Download February: the fatigue, the enemy of the athlete

February: the fatigue, the enemy of the athlete
When practicing any exercise intensity and endurance are directly related to the time
when muscle fatigue occurs. Try it now appears later can mean a significant
improvement in athletic performance.
An exercise is intense and long (over 90 minutes) gradually decrease the body's
carbohydrates.
This causes two things: first, a smaller sports performance, and other, more muscular and
mental fatigue. In both cases there is a decrease in muscle strength and endurance, and
reduced resilience and mental acuity.
Sports performance depends on several factors such as technical, external conditions, the
psychological attitude and, most importantly, physical fitness. When you want to get
physical improvement the aim is to increase the production capacity of muscle power.
The onset of muscle fatigue is due largely to lower energy sources. In the long-term
sports the appearance of symptoms indicating an exhaustion of the muscle has to do
with the amount of glycogen is accumulated in muscle mass. When the fuel we have in
our muscles is depleted, they work less efficiently affected as well, to sports
performance.
The energy currency of the muscles is called ATP. When ATP is broken, you get
energy. Normally, the muscle has a power reserve to withstand a limited time of
maximum activity. When this reserve is depleted, the body activates other metabolic
pathways to get more ATP. Basically, it uses glucose at first, then carbs, and only if the
exercise is prolonged, the lipids (fats). The muscle thus transforming the ATP just the
energy required
.
That our bodies use more fat and more glucose / glycogen as a fuel will depend on all
the intensity and duration of exercise. Our body uses more fat the more gentle and
prolonged exercise. The more intense, more important is the need for glycogen. The
muscle stops eating fat while using glycogen to recharge your cell ATP.
The average intensity with which it develops a marathon, make it impossible for the
muscle fiber can obtain all the energy needed to recharge using only your fat cell
ATP. Muscle fibers, when performing physical exercise of moderate intensity, strong
need to dip into its glycogen reserves, as we have said, are very limited.
Chronic and repetitive emptying of muscle carbohydrate stores are the main cause of
fatigue, tiredness and loss of physical performance that can often lead to dropping
sports.
How can we increase these energy reserves naturally?
NADH is a naturally occurring substance found in animal and plant cells and is essential
for optimal energy production. In certain cell types such as muscle, the amount of
NADH is higher, because they require more energy. For this reason began to be used as
complementary therapy in situations in which muscle fatigue is evident.
Among the different effects of NADH, two stand out for their important application in
sport: an increase in the ability to obtain energy (ATP), and adequate production of
neurotransmitters (dopamine and norepinephrine). Both aspects affect an improvement
in muscle strength, automatic movements and alertness and concentration.
NADH, a new strategy for athletes
The results of studies with endurance athletes show that this natural compound opens a
new door in nutritional aid for improving muscle strength and performance.
His role in the process of cellular energy production (ATP) is essential for muscle use
oxygen efficiently. This property is one that succeeds it, using NADH; metabolic
products that trigger fatigue and lactic acid are produced in smaller amounts.
Furthermore, its high antioxidant capacity may indirectly benefit the athlete because free
radicals, other substances that cause muscle fatigue, can be neutralized more
efficiently. On the other hand, consumption in the days after an intense workout or
competition can help speed muscle recovery process. This property and the fact that
NADH is considered a doping substance, further expands the size of NADH as a dietary
strategy for athletes.
For more information on sports nutrition available on the Vitae website:
http://www.vitae.es
Nuria Serra
Technician Department of Vitae Laboratory.