Our holistic, personalized, and evidence-based approach to sports nutrition delivers not just short-term results but also long-term health benefits.

Contact us today to get started! Boosting Performance and Recovery: The Nutritional Perspective at Idaho Sports Medicine Institute.

Previous Next. View Larger Image. Sustained Energy Levels Carbohydrates are the primary source of fuel for our muscles during physical activity. Enhanced Muscle Growth and Recovery An adequate intake of protein is critical for muscle growth, repair, and recovery.

Reduced Inflammation and Faster Recovery Choosing foods that contain anti-inflammatory properties, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and certain spices, can help reduce inflammation commonly caused by exercise.

Intra-Workout Nutrition For longer workouts or competitive events, consuming carbohydrates and electrolytes during the activity can help maintain energy levels and prevent dehydration. Hydration and Athletic Performance Hydration is a key component of any sports nutrition plan.

Boosting Athlete Performance with Quality Nutrition at Idaho Sports Medicine Institute Incorporating a well-formulated nutrition plan into your sports medicine routine is crucial for achieving optimal athletic performance and promoting recovery.

seo redfoxvisual. com T December 14th, Health and Wellness , Physical Therapy. Share This Post, Choose your Platform Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email. Related Posts. The Science of Hydration: Unlocking Optimal Athletic Performance for Active Idahoans and Elite Athletes.

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How Should I Fuel and Hydrate BEFORE Exercise? of fluid How Should I Fuel and Hydrate DURING Exercise? For exercise lasting less than 60 minutes : Fuel: Eating may not be necessary for short practice or competition period Hydrate: Water is the fluid of choice during most physical activity For exercise lasting more than 60 minutes : Fuel: Having a carbohydrate rich snack can help maintain your energy level throughout the long practice or competition period Hydrate: Sports drink may be helpful by keeping you hydrated as well as maintaining electrolyte levels Try drinking oz.

Within minutes after exercise : Fuel: Fuel the body with carbohydrate and protein to maximize recovery Replenish the carbohydrate stores following exercise so the body is ready for your next workout Protein helps with the repair and recovery of the muscles Hydrate: Replenish fluid lost during exercise to help the body return to optimal body temperature Rehydrate with oz.

of water for every pound of water lost through sweat hours after exercise : Fuel: Eat a well-balanced meal with carbohydrate, protein, and fats Hydrate: Continue to rehydrate with fluids You can also hydrate your body by eating water-rich fruits and vegetables Remember, you cannot out-train poor nutrition and hydration.

of fluid one hour before exercise None or water oz. of fluid every 15 minutes Rehydrate with oz. You May Also Be Interested In. Article Sports Nutrition. It can then be used as a key energy source during exercise to fuel exercising muscle tissue and other body systems.

Athletes can increase their stores of glycogen by regularly eating high-carbohydrate foods. If dietary protein intake is insufficient, this can result in a loss of protein muscle tissue, because the body will start to break down muscle tissue to meet its energy needs, and may increase the risk of infections and illness.

Current recommendations for carbohydrate requirements vary depending on the duration, frequency and intensity of exercise. More refined carbohydrate foods such as white bread, jams and lollies are useful to boost the total intake of carbohydrate, particularly for very active people.

Athletes are advised to adjust the amount of carbohydrate they consume for fuelling and recovery to suit their exercise level. For example:. A more recent strategy adopted by some athletes is to train with low body carbohydrate levels and intakes train low.

There is accumulating evidence that carefully planned periods of training with low carbohydrate availability may enhance some of the adaptations in muscle to the training program.

However, currently the benefits of this approach to athletic performance are unclear. The GI has become of increasing interest to athletes in the area of sports nutrition. However, the particular timing of ingestion of carbohydrate foods with different GIs around exercise might be important.

There is a suggestion that low GI foods may be useful before exercise to provide a more sustained energy release, although evidence is not convincing in terms of any resulting performance benefit.

Moderate to high GI foods and fluids may be the most beneficial during exercise and in the early recovery period.

However, it is important to remember the type and timing of food eaten should be tailored to personal preferences and to maximise the performance of the particular sport in which the person is involved.

A high-carbohydrate meal 3 to 4 hours before exercise is thought to have a positive effect on performance. A small snack one to 2 hours before exercise may also benefit performance. It is important to ensure good hydration prior to an event.

Consuming approximately ml of fluid in the 2 to 4 hours prior to an event may be a good general strategy to take. Some people may experience a negative response to eating close to exercise. A meal high in fat, protein or fibre is likely to increase the risk of digestive discomfort.

It is recommended that meals just before exercise should be high in carbohydrates as they do not cause gastrointestinal upset. Liquid meal supplements may also be appropriate, particularly for athletes who suffer from pre-event nerves. For athletes involved in events lasting less than 60 minutes in duration, a mouth rinse with a carbohydrate beverage may be sufficient to help improve performance.

Benefits of this strategy appear to relate to effects on the brain and central nervous system. During exercise lasting more than 60 minutes, an intake of carbohydrate is required to top up blood glucose levels and delay fatigue. Current recommendations suggest 30 to 60 g of carbohydrate is sufficient, and can be in the form of lollies, sports gels, sports drinks, low-fat muesli and sports bars or sandwiches with white bread.

It is important to start your intake early in exercise and to consume regular amounts throughout the exercise period. It is also important to consume regular fluid during prolonged exercise to avoid dehydration. Sports drinks, diluted fruit juice and water are suitable choices.

For people exercising for more than 4 hours, up to 90 grams of carbohydrate per hour is recommended. Carbohydrate foods and fluids should be consumed after exercise, particularly in the first one to 2 hours after exercise.

While consuming sufficient total carbohydrate post-exercise is important, the type of carbohydrate source might also be important, particularly if a second training session or event will occur less than 8 hours later.

In these situations, athletes should choose carbohydrate sources with a high GI for example white bread, white rice, white potatoes in the first half hour or so after exercise. This should be continued until the normal meal pattern resumes. Since most athletes develop a fluid deficit during exercise, replenishment of fluids post-exercise is also a very important consideration for optimal recovery.