Hydration

Maintaining hydration is probably the most important thing a hockey player can do to enhance their performance and overall well-being.  I will show you how to incorporate a simple hydration plan.

The goal of drinking fluids is to move them out of the stomach as fast as possible and into the muscles to be used during a game or practice.  Energy drinks, carbonated drinks, and fruit juice take much longer to empty from the stomach than water, making them less appealing choices for hydration. 

Post-Game Recovery

Why is recovery important?
Believe it or not, a player who does not consume anything within an hour after a game will take an extra 24 hours to fully recover.  Immediately following exercise, the blood flow to the muscles is greater and the muscle cells are more likely to take in glucose from carbohydrates.  This is the perfect time to feed the body to prepare for the next game or practice.

The optimal time to start recovery eating and drinking is within 15-30 minutes following a game.

About

Welcome to Fuel 4 Hockey!  My name is Jody and I am a registered dietitian, writer, and hockey mom of two teenage boys.  I am excited to bring you this blog dedicated to sports nutrition for hockey...

I have spent the past 7 years involved with my boys' hockey teams.  I have seen the good and bad in terms of nutrition with players.  Probably the worst offender was a boy who thought the Snickers bar and Coke would get him through his game.  (he made it about half way)  Another of my favorites is the player who actually brought his nachos into the locker room to eat while dressing for a game! 

My goal is to share practical and safe nutrition information to enhance health and sports performance.  The demands on a hockey player can be intense and nutrition plays a huge role in performing well the whole season.  There are logistical challenges for hockey players, like eating on the road, having food allergies, playing multiple games in a day, or the dreaded 7:00AM game.  I will share ideas and tips on how to deal with these situations.