Fuel your fitness with help from a Hy-Vee Registered Dietitian

by Megan Callahan, Hy-Vee Corporate Dietitian
 

    May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month and your Hy-Vee dietitians are here to support your active lifestyle with one-on-one nutrition coaching, group nutrition tours, and our top foods, products and fueling solutions to get the most out of your exercise routine. Why is consistent exercise so important? 
 
     Top five reasons to increase your physical activity:
     It can improve your mood. Regular activity has been shown to make you feel happier and decrease feelings of depression, anxiety and stress. Research has shown that exercise produces changes in areas of the brain that regulate stress and anxiety while also making the brain more sensitive to “feel good” hormones like serotonin and norepinephrine.1
     It helps build and maintain lean muscles. Resistance training stimulates muscle building, especially when paired with adequate protein intake. This signals the body to grow lean muscle and reduce muscle breakdown. As we age, we tend to lose lean muscle mass and function, which can lead to injuries and disability.  That is where some form of resistance training is essential to reduce muscle loss and maintain strength as you age.1
     It is crucial for bone health. Exercise helps build up our bone density and helps prevent osteoporosis across the lifespan.2
     It helps with relaxation and sleep quality. Regular physical activity, whether it is aerobic or resistance training, can help you sleep better and feel more energized during the day. In addition, the energy depletion that occurs during exercise stimulates recuperative and repair processes during sleep.1
     It reduces your risk for chronic disease. Regular activity supports cardiovascular health, body composition, insulin sensitivity, blood pressure levels and cholesterol levels leading to an overall lower risk of leading causes of death like heart disease and diabetes.1
 
     Celebrate National Physical Fitness and Sports Month at Hy-Vee
     Learn performance nutrition tips like this and more by enrolling in the “Move More” monthly challenge. Hy-Vee has sports performance dietitians available to support athletes and active individuals with our virtual nutrition services, whether it is working one on one with an expert or joining a group nutrition store tour throughout the month of May. Visit www.hy-vee.com/health/hy-vee-dietitians for more information and to enroll in our May events:
     Food and Fitness Nutrition Tours: Developing healthy habits in and out of the gym is the key to success! Join our Hy-Vee registered dietitians on this virtual tour with their shopping tips and product recommendations to support your active lifestyle. 
     Sports Performance Nutrition Tour: Take your game to the next level from the grocery aisles. Whether you are a workout warrior or an athlete, our Hy-Vee sports dietitians will have their top tips, foods and products to support athletic performance.
     Go for Gable Gold with your Hy-Vee Sports Dietitians: Join our Hy-Vee sports dietitians and Iowa wrestling legend Coach Dan Gable for a virtual Q&A session.  Learn more about performance nutrition and how to take your game to the next level with a coaching legend every Thursday at 4 p.m.
 
     The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.
 
1 R M, N S, JL B. [Physical activity and public health: recommendations for exercise prescription]. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22713198/. Published 2021. Accessed April 1, 2021.
2 MS Z, AM S, ZS A, SA M, SA N, I N. Influence of Adolescents' Physical Activity on Bone Mineral Acquisition: A Systematic Review Article. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28053920/. Published 2021. Accessed April 1, 2021.