A Naturopathic Approach To Holistic Sports Medicine and Nutrition

If you’re looking to optimize your overall health and your athletic performance, you’ve come to the right place.

Spring and summer are peak times for people to take on fitness challenges such as marathons, bike races, or Tough Mudder events.

Setting yourself a stretch like this helps you in staying youthful and healthy, but you have to know how to fuel your body for such an adventure.

That’s where holistic sports medicine can help.

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Have a watch as I discuss a naturopathic approach to holistic sports medicine and nutrition, and how I prepared for the Ride to Conquer Cancer, complete with spandex gear.

Today, I want to share deeper insights into why sports nutrition is important and offer naturopathic tips.

Continue reading to learn more.

Why Holistic Sports Medicine?

Sports medicine has been used for decades to help athletes and Olympians gain a tiny edge over other competitors.

Sports medicine factors in more than merely the training itself.

It includes diet, nutrient intake, proper hydration, and the right supplements to take.

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By leveraging nutrition, athletes are able to perform at a higher level and for longer periods of time.

The difference between sports nutrition and general nutrition is that it’s specifically geared to enhance athletic performance.

This means having different amounts of nutrients and the right kinds of nutrients to impact particular functions in your body to help you succeed.

Medicine has become a huge factor in exercise performance and preparation, and there is interest in incorporating naturopathic medicine as well.

Naturopathic Tips For Sports Nutrition

There aren’t a lot of naturopathic sources when it comes to sports medicine and nutrition.

But it’s not too difficult to create a list of recommendations based on common sense and some experience with endurance races.

Keep in mind that when it comes to sports nutrition, it can be highly individualized based on the sport or desired outcome of the person.

However, let’s look at some general tips for sports nutrition that can benefit most athletes based on my naturopathic and running knowledge.

Before we get into it, one of the main things to remember is to try and consume whole unprocessed foods to really maximize their nutritional value.

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Another thing to focus on is your macronutrients, in other words, protein, fats, and carbohydrates.

Consuming the right balance of macronutrients can help support and optimize your athletic performance.

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1. Electrolytes

The number one most important thing to make sure you don’t go over the start line without is electrolytes.

There’s no excuse to miss out, as many races will offer electrolyte drinks at the water stations, such as Gatorade or Powerade.

On a hot day, without electrolytes, you can end up with muscle spasms, which could even lead to your limbs seizing up.

Other options for ingesting electrolytes would be powders, gels, or gummies.

2. Ashwagandha

Ashwangandha is also known as Indian ginseng.

It’s an adaptogen that helps you regulate your cortisol level, and is often given to patients for help with managing fatigue, stress, and anxiety.

Take it the day before and the day of the race in order to have plenty of energy to see yourself over the finish line.

3. Carbohydrates

You may have heard of marathoners who ‘carb load’ before the big race, and they can attest to the fact that this really works.

Carbs are your body’s main fuel source and help support its daily functions and give you energy.

48 hours before the race, start to eat lots of carb dense foods.

All that fuel is stored in your body, ready to be turned into energy to power you through your event.

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4. Water

Separate from electrolytes, you also need to be sure to consume enough water.

Approximately every 15 minutes, you should drink something.

If you think that the water stations are too far apart for you to reach in time, you should also carry a water bottle with you.

It’s important to replenish fluids regularly in order to prevent dehydration, which could lead to mild or serious health issues.

5. Magnesium

Magnesium is for afterward, because you still need to be able to walk when you’ve hung your medal up next to the others.

Magnesium helps with muscle cramps and spasms.

Taking it before bed can help your muscles relax so you can get a good night’s sleep after your big day.

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6. Proteozymes

Proteozymes are enzymes that break down proteins.

They’re often used to aid digestion.

However, when you do strenuous exercise, you can develop significant scar tissue and muscle damage.

Proteozymes can help to repair the muscle damage that you experience when you complete an endurance event.

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7. Fish Oils

Fish oils are great, and it’s a good idea to take them prior to a race.

Fish oils are anti-inflammatory, so they help your body heal afterward.

Fish oils have so many other benefits that you might notice other improvements while you’re at it.

Questions? Ask Dr. JJ

Are you looking to optimize your training and athletic performance?

If that’s the case, I can help.

It’s definitely a best practice to have a naturopathic doctor help to tailor a program for you if you’re considering taking on a fitness challenge.

Call now to set up an appointment with me, Dr. JJ, and let me help you achieve your new ‘personal best’ in your next race.

Book your appointment with me, Dr. JJ, today.