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Junior AFL Football Players
Often little attention is paid to the nutritional needs of children. With all the running around, school activity and stress, your childs' health can easily deteriorate.
It is crucial that your child eats well every day. This is especially important for junior athletes. Proper nutrition and hydration are pivotal for the best performance on sports and competition levels. And, contrary to popular belief; lollies, snakes and cordial simply will not cut it.
The junior athlete will play better, for longer and recover quicker from training and competition when they are well nourished. Kids who aren't getting enough total energy, protein and carbohydrates will become tired, irritable and lethargic; and will quickly fall behind the pack. These kids may even struggle to maintain an interest and enjoyment in sport – something that can be avoided.
AFL Football can be demanding and draining on even the most energetic of children. During the entire football season there are several important things to remember when feeding you active child.
The information provided will not only help on field performance, but boost recovery and help improve concentration in class.
As most clubs need a helping hand, a percentage of each sale goes back to the club, so support your club and purchase your natural medicine and health products from Emed.
Follow our advice, feed your kids well and you'll find that you have happy, healthy and energetic footballers for years to come.
Good Nutrition for a Great Game
Most of us know that carbohydrates are the main fuel source in the body. We have been told that for a quick boost of energy, it is imperative to consume carbo-rich foods like cereals, bread and snack foods.
The bad news is that carbohydrate rich food often lead to conditions of weight gain, inflammation and ill health. Carbohydrates should of course form part of your diet, but not the majority.
The good news is that there is a new way to produce energy, without the negative effects of carbohydrates. Protein is, in many respects, is the best fuel source for your body.
Eating for Performance
Before the Game
Good match preparation should start two days before the game day. Along with eating healthily daily, preparing for a match well in advance is a great habit to get your child into.
Ensure that your child is consuming plenty of protein - be it in the form of protein powder, lean chicken, beef, fish or legumes. Encourage them to eat small meals often, and boost the amount of vegetables that they are consuming.
Hydration and Fluid Intake
Most of us are chronically dehydrated. Your body needs about 20 ml of water per kilo of body weight everyday.
For example, if you child weight 50 kilograms, they will need an absolute minimum of 1 litre of water a day; more if they exercise or sweat.
Dehydration impairs performance and mental skills, body processes and detoxification. It is important that your child drinks enough water everyday, especially on game day, to perform at their peak and to enable optimal recovery.
Hate-orade: Why We Hate Gatorade
DO NOT give Gatorade to your children. Simple as that. Not only does it contribute to the onslaught of childhood obesity that is plaguing the Australian youth, Gatorade has also shown alarming evidence of eroding teeth faster than Coke.
A new study run by the University of Iowa in America has proven that Sports Drinks do far more than ‘refresh and re-hydrate'.
Researcher Leslie A. Ehlen, a student at the University of Iowa School of Dentistry said: "I don't think everybody realises how erosive these things are, especially Gatorade and Red Bull." "People need to be aware that all sorts of beverages can cause dental erosion."
No Snakes at Half Time – Why Not?
Many parents realise that sugar is not their ally when it comes to raising happy, healthy children. However when a sports day rolls around, this ideal seems to fly out the window, and out comes the bags of lollies, chocolate and junk food at half time. So why change your habits? And why is there a belief that sugary snacks will help your children during the game?
Childhood obesity and the accompanying health hazard of childhood diabetes are serious, and often life long health concerns.
Sugary foods with empty calories should be avoided at all costs not only daily, but especially during footy games and competitions. Chewy lollies, sugar drops, chocolate, soft drinks, sports drinks and anything generally labelled as ‘junk food' will have the opposite effect on energy levels as blood sugar levels initially rise, but then plummet far below what they were originally - sending your child into a downward energy spiral.
McDonalds as a Post Meal
Most parents with active children will know what it is like. After a long day at sports, the last thing you want to do is go home and cook. There must be a McDonalds on the way home, right? And they have those healthy options, don't they?
Whether its training for footy, or playing a backyard game of cricket, children's athletic performance, development and growth depend largely on what they are eating. It is unfortunate though that most children and adults forget just how important nutrition is to good health and athletic performance.
As you have read in the previous pages, there are many different, healthier options for meals, snack and drinks on game day. The best way to avoid temptation is to have a meal already prepared at home, or at least have the ingredients to quickly whip one up while showers and changing clothes is happening. This can be easily achieved by cooking the meal the night before, or purchasing the ingredients so you don't ‘waste' them by buying fast food.
What's Wrong With Coke?
One can of soft drink has about 10 teaspoons of sugar, 150 calories, 30 to 55 mg of caffeine, and is loaded with artificial food colours and sulphites. Really, there aren't any good reasons to ever have it. The diet varieties are also problematic as they are filled with harmful artificial sweeteners like aspartame.
Studies have linked soft drink to osteoporosis, obesity, tooth decay and heart disease, yet the average Australian drinks an estimated 76 litres of soft drink each year. Plus, drinking all that sugar will likely suppress your appetite for healthy foods, which pave the way for nutrient deficiencies.
Soft drinks of all brands are highly acidic, however the pH level of soft drinks is just a small part of why these drinks are so toxic in your body. Coke has a pH level of 3.4 - in terms of acidity, this is equivalent to lemon juice, vinegar and most household cleaners. This acidity is strong enough to dissolve teeth and bones, hence the high level of tooth decay in young children.
The Dangers of Artificial Sweeteners
Aspartame is by far, the most dangerous substance on the market that is added to foods.
Aspartame is the technical name for the brand names, NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and Equal-Measure. Aspartame was discovered by accident in 1965, when James Schlatter, a chemist of G.D. Searle Company was testing for an anti-ulcer drug.
Aspartame was approved for dry goods in 1981 and for carbonated beverages in 1983. It was originally approved for dry goods on July 26, 1974, but objections filed by neuroscience researcher Dr John W. Olney and Consumer attorney James Turner in August 1974 as well as investigations of G.D. Searle's research practices caused the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to put approval of aspartame on hold (December 5, 1974).In 1985, Monsanto purchased G.D. Searle and made Searle Pharmaceuticals and The NutraSweet Company separate subsidaries.
More Protein for Less Fat
People lose weight when they cut calories, but a diet with some extra protein may be especially effective at trimming body fat and improving blood fats, a new study shows.
Researchers found that over one year, a moderate-protein diet was better than a standard high-carboydrate, low-fat diet at helping overweight adults shed body fat. What's more, it had greater benefits when it came to boosting "good" HDL cholesterol and lowering triglycerides, a type of blood fat that contributes to clogged arteries.
The findings, reported in the Journal of Nutrition, suggest that trading in some carbs for protein may do dieters good.
Supplements for your Children
The best way to ensure your children get plenty of vitamins and minerals is to emphasize the important of eating a variety of healthy foods, meats and good fats. Plenty of fresh fruit, colourful vegetables and lean meats may sound great to many kids, but not to all.
Often it is hard to get your children to eat all the right foods, so Emed has put together a list of the best supplements that will ensure your stay happy, healthy and alert.
