Everyone knows that proper nutrition is important,
especially for athletes and even more especially for young athletes. What many
people don’t know, however, is what, exactly, young athletes should be eating
or how they can go about maintaining good nutrition. Fortunately, it’s simpler
than you might think. Following a few simple nutrition tips can go a long way
towards creating healthier, happier, and more successful young athletes.
Get Plenty of
Carbohydrates
Ever since the Atkins diet became popular, there has been a
school of thought that carbohydrates are “bad” in some way and should be
avoided. This has gotten even worse with the recent Paleo and Keto trends going
around.
In truth, carbohydrates are a good and very necessary thing
to have in one’s diet, especially for athletes. They provide fuel and energy
that athletes need in order to perform at their best. The key is to get in
adequate amounts of good, complex carbohydrates, like whole-grain breads and
cereals and whole-wheat pasta.
Always Eat Before a
Practice or Game
Speaking of energy, young athletes should always make sure
to fuel their bodies before a practice or game. Doing so will not only give
them more energy and endurance in the activity at hand but will also help to
reduce the risk of strain or muscle cramps. Good pre-activity snacks include
nutritious foods with carbohydrates and healthy sugars. Stellar choices
include:
·
Fruit
·
Yogurt
·
Whole grain toast
·
Oatmeal or healthy cereal
Don’t be Afraid of Sodium
Speaking of foods and ingredients that people tend to be
wrongfully afraid of, sodium is a big one that gets a bad name. However,
athletes actually need plenty of sodium to keep their electrolytes and overall
health in check, especially after they sweat and deplete their sodium levels in
a game or practice.
This isn’t to say they should overindulge in salt, but
getting a little sodium, especially before being active, can be super helpful.
Adding a teaspoon of salt to food or having some pretzels can actually be a
good thing for athletes.
If the young athlete in your life can follow these and other
basic nutrition tips, it should be much easier for him to stay healthy for
life!.
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