Asnoted, basketbalisasportwhichputstoughandstrenuousdemandsonanathlete’ sphysicalandpsychologicalwelbeing. Byadoptingcertainnutritionalprinciplesplayerscanboost boththeirphysicalandmentalperformanceonthecourts.
Oftentimesthenumberoneconcernforbasketbalplayers intermsofnutritionhastodowithdelayingmentalandphysical fatigue. Althoughthefeatofpostponingphysicalandmental wearinesmayseem nexttoimposible, thatishardlythecase. Whileseekingtodelayfatigueitisimportanttokeepinmind thatacquiringandconservinggreatlevelsofenergynotonly servesasanimportantaset, butalsoasagreattoolforinjury prevention.
Asabasketbalplayer, nutrition principlesthatvalue carbohydratesandhydrationbecomefundamentalkeystosucces. Consistentlyreplenishingcarbohydratestoresbeforephysicalexertionthroughtheintakeoffoodsbelongingtothefruit, vegetable, andgraingroupensurethatanathletehasanadequate amountoffueltopowertheirgame. However, ifaninadequate amountofcarbohydratesareconsumedorcarbohydratestores arequicklyexhausted, an athletewilfeeltheconsequential efectsoffatiguedominatetheirmentalandphysicalperformance. Itisrecommendedthatathletesconsumefoodssuchas pastas, pretzels, bananas, anddriedfruits, alofwhicharerichin carbohydrates, throughouttheday.
Asstatedearlier, abasketbalplayershouldensurethat theirbodyiswelhydratedataltimes. Unfortunately, symptoms ofdehydrationsuchasmusclecramps, fatigue, andthirstare oftenconcealeduntilmuchafterwards. However, therearemethodstocheckwhetheranathleteishydrated. Forinstance, anathletecanchecktheirurinecolourtoestablishwhethertheyare adequatelyhydrated. Urinethatisdarkandemitsanunpleasant odourissuggestiveofdehydrationwhereasurinethatislightand odourlesissuggestiveofhydration. Basketbalplayers, likemajorityofthepopulation, areoftenunknowinglydehydratedeven onthecourts. Inordertoensurethatanathlete’ sphysicaland mentalperformancedoesnotfalavictim totheimplicationsof dehydration, coachesareadvisedtoformulatestrategieswhich notonlyinform athletesoftheconsequentialresultsofdehydra tion, butalsoencourageathletestoincreasetheirfluidintake evenwhentheyarenotthirsty.
Basketbalplayersofalleaguesarerecommended to internalizethesetwo fundamentalnutrition principles. Consumptionofcarbohydratesandwaterwilundoubtedlydelaythe efectsoffatigueandenhancementalandphysicalperformance.
8 HoopsMagazine2013
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