Sports Training & Nutrition Resources (05)

Healthy Dieting and Sports Nutrition
This article starts off by talking about fad diets. Carbohydrate-rich foods, high-fat foods, low protein foods, have all been targeted as culprits for the nation's high rates of obesity, cancer and cardiovascular disease. Most of these diets fail to tell you what foods should be included in your diet, and instead emphasize what to avoid. This article has some tips for healthy eating, such as eating more sources of vegetarian protein, fruits and vegetables and more unsaturated fats.

Hyponatremia in Triathletes
This article is part of the sports science library at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute. It is vital because it follows up on a huge media story reported in the New England Journal of Medicine that tracked the incidence of hyponatremia (a potentially-fatal condition caused by dangerously low blood sodium levels) among 488 participants in the 2002 Boston Marathon. The institute says that it believes media coverage surrounding this study is doing a disservice to the running and athletic communities by providing a single-minded focus on the dangers of hyponatremia as compared to the more common ailment of dehydration and consequent heat illnesses. In response, tips for staying properly hydrated and monitoring sodium levels in a marathon are offered.

Swimming Drills for Better Endurance
Swimmers can easily build endurance with proper sports training. This article describes a variety of drills and exercises that can be used to build endurance for sport swimming or triathlons. It includes specific exercises and strokes to use to build up your strength during training, such as: stroke drills, f/s speed drills, one arm f/s and more. Included are sample sets to build strength and other good drills for swimmers. The types of conditioning work are alternated or cycled within each weekly training plan so that they can recover from one form of stress while applying themselves to another.

Sports Nutrition Equipment and Gear Reviews
While the equipment used in various sports can be bikes and balls, the equipment needed for optimal sports nutrition lies in the products. This website has a few links to reviews of popular sports supplements. Reviewed are: Special K, creatine monohydrate formulas such as CLF-5000, energy bars (such as Advantage, Source One, Balance, Power Bar, Ironman Bars and Max Bars), propecia, Met-Rx Original Vanilla, Adipokinetix and Guggulbolic for Fat Loss, Ribose, Zone Perfect Fish Oil Capsules and more.

Triathlon Race Day Nutrition
If race day is looming, read on to learn more about what to eat. The morning of the race try to consume a breakfast containing approximately 800 calories about 2 hours before the race. The meal should be primarily low glycemic index carbohydrates with some protein and fat added to prevent blood sugar fluctuations. Energy bars and powdered pre-workout drinks can be substituted for whole foods if you have a nervous stomach, which can be common. An added benefit of pre-workout and recovery drinks such as Preformance and Endurox R4 is that they contain protein, which is needed in addition to carbohydrates to help fuel your muscles during longer events such as a triathlon. Some athletes report energy problems if relying solely on carbohydrates during long races.