Sports Nutrition is the process and research of diet andnutrition, particularly with regards to enhancing anyoneҳ athletic performance in his chosen sport. It aims to improve the athleteҳ performance both on the athletic and medical front. Sports nutrition is a very important part of most sports training regimes, being equally popular in endurance and strength sports as well. This form of dieting deals specifically with feeding the right kind of foods to the athlete in order to optimize his training sessions and boost his performance to his maximum potential. If you are an avid fan or professional of a particular sport, then it is definitely a must for you to take note of some of the relevant facts about sports nutrition. The first thing that should be mentioned about sports nutrition is that it is not a simple diet regimen. Instead, it is more of a lifestyle change, much like any other weight loss and fitness program. You need to be a committed nutritionist and commit yourself to eating healthy and nutritious foods so as to achieve your goal. There are certain supplements and nutrient mixes that are recommended by nutritionists for athletes and other active individuals to add benefits to their lives. You can find different nutrient sources such as carbohydrates, protein, fats, minerals and vitamins. It is a known fact that athletes are prone to more injuries because of their strenuous lifestyle and constant training. To compensate for this, they need to eat a balanced diet that contains the right kind of nutrients needed by their body for optimum performance and health. There are many advantages of following a well-balanced and nutritious diet as it keeps the body energized. A well-balanced diet for athletes will definitely help them attain an optimum level of energy and stamina. This will also ensure that they are strong enough to perform their best in any type of competition or event. Another very important aspect of sports nutrition is proper and sufficient hydration. Athletes need plenty of water and electrolytes for proper functioning and healing. The basic rule of thumb is to always keep your body hydrated by drinking a minimum of 8 glasses of water every day. Hydration and proper hydration are just as important as eating the right kinds of foods and avoiding the intake of toxins and chemicals through food intake and exercises. Many athletes prefer to take sports nutrition supplements because they know that these provide much needed nutrients not present in their regular diets. Sports nutrition supplements may contain all natural ingredients that are safe to take with prescription. Sports nutrition supplements are easy to get hold of and are commonly sold in the local health stores. There are many popular brands and most of them claim to offer top-notch nutrition for athletes. Sports nutrition supplements are usually available in capsule form or powder form. Sports nutrition focuses on maintaining a good level of hydration especially for athletes. The most common way of getting hydration is by drinking lots of water or sports drinks. But for extreme physical activity, you should make sure to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Most athletes are aware that hydration plays an important role in staying healthy and fit, but they forget that hydration is equally vital when performing physical activity. Sports nutrition specialists suggest taking sports drinks especially when performing physical activity for replenishment of electrolytes and hydration. Another great aspect of sports nutrition is to include good fats in your diet. There are many athletes who think that sports drinks and vegetables are the only source of good fats. The truth is there are many types of fats which can be included in your diet when you are following a diet plan for athletes. The fat that is found in fish, nuts and olives is considered to be one of the best sources of good fats. Another aspect of sports nutrition to remember is that a low carbohydrate diet is better than a high carbohydrate one. There have been studies that suggest that consuming low-glycemic index carbohydrates can keep you away from various diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and strokes. The main reason why low-glycemic index carbohydrates are better for you than high-glycemic ones is because it does not raise your blood sugar levels so easily and it stays within the normal range. Consuming more carbohydrates can actually make you gain weight if you are exercising regularly because eating too much of carbohydrates can also raise your body insulin levels.