Should people who play sports recreationally supplement with vitamins?

Athletes very often advertise various kinds of dietary supplements to help them perform better. They do not lack vitamins, which are equally important for every person. Should sportsmen, using so many different preparations, still supplement vitamins?

Diet is the basis for a healthy and active lifestyle

Nowadays it is hard to meet an athlete who, while taking care of their figure, does not use dietary supplements and healthy nutrition. But what is it like for people training purely as a hobby? Do they also have to follow a strict standard and supplement, among other things, vitamins? A diet that is healthy and rich in wholesome meals is beneficial for the body. Healthy food allows you to maintain a slim and aesthetic figure, it does not accumulate fat, we have a good metabolism and much better mood.

When you do any kind of sport, no matter how often you do it – whether it’s a hobby or a competitive activity – eating healthy is a must. If you want to train, you need to have strength and energy, so you should provide your body with macronutrients, i.e. protein, fat and carbohydrates in the right proportions. You also need vitamins and minerals, which are lost more quickly during intensive exercise than when sitting in front of the TV.

What diet is the best?

Very often the question is asked, what diet is right for a person? It is important to realize that this is an individual issue. Some people aim to gain muscle mass, others want to burn fat tissue. With a starting point in mind, the best solution is to use the services of a qualified nutritionist or personal trainer and ask for help. Using the advice of these people, you can be sure that the diet selected by the specialists will be optimal, properly balanced and will bring the trainer closer to achieving his or her goal.

Protein, fats and carbohydrates – essential macronutrients

The most important macronutrients in the diet of every athlete are protein, carbohydrates and fats. The first of them has a muscle-building function. It has been scientifically proven that proteins are complex structures made of amino acids, which contribute to muscle growth and help maintain it. In the diet, one can distinguish between plant and animal proteins. The former are important for vegetarians and vegans, while the latter can be found in meat, eggs or milk.

Many people associatefats with being overweight, which is obviously misinterpreted, because carbohydrates are mainly responsible for the accumulation of fat tissue. This macronutrient allows you to provide energy, and also has a beneficial effect on the functioning of digestion and absorption of nutrients. So it is worth that an appropriate amount of fats is included in each diet. However, it should be remembered that these are mainly unsaturated fats.

Carbohydrates provide the body with energy to exercise. In humans, they are found in the form of glycogen, which along with glucose and fats provide fuel for muscles. A decrease in glycogen equals a decrease in energy. The appropriate amount of this macronutrient should be taken care of, especially by people who train for strength.

The role of vitamins and minerals in an active lifestyle

Should vitamins and minerals be supplemented or is it enough to provide them only with food? Well, these valuable micronutrients promote the proper work of the entire body. They are responsible for many processes, including defense against infections and viruses, actively supporting the immune system. Unfortunately, it is sometimes difficult to provide them with a meal, especially in the autumn and winter period when the access to fresh vegetables and fruit is limited. By choosing dietary supplements that contain these micronutrients, we will provide all the substances necessary for the body.

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