Nutrition
The body needs
energy for every physical activity. The more
intense the exercise, the more energy the body needs. Thus,
nutrition is a vital factor when it comes to physical activity.
The longer the
period of exercise the more energy the body needs.
(Click
here for information about weight control - healthy eating
and exercise.)
Energy is made
available to the body in 2 ways:
1. Stored
energy - glycogen in muscles is an example of this.
2. The food we eat. (Our source of nutrition)
Glycogen
is the main source of energy used by muscles - training
with depleted glycogen and you'll be tired and slow.
But the body
doesn't need just glycogen. The body needs fat and
protein, as well as carbohydrate.
-
57%
Carbohydrates (sugar, sweets, bread, cakes)
-
30% Fats
(dairy products, oil)
-
13% Protein
(eggs, milk, meat, poultry, fish)
Nutrient Balance
Carefully
planned nutrition must provide a balance.
Carbohydrates - energy.
Proteins - essential to growth and repair of muscle and other body
tissues.
Fats - one source of energy and important in relation to fat
soluble vitamins.
Minerals - inorganic elements occurring in the body that are
critical to its
normal functions.
Vitamins - water and fat soluble vitamins play important roles in
many
chemical processes in the body.
Water - 60% of the human body is water. Essential as a
vehicle for carrying
other nutrients.
Roughage - the indigestible portion of our diet essential to
health of the
digestive system.
More nutrition
information coming soon.
