Vigour – Health and Sports Nutrition

Energy supplements are often used to enhance athletic performance by boosting and rejuvenating the body’s energy levels.

Many athletes will use an energy supplement before and possibly during a demanding regime or performance.
Typically, athletes will be seen to take an energy gel or drink to fuel their body with a convenient and concentrated source of carbohydrates.

Nitric Oxide supplements also offer a wide range of benefits to energy levels such as increased blood flow, improved oxygen delivery, and improved absorption of glucose of the body. Nitric Oxide Supplements also contain keto-acids, which current researches have shown are effective in delaying muscle fatigue.

Alongside a balanced and healthy diet, the use of energy supplements are a valuable resource to increase overall athletic endurance and enable a vigourous performance when required.

Dehydration is generally defined as the progressive depletion of body fluids caused when fluid losses, for whatever reason, exceed fluid intake.

Whilst many of us drink enough fluids throughout the day to keep hydrated many will still dehydrate during exercise which will subsequently impair both physical and mental performance. Fluid losses during exercise need to be replenished regularly as the feeling of thirst will be suppressed during this period.

Bodily fluids are lost during exercise predominately through sweating. Not only are fluids lost during high intensity physical activity or in a hot environment but also for any prolonged activity in all conditions.
Maintaining adequate hydration levels allows all athletes to train harder and longer, reduce the chance of injury and increase recovery rates.

Certain sports such as rugby, soccer, long-distance running and basket ball may deprive you of energy, water and salts. Dehydration can cause athletes to exhaust early and lose stamina. In order to avoid heat-related illnesses particularly dehydration during sports, you need to keep yourself hydrated before and during outdoor as well as indoor activities.

Hydration, along with all other areas of sports nutrition, plays an integral role for all those involved in physical activity. This can be combated with the use of isotonic drinks

Isotonic drinks are designed to replace fluids lost by sweating and to replenish energy levels in the body through their carbohydrate content in the form of concentrated glucose.

Apart from assisting in the body’s rehydration and energy levels to compete optimally, Isotonic drinks contain electrolytes. Electrolytes are essentially salts which aid the osmosis of fluid absorbed into the working muscles. These essential salts are lost during sweating.

Isotonic drinks are useful sports supplements and are often used by athletes to allow them to train longer and more effectively than consuming water alone.

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Heat cramps refer to a painful and involuntary muscle contraction that usually affects the major muscles of your body such as hamstrings, quadriceps, biceps, triceps and abdominal muscles. Heat cramps may be a symptom of dehydration and heat exhaustion. Individuals at risk for heat cramps include those who exercise or work in humid or hot weather. Moreover, people with impaired temperature control mechanisms can also develop cramps. Medications such as antipsychotic medications, tranquilizers, antihistamines and cold medications can also impair the body’s sweat and heat regulation.

Typical symptoms of heat cramps are profuse sweating, extreme fatigue, unusual thirst and spasms of the large muscles in the body. This heat-related illness can be prevented by avoiding work or exercise in a hot weather, resting in shaded areas and drinking plenty of water and fluids during work.

Treatment of heat cramps includes cooling the body by drinking fluids, resting and stretching the affected muscles.

Maxifuel Viper Active Energy and Endurance is a popular drink on the market that keeps you hydrated, fresh and energetic. It contains a blend of four essential electrolytes-magnesium, sodium, potassium and calcium- to help replace the essential minerals lost during strenuous exercise. Research shows that adding essential electrolytes to a carbohydrate drink may replenish water and salt reserves better than a regular energy drink or water.

Maxifuel Viper boosts stamina and helps your body stay in a peak condition with the unique addition of maxcarb maltodextrin, dextrose and branch chain amino acids. BCAAs play an important role in enhancing your performance and promoting a healthy immune system during periods of intense training.

Certain sports such as rugby, soccer, long-distance running and basket ball may deprive you of energy, water and salts. Dehydration can cause athletes to exhaust early and lose stamina. In order to avoid heat-related illnesses particularly dehydration during sports, you need to keep yourself hydrated before and during outdoor as well as indoor activities.

It is important that you drink 2-3 glasses of water, 1.5-2 hours before beginning a physical activity. Drink water, milk or other fluids regardless of whether or not you are thirsty. Make sure that you drink water every 20-30 minutes during exercise. Remember that you might suffer from dehydration within 20 minutes of starting a physical activity in hot, humid conditions. It is also recommended that you should drink water after exercise to avoid heat exhaustion, dehydration and even heart stroke. Make sure that you avoid the consumption of caffeine drinks. Caffeine is a diuretic and its consumption might lead to muscle cramps and dehydration.

Athletes, who are involved in vigorous activities such as body building, power lifting and weight training, should use sports drinks for simple fluid replacement because they also contain vitamins, minerals especially sodium, calcium and potassium and glucose. High 5 Zero Active Hydration & Electrolytes is a popular electrolyte sports drink that helps you stay hydrated and energetic. It makes a low- carb, zero-sugar, anti-cramp electrolyte drink with added protein, carbohydrate and vitamin C. It also provides nominal calories to make you feel energetic during a sport event. One small packet of tablets can make up to 10 litres of hydrating drink.