NUTRITION
“You are what you eat”. The effect that diet has on our health is enormous and I believe that the main vehicle to a healthy diet is Education. Simply knowing what to eat and especially, what NOT to is the first step. I am proud to be associated with great products that are offered here such as: Living Fuel, The Whole In One Products, and I encourage you to participate in our On Line Nutrition Programs.
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Superfood Nutrition: Golf’s True Competitive Edge
LIVING FUEL
World-class athletes J.D. Drew, 2008 All-Star MVP baseball player from the Boston Red Sox and Dara Torres, member of the U.S. Olympic swimming team competing in a record 5 Olympics, are enhancing their competitive edge by properly fueling their bodies for maximum energy, clarity and muscle recovery. Their success in swimming and baseball applies to athletes in any sport where consecutive days of play are part of the competition. Golf certainly fits that description and requires maximum levels of fitness, endurance, focus and recovery. What’s their secret? Read on.
Oftentimes, the game of golf is played in grueling heat over the course of several hours and days-long tournaments. The physical stamina and mental focus required to perfect each shot is crucial to maintain throughout the course of play. Despite having top-of-the-line equipment and expensive training, professional golfers know too well that winning or losing can depend on a single shot.
The Right Equipment
Consistent level of play depends on obtaining an intangible competitive edge. Unfortunately, the desire for increased energy levels causes golfers to load up on energy bars, drinks and supplements that are often comprised of cheap ingredients, high sugars and stimulants, which actually result in the dreaded crash after only a short peak in energy. Not to mention these same products promise long-lasting energy levels, yet can disrupt a person’s sleep pattern, which further decreases the amount of vital energy available to get through the day.
While preserving energy involves hydration, nutrition, exercise, stress management, sleep and environmental hazards, proper education explains that it’s the combination of the above that releases that competitive, physical edge. While most golfers know the importance of physical fitness and healthy eating habits, a recent study published in The American Journal of Physiology (May 2008) states that nutrition may even supersede exercise in health value.
To put things into perspective, tournament players have the option of carrying 14 clubs in their golf bag during a competition and no golfer would take any less. Likewise, science has identified 50+ essential nutrients that the human body must have in order to function at its peak. Since the body cannot produce a single one of these nutrients, each one must be obtained by food sources, dietary supplements and even sunshine. In fact, deficiency in just one of these 50+ nutrients may result in dysfunction and disease. The most powerful and practical way to consistently get everything your body needs to survive and thrive is called “Superfood Nutrition”. Superfood Nutrition is combining the best forms of the known essential nutrients and cofactors with nutrient dense superfoods.
The Four Corners of Superfood Nutrition
Listening to your swing coach is important, but your body can only perform at its best when you get everything your body needs. The Four Corners of Superfood Nutrition is an integrated approach that combines four of the most clinically validated areas of nutrition science including; eating fewer calories while increasing nutrient density, minimizing sugar intake and high glycemic response foods, increasing antioxidants, and getting the right fats.
1. Eat nutrient-dense foods. Eat the most highly nutritious and nutrient-dense foods available while eliminating sugar, processed food and junk foods. This will naturally reduce your overall calorie intake while increasing the nutrient value ingested by the body. Include a daily high-quality multi-vitamin/ mineral/nutrient/ antioxidant formulation for optimal benefits. There are more than 2,000 research studies that suggest this approach alone extends life, delays disease, optimizes weight, improves mental clarity and enhances performance.
2. Maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Managing your glycemic response by minimizing grains, breads, starches, sugar, which all quickly elevate blood sugar levels setting up the dreaded back nine energy crash. This will also minimize excessive body fat, fatigue and blood sugar imbalances. Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels and avoiding the blood sugar and insulin rollercoaster are key to sustained energy.
3. Consume high-antioxidant superfoods and supplements. Such items contain high-levels and a wide variety of antioxidants that protect every cell in the body and promote excellent health, vitality, recovery and longevity.
4. Eat and supplement with superfats. Essential fats such as omega-3 fatty acids found in cold water fatty fish, grass-fed beef, eggs, some nuts and chia seeds and flax seeds are absolutely necessary nutrients for the health of your immune system, heart, skin, endocrine glands, brain function, nervous system and energy levels. EPA/DHA (eicosapentaenoic acid/docosahexaenoic acid) are the omega-3 fatty acids derived from fish and fish oils. The best source for EPA and DHA is cold-water, oily fish including salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies and sardines (avoid farm raised fish). Other superfats include almonds, coconut, macadamia nuts, olives and avocados.
Why it Works
There is a growing body of evidence supporting this approach. One clinical research study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (June 2002) suggests that the combination of all 4 Corners of Superfood Nutrition magnifies the positive results of each corner individually causing them to work better together than separate.
Cheap Substitutes
It’s widely accepted that a good night’s sleep will offer an advantage well beyond the first tee, but it is equally important to continue to provide the body with good, clean fuel throughout the entire round. Regardless the handicap, golfers at every level should beware of foods and drinks offered on the snack cart. Filling up with soda, sports drinks or candy bars disguised as energy bars can have a negative impact on energy and concentration. Instead of grabbing a beverage that contains sugar, alcohol or high levels of caffeine, opt for the best sports drink out there: H2O.
Snack carts and clubhouse restaurants generally serve extremely unhealthy, pro-inflammatory “filler” foods such as sandwiches, baked goods, cookies, crackers, donuts, french fries, hot dogs, ice cream, pizza, potato chips, waffles and other processed foods that contain flour and/or sugar and many other impurities. These types of foods are enemies of sustained energy, recovery and performance. According to Dr. Nicholas Perricone, author of The Perricone Promise, such foods actually accelerate the aging process and should be avoided at all costs. According to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (May 2008), researchers at the University of Sydney discovered that a single serving of refined carbohydrates given to a lean, healthy young adult is enough to triple their inflammatory response to the surge in blood glucose. This finding reinforces the notion that high glycemic/refined carbohydrates (such as table sugar, white bread, etc.) have virtually no nutritional value.
If you had a new Porsche GT you would be crazy to fill the fuel tank with really cheap gas or diesel fuel when high test fuel is specified by the manufacturer and might even be put in a mental institution if you filled the tank with soft drinks or sport drinks, so why would your fill up your body, which is far more valuable, with “junk” fuel?
Even more surprising is the fact that athletes comprise one of the fastest growing segments of the malnourished population. Unfortunately, athletes tend to believe that exercise overrides dietary deficiencies and that the consumption of designer sports supplements replaces the need to eat high quality foods or take foundational supplements. Long-term nutrient deficiency is literally silent starvation, resulting in suboptimal performance and shortened athletic careers.
The Plan
Add the power of Superfood Nutrition to your game. Instead of relying on the nutritional myth of “carbo-loading” with all kinds of carbohydrates, start the day with a complete and balanced superfood smoothie breakfast. A superfood smoothie is highly digestible, plant-based liquid nutrition with balanced amounts of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, fats and the full spectrum of essential nutrients. This includes vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are efficiently delivered into the bloodstream to boost performance, energy, mental clarity and recovery. Maintain that momentum by avoiding junk fuel and eating quality foods including “superfats” (almonds, coconut, chia seed or macadamia nuts) during a round. It is a well known fact in athletics that digestion competes with performance, so consider having a superfood smoothie instead of a burger or deli sandwich at the turn.
The Bottom Line
J.D. and Dara and yes, even Tiger Woods, would tell you that a true competitive advantage is gained from by doing what your opponents don’t do. Golfers now have the ability to gain that intangible, competitive edge both on the course and off by adding the power of Superfood Nutrition to their game. In addition to increased levels of energy, mental focus and endurance, staying healthy results in longer lasting careers as an athlete.
About KC Craichy and Accolades
 KC Craichy is the author of “Super Health: 7 Golden Keys to Unlock Lifelong Vitality” and founder of Living Fuel, the leader in Superfood Nutrition. To learn more, visit www.livingfuel.com. |
“Stronger and more Flexible muscles are crucial to not only playing good golf, but in everything that we do in life. In order to function properly, the muscles need Fuel in the form of good nutrition. The Living Fuel products were created to feed the needs of every cell and organ in the body. Having tried countless nutritional products, I have found a product to be more nutritionally sound as the Living Fuel Products, which is why I use them every day. I personally drink the Living Fuel Super Greens, with an occasional Berry Smoothie – not to mention the CocoChia Bar throughout the day, out on the driving range and in the gym.”
Roger Fredericks |
 Dara Torres US Olympic Swimming Athlete
Living Fuel and CocoChia Bars produce Peak Performance
Every day when I wake up, especially on race days, the first thing I put into my body is LivingFuel. It gives me the energy I need to compete at the highest level. I can honestly say that Living Fuel provides me with a solid nutritional base that allows my body to work at its best day in and day out... I really don't know what I'd do without it. Between the Fuel, CocoChia Bars (which I eat between races), and Omega 3's, LivingFuel provides me with a viable way to help me recover and keep swimming day after day and keep up, or better yet, surpass my younger competitors!
Dara Torres, USA athlete.
Winner of Nine Olympic Medals |
J.D. Drew Boston Red Sox Right Fielder
Living Fuel provides Peak Performance
 Unleash Your Athletic Excellence!
"LivingFuel is my primary food on the road and my breakfast everyday. I’ve been using LivingFuel for over two years now and have noticed that I feel much healthier and not nearly as fatigued through- out the day. I definitely notice a drop in energy, focus and immunity if I happen to miss a couple days. It’s interesting that I often crave a LivingFuel smoothie – could be the taste, but most likely it’s my body craving the great nutrients in LivingFuel.”
J.D. Drew, Right fielder for the
World Champion Boston Red Sox |
