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Facts About Sports Nutrition For Women
Author: Holly StevensThere are many books and manuals out there by nutritionists that assist to provide the correct diets for improving strength and endurance. When looking for a guide be sure to read this article first as it is aimed towards female athletes looking to improve performance.
The body system that a women has is totally different to that's of males. That is the main reason why that a woman who is interested in sports will have a completely different set of nutritional needs. And just like men, women are also more than capable of involving themselves in sports.
The sports nutrition for women is different, those that are involved in sports and have regular exercise will have some special nutritional needs. The basic principles however are the same for guys and women when it comes to nutrition but there are small differences. Females who are involved in regular sporting activities will have more needs for certain nutrients.
This is mainly due to that fact that woman are more prone to dietary deficiencies. This is not to say that guys are completely immune, this is just due to the fact that woman have ongoing cycles taking place inside their body. It is very necessary to hold the right level of nutrients up to prevent any disorders.
The main nutritional factors in sports nutrition for women would have to be iron and calcium. Another necessary issue for women is weight control and eating disorders. Calcium and iron are required nutrients to assist the body perform at it's peak.
In saying that though there still has been no scientific reason for this, but the simple fact is that women are overly conscious about their weight. By having a normal weight in will assist in giving you a healthy psychological system.
Calcium is a mineral that plays an essential role in growth. In sports, muscle and mind coordination is important. It also helps in muscle contraction and transmission of nerve impulses.
Another reason why it is useful is due to the fact that it will aid in the maintenance and development of strong bones. This play an necessary part in the nutritional intake that women require.
Having adequate amounts of calcium during your childhood and adolescence is necessary for developing an optimal peak in bone mass by your mid twenty's to your early thirty's. This will then assist you reduce your risk of acquiring osteoporosis or the thinning of your bones.
Some women who are into sports are at risk of inadequate calcium intake, while some are at risk of early osteoporosis due to the absence of appropriate amount of calcium, or an irregularity of their menstrual cycle. So conclusively, women should have higher intakes of calcium.
There is a list of recommended dietary intakes of calcium for sports women according to their ages. For girls with ages twelve to fifteen, they must have at least one thousand milligrams of calcium per day. For teenagers with ages sixteen to eighteen, on the other hand, should have a normal calcium intake per day, which is eight hundred milligrams. For women who are having their menstrual periods, they should also take eight hundred milligrams of calcium a day.
Post menopausal women should have at least one thousand milligrams per day of calcium, while women who are pregnant and who are also breast feeding should have one thousand two hundred milligrams per day.
And, not to be the least, sportswomen who have an absent or an irregular menstrual cycle, they should have at least one thousand to one thousand five hundred milligrams in a day. It is detrimental for women to meet their required calcium intake for normal functioning.
What is used to assist form hemoglobin is the mineral iron, this is very necessary in maintaining the oxygen in the blood as it is transported to the different parts of the body. It is also a very necessary nutrient in helping produce energy and immunity.
Athletes are more prone to iron deficiencies than anyone else in the world. Women are at a bigger risk because they continually lose blood as they undergo the cyclical process of menstruation. Plus, strenuous exercises contribute to the loss of iron through the destruction of red blood cells. Inadequate iron intake are associated with reduced athletic performance. Women will require the nutrient iron in enormous amounts.
Being able to hold the body's fat levels low is often the main aim of many female athletes. Having excess fats can have a negative effect on performance. However having less fat or none at all can compromise the energy levels of a female athlete. Low energy will affect overall sporting performance, that is why it is so necessary to hold the right amount of nutrients in the body. The right sports nutrition for women will aid performance in all exercise and sporting activities.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/facts-about-sports-nutrition-for-women-68842.html
About the Author:Pick up your Free book on sports nutrition by visiting sports nutrition tips. To read more articles on how to hold your body healthy when taking part in sports visit best sports nutrition books
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Keywords:
women sports calcium nutrition important iron milligrams body thousand