According to an article published by the American College of Sports Medicine, physical activity, athletic performance, and recovery from exercise are enhanced by optimal nutrition.
This optimal nutrition, requires the right balance of nutrient consumption and varies by individual. These nutrients include:
- Carbohydrates
- Protein
- Fats
- Vitamins & Minerals
- Phytonutrients
The proper amount and timing of each of these nutrients varies with an athletes’ genetics, hormone levels, daily activity level, and athletic phase (training, recovery, or competition).
In addition to nutrients from food, we integrate our nutrition coaching with lifestyle coaching in order to identify additional obstacles that may be in the way of maximizing nutrient consumption. Stress, for example, is one factor that plays a large role in how food is digested in the body, how nutrients are utilized by our cells and the daily food choices we make.
At HGA, we consider lifestyle factors, our relationship with food and maximum nutrient consumption for peak physical and mental performance. Food can not only be used as fuel for the body and mind, but it can also be used to speed up recovery between workouts or after injury or to achieve body composition goals.