Originally published October 13 2005
Low energy in runners often points to an iron deficiency
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Dr. Kim Vivian, a naturopathic doctor, provides runners with vital information about how nutrition can affect performance, such as how iron deficiencies can lead to reduced energy.
Sports Nutrition: Make The Race Count -- Running Low On Energy, Before The Race Starts?
We've looked at the importance of consuming particular carbohydrates, proteins and fats in specific proportions depending on what segment of your training or race day you're concentrating on.
You may think that this is all the information that is required to optimize your performance as far as nutrition is concerned.
You'd be surprised to find that, as an athlete, there are real benefits to include certain vitamins and minerals in your daily regime.
This is the first in a series of articles that will look at individual vitamins and minerals.
The articles will help you better understand what purpose they serve in your general health and how deficiencies can potentially have a major impact on your general overall health and well being as well as your race performance.
Women are far more susceptible to iron deficiency and anemia than men, due to the loss of iron every month with their menstrual cycle.
Where is this mineral found and what function does it have in the body?
Although mainly found in hemoglobin, iron is also found in myoglobin in the skeletal muscles and the heart and is used as an enzyme for a number of functions in the body, ie. to break down food for energy.
If there is a deficiency of iron, there will be a decrease in the amount of oxygen available to the cells and therefore, limited oxygen will produce limited energy.
As non-heme sources are less absorbable, it is even more important for vegetarian and vegan athletes to be diligent in including iron rich foods in their daily diet.
When additional stress is placed on the body, such as when training and racing in triathlons, it may be necessary to supplement to provide your body with the additional resources it needs to run as efficiently and effectively as possible.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml