Diet under special circumstances
Sport under specific climatic conditions requires special attention :
The sun (sports on water, snow and sand) requires taking anti-oxidant vitamin supplements, in particular provitamin A.
- The cold (high altitude sports) requires taking hot drinks and an increase in fats and energy intakes.
- Heat (especially associated with high humidity) requires additional mineral intake in drinks: sodium chloride (salt) + potassium gluconate.
- Water sports: swimmers very often forget that they sweat in the water and don't pay attention to the water consumption, with consequent risks of dehydration.
- For extreme sports (trekking in cold countries, periods spent in the high mountains, etc.) leading to a very significant increase in energy expenditure, you should favour energy foods, possibly based on fats.
Eating disorders can be a problem in as many as two-thirds of groups of sportsmen. Besides common dietary problems similar to those seen in the general population (nibbling, etc.), genuine dietary behavioural illnesses are observed, of which anorexiais by far the most frequent (more common among sportsmen and women than non-sportsmen).
It is manifested as disturbance of the body image, absence of menstruation in women, intense fear of gaining weight, and a weight more than 15% below that expected for the age and height.
It is manifested as disturbance of the body image, absence of menstruation in women, intense fear of gaining weight, and a weight more than 15% below that expected for the age and height.
These problems essentially concern :
- sports subject to weight categories: combat sports (judo, etc.), jockeys, etc. and a low level of body fat (endurance sports),
- sports where the aesthetic ideal prevails (gymnasts, dancers, artistic skaters, etc.).
- The right dosage of these drinks allows them to be digested (they are particularly low in fats).
- The right dosage of these (isotonic) drinks promotes gastric drainage and excellent intestinal absorption.
- All the products provide vitamins that optimise the body's use of carbohydrates.
- All the products provide anti-oxidant components that trap free radicals, prevent the occurrence of lesions in the muscle fibres (so limiting the occurrence of muscular pains) and prevent damaging effects on the muscles.