Update: 22 November 2024
Exercise, Athletics and Physical Degeneration
Author: Julie Casper, C. Ac.
Natural physical play and athletics are vital for children to help them develop coordination, vision, hearing, musculoskeletal strength and function, and overall healthy bodies. However, professional-level athletic fitness is usually coerced. Today, many athletes are unhealthy. This is caused by stress from overtraining, improper nutrition, pharmaceutical drugs, and stimulants used to enhance performance. Optimizing your nutrition will unlock your performance and protect your health for a lifetime.
Are you a happy, healthy animal?
Clinically, we see many athletes whose bodies are exhausted. People who exercise excessively are prone to injury and repetitive stress effects. Many athletes appreciate the use of nutritional programs to enhance fitness and weight training programs. Optimized nutrition will help prevent fatigue, burnout and injury. A nutrient-rich diet moderated for your unique biochemistry will prevent problems such as sympathetic dominance and adrenal exhaustion. Fitness is most positively influenced by proper nutrition, adequate rest and an appropriate level of physical activity.
In order to improve athletic fitness and overall health, we look at several inter-dependent factors. These include; nutrition, metabolic type (oxidation rate), toxic metal and chemical body-burden, carbohydrate intolerance, and musculo-skeletal balance, among others.
A well nourished child, first of all, measures up to … standards of his age in height and weight. He has good color, bright eyes, no blue or dark circles underneath them and smooth glossy hair. His carriage is good, his step elastic, his flesh firm and his muscles well developed. In disposition he is usually happy and good natured; he is brim full of life and animal spirits and is constantly active, both physically and mentally. His sleep is sound, his appetite and digestion good, his bowels regular. He is, in short, what nature meant him to be before anything else: a happy, healthy young animal. L. J. Roberts
hTMA Performance Benefits
- 1. Mental Clarity and Focus
- Coordination, clarity, awareness, judgment and a quick response time are a major part of all athletic performance. The brain is a chemical organ, and requires a vast array of nutrients for proper functioning. All toxic metals interfere with the central nervous system, leading to impaired mental functioning. Correcting biochemical imbalances leads to improved mental focus and functioning.
- 2. Prevention of Injury and Burnout
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Chronic fatigue and burnout physiology are common conditions among athletes. Particularly later in the season. Colds, flu, pneumonia and other illnesses plague many athletes, especially those who travel and train hard.
3. A strong immune system and resistance to infection depends on a healthy, balanced body chemistry and the availability of a variety of vital nutrients. Nutritional imbalances cause weak joints, tendons and ligaments, excessive inflammation and muscle tears. Properly balancing body chemistry can help avoid injuries by maintaining stronger and more flexible ligaments, tendons and muscles. Balanced mineral ratios speed recovery from fractures, sprains, strains and other injuries.
- 4. Improved Recovery from Workouts and Injuries
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A low sodium/potassium ratio and/or an abnormal phosphorus level is associated with excessive protein breakdown or catabolism. A chronic catabolic state can impair or even prevent the normal healing of sports injuries.
The body requires many nutrients for healing injuries, including zinc, manganese, copper, calcium, magnesium and a variety of vitamins. When provided in the correct amounts and combinations, healing results are appreciably improved.
- 5. Safe Use of Dietary Supplements
- Most athletes take a variety of nutritional supplements, some of which are unnecessary, incorrect, or may be dangerous. A thorough assessment and analysis of the athlete's diet, nutrient mineral balance, and toxic load provides important parameters to help determine the correct supplementation needed to balance and enhance body chemistry.
- 6. Weight Management
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Stubborn problems with food cravings and weight control plague some athletes. One reason professional athletes have shorter life spans, is they learn to eat a lot of calories while training, but then when they stop training hard they keep eating the same way.
A laboratory hTMA provides specific data that can assist with both weight gain and weight loss, offering a scientific and individualized method of approaching the problem safely and effectively.