Maximizing Your Athletic Performance
Editor’s note: Athletes of all ages know that their individual strength and conditioning levels can mean the difference between winning and losing. But are they the only factors? In his latest blog, Dr. Erik Lundquist explains the important contributions of nutrition, recovery, and detoxification in optimizing your athletic performance.
As athletes we all want to get the upper edge on our competition so that we can outperform and dominate to victory. I am always amazed when I see athletes who then make choices that can diminish their overall performance by smoking, drinking alcohol or eating large quantities of junk food. There are three components that I recommend when counseling my patients when they come to me seeking advice for improving their performance:
Optimal nutrition
Adequate recovery
Reduced toxin exposure
Optimal Nutrition
In order for the body to function at its highest level it needs all the nutrients that will help it to do so. This requires eating plenty of nutrient dense, low calorie foods.
What do I mean by this? There are certain nutrients that our body can only get from the diet. These “essential nutrients” include omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, essential amino acids found in protein and minerals such as magnesium, calcium