Particular qualities of nutritional support for young athletes.

Student’s nameInstructorCourseMay 26, 2018
Particular Qualities of Nutritional Support for Young Athletes.
An athlete’s diet is one of the important components that contribute to the success of their athlete career. The dietary requirement of an athlete depends on the sport they play, their environment, practical issues and the athlete’s goals. The nutritional strategies an athlete follows will improve their performance, and the diet should maximize the storage of glycogen to the body. Many young athletes follow population trend on nutrition rather than what is recommended to them by the sports nutrition or the public health. To optimize performance in some fields, the athletes may strive to achieve a lower body weight or a fat body which may increase chances of delayed or slow growth and development, eating disorder, amenorrhea, and reduced bone density.
Some of the nutritional principles of adult athletes may be similar to those of the young athletes although there are little differences. The young athletes during exercise, require preferential fat oxidation and higher metabolic cost of movement as compared to adult athletes. The young athletes especially children have the thermoregulatory disadvantage because of their low sweating rate, slow acclimatization and a higher surface area to their weight ratio. The young athletes require an appropriate diet rather than supplements for them to function effectively in athletics.
The young athletes need carbohydrates that provide power in the muscles.

Carbohydrate intake during, before and after an exercise maintains the levels of energy, supports recovery and delays fatigue. Carbs are an essential component in the diet of a young athlete, and therefore, the carbohydrate food intake should be more for those athletes who are involved in regular heavy exercises (In Bagchi et al. 516). Proteins are also essential because they build both the tissues and the muscles in the body. The athletes need slightly higher protein intake as compared to non-athletes, and therefore foods like meat, dairy products, and legumes are good for the body. Fat is required by an athlete for energy purposes although fat should be taken in considerable ratio. Fats found in fish, avocados, seeds, nuts, canola and olive oils are the best fats for young athletes (In Bagchi et al. 510).
Vitamins and minerals help in the muscle contraction and relaxation in the body of an athlete. Vitamins and minerals also help the body to use the energy got from proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Iron is a component in the red blood cells which is essential in the supply of oxygen to the body. Oxygen is vital in producing energy for the muscle cells. Iron can be found in both animal and plant foods. Young women athletes are likely to have a low level of iron in their bodies because they lose iron through menstruation. The iron level in the body of an athlete can affect their physical performance in athletics. The young athletes require more fluid intake especially in hot environments to prevent heat stress and dehydration during exercising. The young athletes have a higher ratio of surface area to body volume as compared to adults (In Bagchi et al. 509).
Works Cited
In Bagchi, D. et al. Nutrition and enhanced sports performance: Muscle building, endurance, and strength. 2014.