Magnesium, Potassium and Calcium, Oh My!
Calcium, magnesium and potassium are all vital to keep sodium in check, decrease any bloating and prevent muscle cramping. These are must-haves.
Magnesium - Magnesium plays a number of roles in the body, being required for more than 325 enzymatic reactions, including those involved in the synthesis of fat, protein and nucleic acids, neurological activity, muscular contraction and relaxation, cardiac activity and bone metabolism.
Potassium - Potassium is needed for growth, building muscles, transmission of nerve impulses, heart activity etc. This mineral is an important electrolyte found within muscle cells and works closely with sodium to regulate body water levels. As well, Potassium plays a critical role in facilitating the electrical potentials across nerve and muscle cells that result in muscle contraction. Potassium is even involved in glycogen storage (for high intensity muscular energy). A poor potassium/sodium balance can lead to improper fluid levels, dehydration, muscle cramps and weakness.
Calcium - Calcium is the primary mineral involved in muscular contraction. Calcium is the mineral that allows your muscles to relax, something that is very important in both aerobic and anaerobic exercise. Without it, your muscles will stiffen and during a workout, you’ll find that your muscles won’t contract in a satisfactory way. Your muscles might end up so stiff that you may cramp,or injure yourself. With this in mind, you can see that the correct amount of calcium is essential for a person who is attempting to build up muscle mass. Calcium also aids in the processing of fat in your body.
About me
This blog contains fitness, nutrition, and health tips as well as random tidbits from Missa Capozzo, proud owner of HardCore Fitness in Worcester, MA. Missa has been a certified personal trainer since 1998, holds various fitness certifications with both ACE and AFAA, including personal training, group fitness, indoor cycling, nutritional counseling, and is also a certified in the Powder Blue Productions formats TurboKick® and PiYo™ as an instructor. In addition, she continues to motivate and guide others as an Independent Beachbody Coach with Platinum Presenters.
Her personal training practice for clients focuses on weight loss, intense weightlifting, body building/figure training, and sports-specific training. A weightlifter at heart, Missa discovered STOTT PILATES® in 2002. After several years of continuous Pilates training, she developed a great passion for the method and decided to make it an official part of her career in the fitness industry.
She brings a unique style of training and instruction to her clients by combining aspects of traditional weight training and aspects of the Pilates method. She feels the combination of both exercise methods is truly the best of both worlds, as it allows for maximum strength and muscular development with minimal risk of injury.
Combining the above with a passion for proper nutritional guidance, proper cardiovascular training, and the psychology involved in motivating others to change their lives for the better, she offers an extremely unique and effective approach to transforming the lives of her clients into the healthiest they can be, physically and mentally.
In addition to her fitness qualifications, Missa holds a BA in Communications and Art from Worcester State University. She spends her free time creating fine art (painting and drawing), graphic design, and photography.
Please feel free to email Missa at missa@hardcorepf.com
