Athletes need optimal nutrition to enhance their physical activity and athletic performance. They require a higher amount of calories with optimum macro and micronutrients to peak their performance and balance the nutritional requirements.
During intense exercise regimes, athletes undergo a high amount of carbohydrate oxidation. The carbohydrate replenishment can only be achieved by consuming foods that are rich in carbohydrates, which will help maintain body weight and replenish glycogen stores. Kharjura (the date palm) is one such food which is a rich source of carbohydrate with optimal dietary potassium, copper and manganese.
From the Ayurveda perspective, Kharjura is the best among the drugs possessing the ‘Shramahara’ property. ‘Shrama’ the Sanskrit word denotes fatigue, exhaustion, tiredness of the body and the mind, thereby Shramahara referring to the one which alleviates fatigue and hence possesses the anti-fatigue property. Kharjura also increases the bulk & tone of muscles and provides strength due to its anabolic properties.
Vata (the kinetic component), Pitta (the metabolic component) along with Kapha (the immune component) maintain homeostasis of the human body. In the case of excessive physical activity, the Vata and Pitta components are increased, leading to an imbalance in homeostasis. Kharjura is referred to as the one which alleviates Vata-pitta, thereby bringing back the equilibrium.
The carbohydrates, mainly sugars, include glucose and fructose. These simple sugars get quickly digested in the body and release energy making dates a refreshing food which alleviates fatigue by helping in immediate energy replenishment.
