Let's Talk Refueling
That awful feeling of being hangry. There are several commercials and sayings that make light of the fact that we definitely do not feel our normal selves when we do not eat properly. While being hangry generally refers to being hungry and angry or irritable, poor nutrition can be linked to several other issues such as anxiety and depression.
Our gut health is closely tied to our brain health, because we are not many parts but one body. We make gut decisions all the time. We get butterflies of excitement and knots of frustration all in our gut. According to the National Institute of Health, a positive attitude and an understanding of sports nutrition can contribute to mental toughness and resilience in athletes. However, on the other hand, deficiencies of vitamins and minerals or even calories, can cause mood changes, depression, stress, anxiety, decreased cognition and decreased reaction time.
To combat this imbalance its important to make sure enough calories are consumed to fuel daily activities including weight training, practice, conditioning, recovery and competition. Feel good neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin are reduced with low energy availability (LEA), often causing decreased physical and cognitive performance. Athletes should make sure they are eating every few hours to ensure energy requirements are being met.
When food intake is not consistent blood sugar levels can sway up and down. The highs might feel good but no one wants a sugar crash while competing. Most everyone has experienced this in varying degrees. Sugar (carbohydrate) intake is specific to timing and individual sport. Generally its best to chose foods that stabilize blood sugar levels versus those that cause strong peaks and valleys.
Being hangry is very much a thing that involves our whole body. No none wants to be hangry so do not forget to eat!