Coaches Guide to Nutrition: What are Electrolytes?
January 14, 2025
Electrolytes are essential minerals that come in the form of sodium, calcium, chloride, potassium, phosphate and magnesium.
They help maintain fluid balance, regulate muscle contractions, and promote healthy brain activity.
Did You Know: An athlete can lose up to two pounds of sweat (or more) after exercising? That is equivalent to 1,000 mg sodium, 200 mg potassium and 20 mg calcium (all of which are found in chocolate milk).
Encourage your athletes to refuel and rehydrate those lost electrolytes with chocolate milk (a.k.a. Nature’s Sports Drink). This can help reduce the risk of stress fractures and muscle cramping.
Information above is excerpted from UDIM’s A Coach’s Guide to Nutrition.
Coaches Guide to Nutrition: Supplements
December 10, 2024
Did you know that dietary supplements are not regulated by the government?
Encourage your athletes to utilize food as their first option rather than a supplement.
If your athlete decides to utilize supplements, encourage them to look for supplements with a “USP Verified,” “Informed Sport,” or “NSF Certified Sport” seal.
For athletes, it’s important to note that some supplements (or ingredients in supplements) are banned. This includes some energy drinks; encourage your athletes to utilize supplements with extreme caution.
Supplements are intended to supplement or add to the diet – not act as a substitute for food. Supplements can include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, probiotics or herbs.
Information above is excerpted from UDIM’s A Coach’s Guide to Nutrition.