On average, athletes sweat much more than the standard, untrained person. When the body starts to overheat the nervous system stimulates sweat glands, which prompts the body to begin perspiring in an attempt to cool the body down.

Caffeine is the most widely used stimulant drug in the world and is one of the best-tested ergogenic aids. Approximately 73% of athletes already use caffeine before training and competition to enhance athletic performance. Usually ingested through coffees, teas, energy drinks, and soft-drinks, caffeine enhances an individual’s energy use, production, or recovery and contributes to clearer thinking and greater concentration. Athletes can also consume caffeine in supplements, like NoDoz max, and sport-specific energy gels. Understanding how much caffeine and when to consume it will allow athletes to maximize their athletic performance with caffeine.

Protein intake is important for all athletes, especially while endurance training. Oftentimes, athletes tend to focus on carbohydrate intake rather than focusing on protein intake, which could have a negative effect on health and overall athletic performance. Muscle growth and repair are heavily dependent on protein levels.

Nutrition is one of the most important aspects of being an elite athlete. The way an athlete treats their body before and after workouts on a daily basis can maximize their overall performance. Before making a grocery run, athletes should make a plan in order to stay organized, save money, and choose healthy options. It is imperative for elite athletes to prioritize nutrition and hydration to ensure their bodies are ready to go for training or competition. To learn more about athletic nutrition for collegiate athletes check out this article.

Every athlete should know that hydration is a critical aspect of training, and also important in maintaining a healthy well being, before and after exercise. Proper hydration is necessary for athletes, as it regulates body temperature and lubricates joints for athletic movements. Water also helps transport nutrients throughout the body, these nutrients give the body the energy it needs to be able to sustain any athletic endeavour. Staying well hydrated should be a high priority for athletes, throughout the day, and not before it’s too late.

Lemon-lime, Fruit Punch, Cool Blue, Pomegranate-Berry, Grape--the list goes on. Today, sports drinks come in endless flavors, dozens of brands, and various sizes-making it a task choosing which one. The sports drink industry continues to grow, providing many different options for the elite athlete. From the low or zero-calorie options to new brands growing in popularity, the market is larger than ever.

Your athlete is generally only training with you 2-10 hours per week. This leaves over 160 hours left in each seven day week for them to be negatively impacting their body and their training. With this in mind, the most important thing you can do as a coach is to educate your athletes on the different processes they can control every single day that will enhance performance. Below is a list of BridgeAthletic's tips to improve athlete performance and help control for the many factors that may inhibit athlete training.

Nutrition is one of the most, if not the most, important aspects of being an athlete. The way an athlete treats their body before and after workouts on a daily basis can transform overall performance from being good to great. It is imperative to take time to prioritize and plan nutrition in order to keep your body healthy and happy!

Endurance athletes face a unique dilemma during training and competitions. Their races are so long that their bodies can effectively burn through all their energy stores unless proper attention is given to fueling up before and even during competition. Not surprisingly, athletes can have trouble pairing a long, grueling race with eating and drinking. Let’s look at how you can replenish muscle glycogen stores and why pre-run fuel is essential to your performance.