Rise In Popularity Of Sports Nutrition Products Amongst Adolescents And Baby Boomers

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Sports supplements were originally designed for professional sportsmen and athletes. These were ergogenic supplements meant to enhance athletic performance, increase muscle mass, and provide spurts of energy when needed. However, the real force driving the industry today is adolescents and baby boomers! Enthused by a desire to live long and healthy, these baby boomers have sent the sports supplement market soaring for more than a decade. Adolescents, or the younger generation, want to build muscle, enhance their sports performance, or use sports supplements as part of their diet regimen.

This popularity is marked by a fast rise in sales every year. According to research conducted by the Nutrition Business Journal, the fastest growth in the nutritional supplement market is in specialty supplements and in the sports nutrition sector, which has a growth expectancy of 6 percent right through 2010.

Sports Nutrition Products ‘ Rising Popularity

Baby Boomers
Baby boomers were the first generation to include fitness in their daily program even beyond middle age. These people are educated, have the spending power, are aware of their nutritional needs and desire to adopt proactive measures to maintain good health. According to Forbes, the number of health clubs has tripled since 1990. This is directly related to the number of men and women, over the age of 55, joining health clubs. In 2003, 6.3 million health club members were over 55 working out what they believe is a prescription for maintaining an active lifestyle. The intensity of growth is further substantiated when you think of the fact that there is a baby boomer turning 55 every 7 seconds!

Adolescents
Adolescents are another group of people who increasingly enjoys sports nutrition supplements for various reasons.

The problem of being overweight has tripled since the early 1970s and today about 15% of our children between the ages of 16-19 are overweight. Statistics keep rising, with an expected 25% of overweight children by 2010. Many of these adolescents use weight loss supplements.

Thirty to forty million children participate in organized athletic activities. About sixty percent of our children participate in school sports. There is pressure to perform and many of these children use supplements to enhance muscle mass and improve their sports performance. Nutritional sports supplements offer a better alternative to steroids which are considered unsafe and carry harmful side effects.

Bars, beverages and meal replacements are the most popular sports supplements in this category. Energy drinks sensationalized by celebrities or sports stars have become lucrative prospects.

Sports Nutrition Products ‘ Rising Prospects

The nutritional sports supplement manufacturing industry maybe a small segment of the entire nutritional supplement industry, but it consists of consumers who are dedicated. Those who invest in sports nutrition supplements are making an investment towards a determined goal. It could be to enhance sports performance, or to maintain good health and an active lifestyle.

Sports nutrition products, including weight loss products, are not only sold by retailers, but many health spas, gyms, health clubs carry sports supplements. This accounts for about 42 million people. Retail stores, chain stores and departments are other additional outlets.

Sports nutrition and weight loss is therefore a big business and still booming. In spite of the economic climate this industry is showing a respectable growth. With the new GMPs in place by June 2009 for medium sized manufacturers, the supplement industry will receive an added impetus. The newly enforced quality regulations will help to build more consumer trust in nutritional supplements.

Optimum Nutrition Pro Complex Gainer Helps Gain Body Mass With Fewer Calories.

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Optimum Nutrition Pro Complex Gainer helps gain Body Mass with fewer calories.

Considered the “Gold Standard” of protein for serious athletes Whey protein helps those who work hard to develop and sustain a strong, lean, and well-defined physique. Depending on how much Athletes work out, they often need as much as twice the recommended daily allowance of protein in their diet. A preferred choice of protein for athletes is Whey protein. There are several reasons that the protein they choose can make a difference like the Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard.

Protein powders can be an excellent supplement between meals or as a meal replacement for those who want to control or lose weight. A nutritious daily diet includes foods that have “complete proteins”. Complete proteins must be obtained through the diet each day and contain all of the essential amino acids required. Optimum Nutrition 100% Natural Gold Standard Whey is a great source of protein and contains no artificial sweeteners, color, or flavoring. It is very low in carbohydrates, saturated fat, lactose, cholesterol and other fats.

These are the main proteins in order of the highest to lowest order of how proteins are rated and how well the body utilizes them. They are: Whey protein, Egg white, Fish, Dairy products, Beef, Soy, and Legumes (e.g., beans and lentils). Optimum Nutrition Pro complex contains Egg Albumen; Whey Protein Isolates and Hydrolyzed proteins which are proteins extracted from plants such as soybeans and are broken down into amino acids which are used in the production of products like bullion or soy sauce as a flavor enhancer. To enhance muscle-building, they have created a premium blend of protein by using a combination of 8 different sources.

Optimum Nutrition Pro Complex Gainer is the perfect example of “lean gainer” in the supplement category. Unlike typical weight gain formulas, Pro Complex Gainer derives a much higher percentage of its calories from protein. And while some “ultra-hard gainers” require 1,000, 1,200…even 1,500 calorie/serving weight gain product, many athletes can gain quality mass with considerably less. So, in addition to having fewer calories, Pro Complex Gainer provides a blend of 6 premium protein sources, complex carbohydrates including dietary fiber, lipids, digestive enzymes, vitamins and minerals.

For serious athletes Whey protein helps those who work hard to develop and sustain a strong, lean, and well-defined physique. Depending on how much Athletes work out, they often need as much as twice the recommended daily allowance of protein in their diet. A preferred choice of protein for athletes is Whey protein. There are several reasons that the protein they choose can make a difference like the Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard.

Is Organic Produce Worth The Extra Cost

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We all know its better to eat more fruit and vegetables. But concerns about the safety of conventionally grown produce versus organically grown always comes up as well.

When produce is organic, it means that it has been produced without using chemical fertilizers or pesticides. There are some compelling reasons why people choose to buy organic produce. The main reason to eat organic produce is to avoid the pesticide residue left on foods. Hands down, organically raised food is better for the environment. Absence of pesticides results in healthier soil, water, and wildlife. Buying organically grown produce supports small farmers and contributes to biodiversity.

Some people choose organic produce because they believe it has a higher nutritional value than commercially grown produce. The comparisons of nutritional content between food organically grown and conventionally grown produce, however, shows little difference. Consider also that much of the produce we buy today is not always locally grown. We have many fruits and vegetables to choose from year round because they have been shipped from other parts of the country (or the world). The fact that a fruit or vegetable is organic does not necessarily translate to nutritional superiority simply because its organic. If shipped from far away, it may already be past its nutritional peak.

For many health conscious families, the purchase of organic produce is cost prohibitive. As much as they would like to eat more organically grown food, they simply cannot afford the higher cost. Most of us have a food budget and have to make choices about what we buy, and perhaps a compromise is whats called for. There are two things you can do to take advantage of organically grown produce as much as possible.

Buy local organic produce when its in season. In many parts of the USA, that means taking advantage of certain fruits and vegetables during the warmer months when available. Freezing or canning local organic produce is a possible option for when those items are out of season.

Buy conventionally grown produce from the “Clean 15” list, and organic only for those foods that are on the “The Dirty Dozen” list. The Dirty Dozen are the fruits and vegetables which have the largest amount of pesticide residues, and the Clean 15 have the least amount.

The “Clean 15”:

Onions

Avocados

Sweet corn

Pineapples

Mango

Sweet peas

Asparagus

Kiwi fruit

Cabbage

Eggplant

Cantaloupe

Watermelon

Grapefruit

Sweet potatoes

Sweet onions

The “Dirty Dozen”:

Celery

Peaches

Strawberries

Apples

Domestic blueberries

Nectarines

Sweet bell peppers

Spinach, kale and collard greens

Cherries

Potatoes

Imported grapes

Lettuce

When the warm weather arrives again, make a habit of visiting your local farmers’ markets and buy local organic produce throughout the season.

2013 Gretchen Scalpi. All rights reserved. You are free to reprint/republish this article as long as the article and byline are kept intact and all links are made live.

Powerful Nutrition for Athletes Can Be Obtained From Healthy Snacks

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For active people who hike, bike, walk, jog, lift weights, or just play, healthy snacks are an important component of solid nutrition for athletes. It is no secret that there are plenty of poor tasting protein drinks and stomach-churning power bars available. Now, however, finding the right snacks and the most flavorful nutrition can be a much more enjoyable experience than it was in the past.

Whether you devise your own healthy snacks or buy something prepackaged, it is more common now to find treats that are likeable and provide a boost to your fitness routine. What has changed is that the most powerful nutrition for athletes can now be more convenient and easy to obtain from healthy snacks in concentrated formulations that are prepared with real whole food ingredients. These concentrated formulas include the perfect levels of complex carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals. The most appealing aspect is that these concentrated snack formulas taste great, and they are so easy to prepare.

To consume even more solid nutrition for athletes, throw in a few bananas or other fruits with these all natural whole food concentrates and make healthy snacks that could be full meals, especially for breakfast. Besides additional fruit, try adding organic peanut butter for a little more protein. You may be astounded at the great taste and your body will appreciate the increase in essential fats. When it comes to tasty and convenient nutrition for athletes, these kinds of concentrated, nutrient dense smoothies are far superior to juicing or food combining. It is great to know that you can get all the nutrients you need to perform at peak levels by simply using a blender and about 30 seconds of effort.

One thing to remember is that purchasing concentrated whole food healthy snacks requires some digging. Learning more about what you are purchasing is critical if you are really serious about finding the highest quality nutrition for athletes. It is necessary to look beyond the nutrition fact labels to uncover how the products are processed and whether or not they contain whole food ingredients with live enzymes. Try to understand if the healthy snacks you think you are buying are alkaline foods or acid foods. This will depend on the structure of the all-natural, whole food ingredients that are used and if they were overly processed in packaging.

Numbers to look out for on the nutrition facts label include sodium and sugar levels. Too many people make the mistake of only looking at carbs, calories and protein when buying nutrition for athletes. However, many of the so-called healthy foods actually contain dangerously large amounts of protein for anyone except bodybuilders and pro athletes. Really healthy snacks that qualify as appropriate nutrition for athletes are those that include whole food ingredients with plant-based protein, not synthetic proteins, vitamins or minerals.

One semester of food service program leads to a career in long-term care

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Many programs take years to complete, some with no practical experience. One program is changing the way schools work, with one semester consisting of five major components and a 16-week field placement in a healthcare facility. It is the Food Service Worker (1620) program from Centennial College, which provides a high food service degree on nutrition, food quality, and cleanliness.

Under the School of Community and Health Studies, students train based on the food preparation guidelines from the Dietitians of Canada and the Ontario Society of Nutrition Management.The curriculum itself was developed alongside the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The series of courses prepare students to enter the workplace with the skills and ethics of a professional:

Students can appreciate the role of a Food Service Worker by exploring the operations and management of the profession, including quality management, risk management, ethical issues, and laws and regulations.
Workers come into close contact with clients and have to coordinate meal plans and other services with colleagues. Communication and customer service are key to this role and a course has been created to focus on these skills as they are managed in the food service and healthcare sectors.
Another close encounter workers will have is with diseases, so health and safety is a big issue in the workplace. Safety and sanitation is declared an essential skill, which every student is required to understand proper food handling procedures and safe work habits to prevent food contamination and food borne illnesses.
Especially in healthcare, nutrition is vital to menu planning. Students will learn basic food preparation using based on Canada’s Food guide, but will also learn how to accommodate clients with strict diets. Nutrition for therapeutic and texture modificationwill also be explored.
Students will practice their food preparation skills with four hours of kitchen lab sessions per week. They will learn how to handle and maintain kitchen equipment, and how to implement menu planning on a large scale.

Open for enrollment twice a year, students attend the Morningside campus alongside other healthcare students, where they can connect with their peers and gain industry connections early on in their careers. Although this full-time program is offered within 15 weeks, students have the option to enroll through the School of Continuing Education for part-time, distance learning, accelerated, and fast-track program options.

-You will be able to apply at long-term care facilities, working within the dietary department, as well as acute care, which (includes) any hospitals or any community services that have healthcare components in the food service industry,- says Professor Karen Barnes.

Centennial graduates are living healthy careers in long-term care facilities, retirement homes, and hospitals. The Food Service Worker program equips students with the knowledge of kitchen tools and the care for nutrition and safety of food preparation sought out by many healthcare organizations. Graduates receive the Ontario College Certificate as well as a food handler’s certification called the TrainCanBasics.fst Food Safety Certificate. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE

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