Personal trainers are often accused of focusing a little too much on the value and importance of diet and nutrition. Well the fact is any personal trainer will tell you that if you want to be in optimum health, then you need to make sure you have a balanced diet and you also need to exercise on a regular basis. This is nothing more than common sense when you think about. Weve known for centuries that fitness and nutrition are interlinked. Hippocrates recognised that fact, and famously once said let food be your medicine, and medicine be you food. A personal trainer will correctly tell that if you consume sufficient calories for you bodys needs and exercise regularly, then you will be fit and healthy. If you consume more calories than your body needs, it will be stored as fat: if you consume too few calories, then your body will suffer as a consequence. So, what sort of nutrients does the body need, and what type of diet will make lives for better and healthier?
What nutrients does your body need?
Carbohydrates
All sports and activities require energy, and carbohydrates provide the energy base that is required to perform these activities, especially in anaerobic-dominated activities like running and swimming. In aerobic activities, glucose is needed to maintain blood-sugar levels and acts as a catalyst for fat metabolism.
Proteins
Proteins are used to repair muscles and tissues, although a small amount is also contributed as fuel. If you do not consume enough carbohydrates to meet your needs, then your body will use proteins as a backup source of fuel. This can lead to muscle loss and a slower metabolism.
