Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Salt tablets
Although salt tablets are not as popular today as they have been in the past, some athletes still use them to replenish lost electrolytes and the organizers of some prolonged adventure races require their possession by competitors. The entry for electrolytes describes their importance for prolonged exercise; however, salt tablets are generally not considered necessary…
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Registered dietitian
Nutrition and foods in the U.S. RDs receive their credential by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the credentialing agency for the American Dietetic Association. Registered dietitians are comprehensively educated and trained in the ability to translate scientific information into appropriate food choices and to provide medical nutrition therapy. Athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, and others should…
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Reference daily intakes
The Reference Daily Intakes are a set of dietary references based on the Dietary Reference Intake value (either Recommended Dietary Allowances or Adequate Intake values) for essential vitamins and minerals. These values are used in food labeling to allow consumers to gauge the nutrient content of a serving of a particular food item. A set…
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Ratings of perceived exertion
Ratings of perceived exertion are commonly used to gauge the perceived level of effort that is experienced by an exercising individual. The most common such scales range from either 6 through 20 or 1 through 10. Each scale provides descriptors corresponding to the level of difficulty as perceived by the individual. These ratings are commonly…
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Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex
The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex is responsible for converting pyruvate to acetyl CoA in the cytosol of a cell. When pyruvate is produced from glucose during glycolysis, for further metabolism via Krebs cycle, it must first be converted to acetyl CoA. The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex requires many enzymes and cofactors to accomplish this reaction. Cofactors involved…
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Pycnogenol
Pycnogenol is an extract from French maritime pine bark (Pinus maritima), and is considered to be a strong and direct antioxidant and therefore is used as a dietary supplement. Pycnogenol is claimed to alleviate inflammations, improve cardiovascular function, inhibit tumor initiation, and inhibit angiotensin-conversion enzyme. It has been suggested to take part in the prevention…
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Protein-sparing
Sparing of body protein is important for maintenance of lean body mass. Adequate energy and protein intake are vital to prevent catabolism of lean tissue. Dietary carbohydrate is well known for its protein-sparing effects. Sparing protein is of particular importance for an athlete during periods of weight loss, in which maintenance of lean body mass…
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Protein powders
Protein powders are used in drink mixes to provide supplementary protein to the diet. Many preparations of protein powders have been developed and often include whole milk proteins, whey protein, casein, soy protein, egg albumin, and combinations of these. Although drinks produced from protein powders can offer a convenient source of protein and essential amino…
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Preevent meal
Many athletes focus on proper food consumption in the hours and moments just prior to exercise or competition. Williams has outlined several guidelines that should be used by athletes during the meal prior to competition. These recommendations include consumption of a meal providing foods that will allow the stomach to be relatively empty before the…
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Postexercise nutrition
Proper nutrition after exercise can be extremely important, especially following vigorous training sessions or for events that take place on consecutive days. For endurance athletes, the primary goal for postexercise nutrition is to replace lost glycogen stores, while for resistance training the goal is to promote protein synthesis to maintain or enhance lean body mass.…
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