121 Virgin Olive Oil Benefits In all types of exercise there is activation of the nervous system and hormones such as adrenalin, which produce, for instance, stimulation of heart activity. Heart and respiratory rates increase as responses to exercise and, together with other local phenomena, redistribute blood by increasing its flow to the active muscle. Besides nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems there are others that play a key role in exercise, for instance, by mobilizing energetic substrates (liver, pancreas, fat tissue) and controlling water and electrolytes (kidneys). 9.3. Nutrition and exercise: olive oil Nutrition is crucial for sport performance. For active individuals who perform moderate exercise, nutritional recommendations are those for the general population given that a healthy lifestyle includes physical activity. On the other hand, for athletes practicing high-intensity physical activity there are specific recommendations, such as a high caloric intake or an increase in some nutrients, for instance, vitamins and proteins, always within the framework of a balanced diet where complex carbohydrates should be the dietary basis. Dietary guidelines recommend olive oil as the main source of fat for both high intensity athletes and the general population. EVOO is a healthy fat providing benefits which include the reduction of cardiovascular risk, and has also been associated with reductions in oxidative stress and inflammation. As previously mentioned, the EVOO health characteristics are due to its fatty acid composition (rich in oleic acid) and its minor compounds, among them polyphenols. - Cardiovascular action Physical activity performance depends on the energy obtained through muscle metabolic capacity which is conditioned by the cardiovascular function irrigating the muscle. Physical activity capacity is thus directly dependent on cardiovascular health. There is a body of knowledge supporting the protective role of the Mediterranean diet, and that of EVOO consumption, on the cardiovascular system. Such consumption reduces cardiovascular risk factors (blood lipids, blood pressure, platelet aggregation, inflammation, etc). Some studies have assessed traditional Mediterranean diet adherence in young adults, that is, the degree to which their diet conformed to the traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern. This diet includes a marked consumption of fruit, vegetables, olive oil, fish, and nuts. Despite this age group’s low adherence, 90% of the participants used olive oil as a main source of fat.
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