On your journey as a young athlete, one factor to consider is the importance of vitamins and minerals. Your body needs plenty of micronutrients to drive your athletic abilities to the next level. Consumption of vitamins and minerals will offer much-needed support for the physical demands of your body.
Parents, be mindful of the need for adequate intake and encourage your star athlete to maintain a balanced and healthy diet. Proper intake will maximize all the benefits these goodies have to offer. Additionally, consult with the pediatrician and trainer regarding dietary habits and possible supplementation to help nurture successful results.
Energy
To start with the basics, a balanced diet packed with vitamins and minerals is the key component that provides our energy. Without it, you’ll feel fatigued soon after you start training. Nutrients like niacin or thiamin are abundant in whole grains, poultry, and beans. Get your fill of this brain food that fuels your body and boosts your concentration during your workout.
Endurance
Nutrient-packed foods will boost your endurance. Minerals, like iron and calcium, are needed for oxygen transport and to keep blood flowing to your cardiac muscles. Magnesium is essential for making and storing energy and helps with electrolyte balance. Keeping this balance and supporting nutrient flow will keep you in the race for longer periods and can delay fatigue. The boost to your heart and lungs can also help prevent adverse health-related injuries during training.
Muscle Movement
A major part of being a successful athlete is caring about your bones. Vitamins and minerals promote bone health, which is necessary for intensive physical activity. Nutrients like calcium and vitamin D are in dairy products, leafy green vegetables, and fatty fish. These nutrients are prevalent in skeletal muscle and can improve muscle contraction and relaxation. Proper intake of vitamins and minerals that target your muscles allows better movement as you run and jump and protects your joints from wear and tear.
Strength and Recovery
Antioxidants and immune-boosting micronutrients help build muscle and fight illnesses that impair physical activity. These minerals, like zinc, selenium, and vitamin A, strengthen your system. A well-developed immune system can block the pathogens that increase an athlete’s vulnerability to sickness after a workout.
Be sure to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to obtain these nutrients because they are vital to overcoming delayed recovery and supporting the physical demands that burden the body. Another important role is to build connective tissue and actively engage in cellular repair. These nutrients will keep you strong and prevent grogginess and extreme tiredness the day after a workout.
Improves Skills
Improved intake of vitamins and minerals can help you to improve your skills. If you have fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein sources in your diet, you’re not only feeding your body, but you’re also feeding your brain. Sharper cognitive skills will mean faster reaction time, better coordination, and stabilized balance. Bursts of energy and better focus during practice time, combined with stronger bones and adequate recovery, can result in better strength and endurance that make a winning game plan for a star athlete.
