Protein For Performance, Power And Recovery!
As hard training athletes, most of you will be aware that good nutrition forms an important component of your preparation for endurance events. Just as you plan aspects of your training, such as increasing your distance training and improving your training time, you also need to carefully consider your specific dietary requirements. One vital requirement is adequate protein consumption. Inadequate protein consumption by endurance athletes is, unfortunately, all too common, leading to signs and symptoms of protein deficiency, such as
- Exercise-induced muscle breakdown
- Lowered immune function
- Unexplained fatigue
- Reduced athletic performance
What’s In A Protein?
Proteins are made up of amino acids. There are two types of amino acids: non-essential and essential. Non-essential amino acids can usually be synthesised by a healthy body from the foods we eat each day. The essential amino acids, however, must be obtained from diet alone. Good sources of essential amino acids include lean meat, poultry, fish and eggs. However, due to the unique demands and stresses endurance athletes consistently put on their bodies, most endurance athletes need to supplement their diets with extra protein.
Why Is Protein So Important For Endurance Athletes?
Endurance athletes need substantially more dietary protein than their more sedentary friends. In fact, endurance athletes need a protein intake very similar to bodybuilders; but whereas bodybuilders need protein primarily to put on muscle mass, endurance athletes need protein to maintain and repair existing muscle mass, minimise exercise induced muscle breakdown and prevent the signs and symptoms of protein deficiency. Protein is also needed for other vital key metabolic processes, such as:
- The formation of hormones and enzymes
- Maintaining the body’s acid-base balance
- Immune function
- The production of glucose
- Energy production
To help you meet your protein needs, Endura has developed a range of high quality protein supplements formulated to meet the exact needs of today’s endurance athletes.
Endura Optimizer:
The Complete Formula For Endurance Athletes
Endura Optimizer is a powdered sports supplement that contains the perfect balance of protein, high performance carbohydrates and electrolytes in one convenient formula to meet the exact needs of today’s endurance athlete. These multiple energy sources are metabolised at different rates, resulting in a steady stream of nutrients being supplied to the bloodstream for prolonged periods. It is a complete formula to assist with the following:
- Repair and maintenance of muscle tissue.
- Replenishment of depleted glycogen stores.
- Replacement of electrolytes.
Also Consider… Endura Maintain
Endura Maintain is a high protein, low carbohydrate and low fat meal replacement powder designed to help build and maintain lean muscle. Endura Maintain contains whey protein isolate for fast absorption and utilisation. Endura Maintain has a very low carbohydrate and fat content, making it perfect for the athlete who needs to reduce their percentage of body fat.
The Highest Biological Value Protein Available
The whey protein isolate in both Endura Optimizer and Endura Maintain is specifically hydrolysed and predigested to form a complex of highly absorbable di- and tri-peptides. Di- and tri-peptides are absorbed faster than larger peptides for better muscle recovery and repair. Whey protein isolate possesses the highest biological value of all known protein-based food. Biological value (BV) is a measure of how well a protein is absorbed and utilised. Basically, the higher the BV of a given food or supplement, the better it is at replenishing body protein stores and fuelling muscle repair. The standard BV upon which other foods are measured is whole eggs, which have a BV of 100. The top quality whey protein isolate in Endura Maintain and Endura Optimizer has a massive BV of around 159.
Are You Getting Enough Protein?
As an endurance athlete you may significantly benefit from supplementing with extra protein. The best way to achieve this is by choosing one of Endura’s range of top quality protein supplements. This may help you;
- Maintain and repair existing muscle mass.
- Boost athletic performance.
- Reduce or prevent other signs and symptoms of protein deficiency.
Endura – Supporting You All The Way To The Top!
The combination of protein with high performance carbohydrates and electrolytes makes Endura Optimizer an ideal option for endurance training and competition, and for those of you who need a substantial boost in protein or a hand in leaning up, the high protein and low carbohydrate Endura Maintain is an excellent option to help build and maintain lean muscle mass or as a meal replacement to help reduce body fat. To reap the benefits that optimal protein intake can give you, ask your local sports specialty store, health food store or pharmacy about Endura Optimizer and Endura Maintain today.
