Sport is important - the dose is what matters!
Sport is important for a healthy body. But like any medicine, the dose is what matters. If you believe that the health-promoting effect of sport increases with the amount, you are mistaken. Winston Churchill's famous quote "Sport is murder" does contain a grain of truth. Moderate sport improves health, but high physical exertion, on the other hand, can harm health without adequate nutrient supply.
Increased nutrient requirements during accelerated metabolism
Anyone who does sport increases their metabolism, thus accelerating the processes in the body in which basic substances such as food and oxygen are converted into the substances the body needs to survive and function. Just as a car needs more petrol the faster it drives, the body requires more basic substances for maintaining its functions when metabolism is accelerated. However, the body's "petrol" does not consist only of energy in the form of calories, but also of vital nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, trace elements and amino acids. Nutrients are essential for the body's functions, i.e. absolutely necessary and cannot be produced by the body itself. Therefore, they must be supplied through a balanced diet or good nutritional supplementation.
White flour products and fast food are referred to as "empty calories" because they provide the body with energy, but no nutrients. A one-sided diet makes it difficult to cover nutrient requirements, especially for athletes.
The special importance of amino acids for athletes
Essential amino acids have special significance among vital nutrients. As basic building blocks of proteins, amino acids fulfil a central role in the transport and storage of nutrients in the body, influence the function of organs and are essential for wound healing and the building of new tissue, particularly muscles, tendons, ligaments and cartilage.
Tendons and ligaments connect the muscles to the bones, cartilage protects the bones in the joints from wear and tear. They are part of connective tissue and consist of the amino acids methionine and cysteine, with methionine, in contrast to cysteine, being an essential amino acid that the body cannot produce itself.
Physical performance is increased by regularly pushing the body to its limits. To do this, it needs a lot of "fuel" in the form of energy and nutrients. When the energy stores are depleted, the body begins to draw on amino acids for energy production. Therefore, athletes in particular should know their increased requirements and ensure an adequate supply of essential amino acids.
After intense exertion, the body needs time and nutrients for recovery. Vitamin C contributes to maintain the normal function of the immune system during and after intense physical exercise.
Increased energy demand causes oxidative stress
In addition to vital nutrients, the body naturally also needs pure energy to survive and function. The body obtains this energy with the help of various metabolic processes from food and oxygen.
However, in addition to energy, these metabolic processes unfortunately also produce waste products in the form of oxygen radicals. These are also called "free radicals" and are highly reactive oxygen molecules that lack an electron. Therefore, they try to steal an electron from another molecule or atom. If they succeed, a new molecule with a missing electron is created, i.e., a new free radical. If the body had nothing to counteract this process, the process would never end and the body would suffer from oxidative stress.
Fortunately, there are so-called free radical scavengers in the body, substances with antioxidant properties. These radical scavengers are substances with an additional electron that they can release without becoming a free radical. In this way, they neutralize free radicals and protect the body from oxidative stress.
Normally, the antioxidants in the body are sufficient to prevent oxidative stress. However, unhealthy diet, smoking, and UV rays increase the formation of free radicals in the body and thus also the need for antioxidants.
Due to increased energy demand and accelerated metabolism, sport also leads to a greater amount of metabolic waste products, i.e., free radicals. So even supposedly healthy sport can lead to an imbalance and cause oxidative stress in the body.
Therefore, an adequate supply of antioxidant nutrients is very important for athletes. Only under these circumstances is Churchill's quote nothing more than the excuse of someone who avoids exercise.
We want to support you as best as possible in your active lifestyle. In collaboration with expertise in the sports field, Priosa® athleticum was developed taking into account the factors mentioned above (and several others). We make it possible for you to meet your increased (micro) nutrient needs as an athlete and to get going with a clear conscience!
The content of this article is for general information only and does not replace medical or pharmaceutical advice. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
