Taekwon-Do Nutrition

Here are some guide lines to help you to get the very best out of your body for life as well as your Taekwon-Do training.  If you can be good and follow these guidelines 80% of the time there is no harm in having an occasional unhealthy treat every now and then, but please NEVER during or just before class!

1. Never skip meals - if you are hungry you can not concentrate and grow strong.  It is ok to snack if you are hungry, just make sure you eat healthy snacks (fruits/yogurts etc.)

2. Avoid sugary foods and drinks - these have a negative affect on your concentration and energy levels

3. Avoid processed foods and drinks - E numbers, chemical colours, preservatives and flavours are bad for your body

4. Avoid saturated fats - fried foods and too much full fat foods will only make you put on weight, there is nothing good for your body in saturated fat

5. Avoid stimulants - too much tea or coffee dehydrates the body and saps the body of nutrients

6. Avoid excessive alcohol intake - it dehydrates, is high in sugar content and destroys liver function and brain cells

7. Drink plenty of water - dehydration reduces physical and mental performance

8. Drinking plenty of water helps to flush toxins from the body

9. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and good things like yogurts and nuts for snacks

10. Eat as much wholegrain breads and cereals as you can rather than sugary, white foods - if it's brown it's better (but I don't mean chocolate)

11. Eat plenty of fresh vegetables as these contain vitamins and minerals for your body

12. Try to eat some fish as well as meat because fish contains special fat that makes you smarter, as do nuts and seeds

SUPPLEMENTS

• We reccomend you follow the eating guidelines above and do not rely on supplements but if you are very busy, active or stressed, your body may need extra vitamins or minerals.

• Fish oils are excellent for joint health, metabolism and brain function, if you do not eat much fish try these instead would definitely take this

• Vitamin C - your body can not store this vitamin and it is an excellent immune system booster

• Calcium and Magnesium - needed for strong healthy bones and muscles

• B complex vitamins for energy

• A multi vitamin - if you feel you diet is lacking in a good variety of fresh fruit, vegetables and wholegrains