LowproteinLIVING

First Published on our US site: http://www.myspecialdiet.com.

Bibina Varughese (RD, Nutritionist from the US) explains what you should do if you want to participate in sporting activities.

Regular physical exercise during childhood, adolescence, teen years and any time during your life span promote growth and development of self, well being of self and possible having a better outlook on self. Having a metabolic disorder should not hinder you to participate in physical activities in school or outside of school, unless advised by your physician. Just like any other athlete you need to prepare your body for the long endurance your will put your body through when you participate in physical activities.

Prior to any participation in any form of physical activity, you should first get the approval from your physician. Your doctor should perform a complete physical examination with laboratory studies prior to giving you the thumbs-up to participate in sports.

Once you have the ok, talk with your dietitian, who will help you meet your added nutritional needs that your body needs. If you have a metabolic disorder like a fatty acid oxidation, mitochondrial or glycogen storage disorder you should work very closely with your dietitian to prevent any symptoms during your performance.

When you participate in sports, your body needs extra food (calories) for energy. Therefore additional calories intake can range anywhere from 1500 to 3000 or more per day depending on the type of exercise or activity you are doing and your body frame. If you do not get enough calories per day, you could experience weight loss, and/or metabolic crisis.

To maintain a healthy weight and promote positive metabolism you should consume healthy nutritious foods and drink your special metabolic formula that is prescribed for your both before and after participating in sports or physical activities. The metabolic formula provides you with adequate amounts of protein, calories and other nutrients that your body needs. The low protein pasta and other low protein starch (breads, rolls, etc) fruits and vegetables provide you with the additional calories or “carbohydrates” that you need.

Your body uses these carbohydrates, protein and fat as energy. The carbohydrates, protein and fat are stored in your body and when you increase your activity your body breakdown these stored nutrients for energy. Therefore if you do not have enough energy, fatigue could settle in before you start your game. With or without metabolic disorder, you do not want your body to breakdown the protein stores. If the protein stores are broken down, you may have unwanted high levels of amino acids in your bloodstream. For example, if you have PKU, and the protein stores are utilized for energy, the protein is broken down into individual amino acids. With PKU, your body can not breakdown the amino acid phenylalanine, therefore your phenylalanine levels will be higher then normal. That is why it is important to work closely with your dietitian prior to any participation in sports. And that you drink and eat what is prescribed for you.

Your body also needs to stay hydrated, so make sure you are drinking adequate fluids (non-protein source for those amino acid related metabolic disorders). Water is a very good source of fluid.