Achieving Peak Performance

Achieving Peak Performance Starts Today

This article isn’t just for elite athletes, although it will apply to them as well. Regardless of your age, you can achieve amazing physical strength, stamina and endurance. There are cultures throughout the world that are active well past the century mark, and you can do the same by understanding three basic principles.

First, we must understand that an active lifestyle today is the only way to achieve a healthy tomorrow. Forget the past and get a second job. That job is exercise and you need to show up for work every day. Pick a time and make it a daily routine.  What you do isn’t what is critical, doing is what is critical; walking, jogging, tennis, hiking, yoga, rebounding while watching TV, racquetball, weights, biking, etc.

Second, for your body to perform, it needs proper nutrients. What you do or do not put in your mouth every day is the key! Water is the single most important thing you put in your body. Think of every mammal on the planet. What do they drink after mom’s milk? Water. Humans are the only exception and this puts us at a severe disadvantage. Chronic dehydration is rampant in this country and soda, energy drinks, coffee and milk are all part of the problem. Your body can not, and will not, perform without proper hydration to the tissues, muscles, glands and organs. 

Making proper food choices is the biggest problem in America today. This chemical laden, over processed, nutrient devoid stuff we call “food” sitting on supermarket shelves and at fast food joints is destroying the foundation of our culture, and our bodies. If this is what you choose to eat exclusively, don’t expect a highly active, pain free, disease free life into your hundreds. As a Naturopath, it makes me sad to see how many people are living in pain, debilitated by so many issues that are completely preventable. Many people will get away with this for a short period of time, but it always catches up to you. There is a reason is America is one of the most diseased and crippled industrialized nations in the world.

You have choices.  For optimal performance the body needs enzyme rich, fresh fruits and vegetables. It craves water, whole grains, and foods fresh from the garden. Grow your own garden, shop at the local farmer’s markets or buy organic produce. This food brings life and your body will thank you for it.

The third and most confusing principle is proper supplementation. Supplementing is critical today because of the aforementioned destruction of our food supply and the honest fact that we are going to consume some of these processed foods from time to time. We will start with the basics and move up to more advanced options.

 Minerals are the foundation for everything that happens in your body. You can’t move a muscle, blink or lift anything without minerals. People are very focused on vitamins these days, which are important of course, but it’s time to shift our thoughts to the importance of minerals. Athlete’s drink electrolyte minerals for a reason. Please understand that you have options for great mineral supplements without the sugar and artificial flavors and colors in most commercial electrolyte drinks. Calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium are all critical for optimal performance. Quality minerals come from natural food sources - don’t fall for cheap synthetic versions in most stores. A short list of nutrient dense, high mineral foods include marine phytoplankton, chlorella, spirulina, sea vegetables (kelp, dulse, nori, wakame), royal jelly, bee pollen, sea salt, himalayan pink salt, herbs (nettle, ginkgo, horsetail, maca, goji berries, ashwagandha and shilajit), raw cacao and aloe vera.

When it comes to minerals and bone health, you may be surprised to learn that consuming calcium should not be your focus. Silica, magnesium and potassium are all more important for building strong bones. Silica is the building block for bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and other tissues. The reason America has poor bone health is from poor diet and acidic foods like dairy and soda, not from a calcium deficiency. This acidity causes your body to leach calcium from your bones to keep you alive.

After building a mineral foundation in your body, the next focus should be on anti-oxidants. There has been a lot of buzz regarding the importance of this class of nutrients, and rightfully so. Oxidative stress is a natural byproduct of physical activity, and this can be offset with the right foods and supplements. Slowing the oxidative process is how we slow aging, wrinkles and the breakdown of glands and organs. Your richest source of these invaluable nutrients is found in medicinal mushrooms (reishi, chaga, cordyceps), astaxanthin found in red algae, chlorella, spirulina, sour red grapes, good fats (coconut, flax, sunflower, sesame, evening primrose, avocado) and quality vitamin C sources (NOT ascorbic acid) like camu camu, amla, goji berries and acerola cherries. In addition, there is a product on the market, using only minerals, that makes anti-oxidants work 500% more efficiently, a perfect addition to your new program. A wide variety of quality fruits and vegetables is critical to having adequate anti-oxidant levels in the body as well. 

The final level of achieving peak performance is the understanding and use of adaptogenic tonic herbs. When the Russians were dominating the Olympics, they were taking herbs, not steroids. This gave them a unique, and legal, advantage over the competition. These herbs have been consumed as foods in cultures around the world for centuries, a key to their longevity and graceful aging. A short list of these herbs include ashwagandha, astragalus, rhodiola, fo-ti, schisandra, reishi, cordyceps, shilajit and jiao gu lan. Working with an experienced herbalist can help you to find the right combination suitable to your goals.

Your body was created to move and to function perfectly. You have the choice to age quickly or to age gracefully. You are only as healthy as the decisions you make every day.

Vaughn Lawrence, Spirit of Health