As a segue into a talk on Athletic Performance I lead with my report of my recent experience at two wrestling practices of the Massachusetts State Team champions and my two days as tournament Chiropractor for the Massachusetts All-State Wrestling Tournament.

Report of Findings of four recent contacts with elite Massachusetts wrestlers:

After observing, examining and treating elite wrestlers on four occasions in the months of February and March, I found most(virtually 100%) to have one or more nutritional deficiencies that would seriously impede their performance. Imagine working hard to achieve greatness and sabotaging results by weakening the body's ability to function merely by not eating the correct diet.

Being a lifetime athlete and coach, I know how hard many athletes work on skills, physical fitness, strategy and the mental aspect of sport to attain their own personal goals. Over and over have I seen these same athletes seem totally detached or unaware that what they put into their body has as much to do with success as training.  Moreover,  the coaches were also unaware, paid lip service to, or ignored that aspect of their sport. Many are probably just unaware in their own right and, by my own observation,  possess eating habits that do not set a good example for sports fitness or for fitness for life.

To be specific, I found muscle weakness in grip strength, neck muscles, leg muscles, chest muscles and in some cases, the entire body. I also found joint pains of thumbs and elbows and neck. These weaknesses and pain were directly related to specific nutrient deficiencies such as certain B vitamins, minerals or essential fats or the eating or drinking of too much sugar laden items. It is no stretch to assume that these muscle weaknesses lead to an increase in the frequency, amount and seriousness of injuries and increase in recovery time from injuries.  It does not take much imagination or knowledge to understand that if muscles are weakened by poor nutrition, so is stamina and recovery from workouts. Perhaps, most importantly, the mind will is affected and causes poor attitude. Poor stamina, poor recovery and poor attitude will certainly lead to increases in injury. Poor nutrition also lowers resistance to disease which means more colds and flu and more lost time for athletes.

Most of us take better care of our cars than we do our bodies. For example, a car requires 4 essential fluids in order to keep running; gas, oil, water and brake fluid. Windshield wiper fluid is not as essential, but helps us to see where we are driving.  

WITHOUT GAS, YOUR CAR WON’T GO.

WITHOUT BRAKE FLUID, YOUR CAR WON’T STOP.

Our bodies have 50+ required nutrients plus water and oxygen. If you think of these as 50+ tanks to keep filled, as in a car, you can see that the absence or low level of one of the essentials will stop the body from functioning or greatly reduce it’s level of functioning. This is when you get weak or sore muscles and or joints, poor stamina, poor recovery, poor attitude and or weak immune systems.

NUTRIENTS ARE ESSENTIAL BECAUSE NUTRIENTS MADE HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY OR LIFE POSSIBLE!!

LIFE IS NUTRIENTS!!! 

PHYSIOLOGY IS NUTRIENTS!!!

HEALTH IS NUTRIENTS!!!

PERFORMANCE IS NUTRIENTS!!!