important before, during and after exercise. Water is the drink of choice for moderate intensity activities, lasting under 60 minutes. Sport drinks, such as Gatorade, help to replace carbohydrates and electrolytes in moderate to high intensity exercise lasting more than one hour. After exercise, fruits and vegetables help to replace fluid and potassium loss.
Considerations
High altitude events have specific nutritional needs, explains Suzanne Girard Eberle, author of "Endurance Sports Nutrition." Eberle advises that high-altitude exercise increases the need for vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects your red blood and muscle cells. Whole grains, green leafy vegetables, nuts and egg yolks are examples of foods rich in vitamin E.
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