How To Improve Sport Performance

By Peter Kelly


Engaging in sports is necessary for anyone who wants to maintain fitness and have a good health. Since participating in sports has several individual and social benefits, it is laudable to seek ways on how to improve your performance. Some of the benefits of sport participation include relief from stress and depression, development of motor skills and goal setting habits.

Athletes can do better in their sports by taking water or any kind of healthy drink. The aim is to improve sport performance by hydrating the body. As one does exercises, the body loses water through sweat and other forms and this has to be replaced. However, only a part of it should be aimed at replacement so that not more than 800 ml should be taken per hour. Athletes who would try to take more than this may suffer from over hydration and loss of sodium in their body.

Energy is another thing the body has to replace during sports. The body needs to replace calories but not as much as what you are burning out. Trying to replace the exact amount of calories you are burning can lead to vomiting and nausea. Although body needs vary, maintaining calorie intake to 300 calories per hour is ideal. Some athletes may go below or slightly above this depending on their weight.

Do not also take simple sugars while exercising. Simple sugars are also known as unrefined sugars and they are not very healthy for the body. You can find them in carbonated drinks, sweets, gums and processed foods like pastries. It is better to consume complex carbohydrates which include foods such as wheat bread and corn.

You are also expected to take protein when replacing calories lost during exercises. As a matter of fact, this is what the body does without your approval so if you fail to take some proteins, you will be at the danger of allowing your body do it automatically by feeding on the muscles. Recommended proteins are soy products and whey protein. Whey protein is more suitable for use after exercise.

It is good to also consume calcium supplements if you are not intolerant to it. This is because calcium is generally good for making bones strong and allowing it to contract more easily. If your doctor has not restricted you from taking calcium rich foods, then you may also want to take some soy milk, fortified orange juice, milk, spinach or sardines.

If you want to be among those athletes with bodies that respond to the training they do, you must also learn how to create time for sleep. Taking a short rest after an exercise is a good way to let the body remember what it has to do. Besides, an athlete that rests well will not feel dizzy during the main sport so it is easier for him to take quick actions in the field of play.

Moreover, sleeping well also accounts for the body's ability to heal itself and reduce injury rates. A person who sleeps well has a better immune system than one who stays awake at night. Injuries are more frequent with those who do not sleep well because they are slow to react to activities on the field of play. If it is a football game, such a person may be unable to avoid a quick challenge from an opponent.




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