Find out if you should use fruit if you lead an active lifestyle and are involved in sports that require high energy costs. Today, you can find conflicting recommendations about the use of fruits. Some nutritionists recommend consuming them in any quantity, while others are sure that they can harm your waist. We can confidently talk about the benefits of fruits, as they contain a large amount of trace elements. However, one cannot see them as a way to solve all problems. Let's see how sports and fruits are interconnected.
Are fruits dangerous when playing sports?
All fruits are high in various nutrients and antioxidants. Moreover, the antioxidants contained in some fruits are more powerful in comparison with vitamin E. Also, thanks to fruits, we can supply various phyto-substances to the body that are not found in other food products. No one will argue with the fact that fruits are healthy and wholesome food products.
However, it should be remembered that fruits contain a large amount of fructose and it is this substance that gives them a sweet taste. Although fructose is a type of sugar, it cannot be used by the muscles for energy. But the liver is very active in storing fructose in the form of glycogen. It would seem that this is very good, because glycogen is a source of energy. But the trouble is that with insufficient physical activity, fructose is quickly converted into body fat. Since it is impossible to know how much glycogen is stored in the liver, many bodybuilders try to limit their intake of fruits.
Although this step is extreme and you should not fall into it. It is important to remember at what moments fruits can be most useful, and when you should refrain from using them.
What fruits should athletes eat?
Grapefruit
This fruit is very useful for the body and is often referred to as a dietary product. By consuming only 100 grams of grapefruit daily, you will fully cover more than half of the body's daily need for vitamin C, supply potassium, magnesium and calcium to the body.
This healthy fruit contains a large amount of antioxidants that can normalize cholesterol balance as soon as possible. This is important enough for people who have problems with the work of the vascular system and heart muscle. It should also be said that fruits with red flesh contain more antioxidants compared to white flesh.
Grapefruit is also very useful for people with diabetes. This is due to the fruit's ability to lower blood sugar levels. This fact alone says that fruits are useful not only in sports, but also for ordinary people. And now, good news for those who want to lose weight. Grapefruit contains naringin, a substance that stimulates metabolism. By the way, it is naringin that gives the fruit a bitter taste.
A pineapple
This fruit contains a large amount of vitamin C. This substance can be synthesized in the body of all mammals, except humans. At the same time, many of you know how important vitamin C is for the body. This is primarily due to its powerful antioxidant properties.
The modern ecological situation on the planet leaves much to be desired, and this fact is one of the main factors in the rapid aging of the body. If you consume enough vitamin C, then these processes will be dramatically slowed down or even stopped altogether. Vitamin C also helps us deal with stressful situations.
However, these are not all the advantages of this substance. Scientists have found that thanks to vitamin C, the condition of the blood vessels improves. Pineapple also helps to strengthen the skeletal system due to the presence of manganese in its composition. On average, one serving of fruit contains more than 70 percent of the daily intake of this micronutrient.
Green apples
Apples are great for improving the functioning of the digestive tract. These fruits contain chlorogenic acid, which improves liver function. In addition, apples also contain acids such as tartaric, malic and citric. They have tanning properties and stop fermentation processes in the digestive system. So that you do not experience problems with the digestive tract, eat one or two apples daily on an empty stomach. By the way, these same acids also improve kidney function, which allows you to quickly remove toxins from the body.
Banana
Bananas are actively used by representatives of various sports disciplines. This fruit proves the strong connection between sports and fruit. Banana contains a huge amount of nutrients that can take a long time to list. Also note that banana has a mild laxative effect on the body.
Kiwi
This fruit has become quite popular and it is no coincidence. It contains a large amount of vitamin C, B2, B9, E, A and others. Also, kiwi is an excellent source of all important minerals, surpassing in terms of their content, a large number of other vegetables and fruits.
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