Staying Power

By FABIAN ODUM
Energy on the go! That is the end point of the digestion of all major foods we eat. Some release more of it than others and the situation in this season of skyrocketing price of rice, one of the main staples, is a case for concern. It means that our energy source is already dwindling with high prices keeping sufficient food out of rich. But the limitation of the decrease in calorie intake is that exercises will be restrained and the body may become prone to ailments.
It becomes important at this time to seek alternative to rice, given that local consumers are so much attached to this grain. In this respect, an inward look to foods like yam, cocoyam, acha, maize and maize-based products as energy source is desirable.
There are several local foods that make up for this as well and it is right to get them.
Drinks like kunu is okay too.

Energy utilisation
While food could be a high-priority item on your list of helpful changes to increase stamina, it could also be pretty far down the list, depending on your lifestyle and non-food factors.
The lifestyle and non-food factors include: our current level of fitness, the type of exercise you’re engaging in, and how accustomed your body is to this type of exercise. If you have not been exercising at all, or if you are not at all accustomed to a new type of exercise, increasing your exercise level very slowly can help you to build stamina.
From a dietary standpoint, our first thought would be to make sure that your diet is meeting all of your nutritional needs.
All types of exercise require energy in the form of calories. The number of calories and nutrients required to fuel physical activity depends on several factors including your age, your gender, your level of conditioning, and the intensity and duration of the activity.

Drinks option
Exercise also causes loss of water through sweating and respiration. Some of the water that is lost gets taken from the blood, which can reduce blood volume. If fluid is not replaced during and after exercise, serious dehydration can result, causing an increase in body temperature and impairing heart function. Drinking water is probably the best way to replace fluids.
However, some experts believe that it is also necessary to replace lost electrolytes.
Electrolytes are electrically charged substances that help our cells send and receive electrical impulses. Some electrolytes are minerals - including sodium, and potassium - that can be lost in substantial amounts when we sweat. (Other minerals can be lost through sweat as well, including the antioxidant mineral, zinc). While many different “electrolyte-replacement” sports drinks are available, you may not need to spend money on these expensive drinks to ensure adequate replacement of electrolytes.
In many cases, a well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables can provide an appropriate amount of these important minerals.
Additional reports from: WHfoods