Raptor Advantage
Lacrosse players need to have a high level of aerobic fitness, muscular endurance, speed, agility, and flexibility. They also may have to play in hot and humid environments and have a limited number of timeouts which can make it difficult to maintain hydration. The Raptor bar can help lacrosse players gain a competitive edge by helping them meet their nutritional needs to optimize performance and recovery.

The first goal in optimizing performance of lacrosse players is to prevent dehydration. Lacrosse players are susceptible to becoming dehydrated because they often have to play in hot and humid environments towards the end of their season, must wear heavy clothing, and have limited opportunities to consume fluids. Recent research indicates that athletes may need more electrolytes than typically found in sports drinks in order to maintain hydration during intense exercise. The Raptor bar contains recommended levels of sodium and other electrolytes needed to promote hydration and help reduce the incidence of muscle cramping during exercise. In addition, the Raptor bar contains glycerol which has been shown to help promote fluid retention. Therefore, ingesting a Raptor bar prior to playing lacrosse and at half-time can help lacrosse players retain the fluids they need perform at their best.

The second nutritional goal for lacrosse players is to provide carbohydrate to sustain blood glucose levels. Competitive lacrosse players expend a large amount of energy that depletes muscle carbohydrate availability and may limit exercise performance toward the end of a match. In addition, since pre-game meals are typically 3-4 hours before the game, they may be playing the end of the game 5-7 hours after their last meal. The Raptor bar contains a mixture of fast, intermediate, and slow releasing carbohydrates that can provide a sustained release of carbohydrate over time. Ingesting a Raptor bar 30-minutes prior to warm-ups and at half-time can help maintain carbohydrate availability throughout the game.

The third nutritional goal to optimize performance of lacrosse players is to provide nutrients that can enhance exercise performance. Research has shown that sodium and calcium phosphates and β-alanine can help buffer muscle acidity and increase anaerobic threshold. In addition, sodium phosphate supplementation has been reported to increase maximal aerobic capacity. The Raptor bar contains high levels of sodium and calcium phosphate as well as β-alanine content that can help lacrosse players maintain high intensity exercise and recover between explosive bursts and sprints.

The fourth goal to optimize performance of lacrosse players is to help them maintain mental focus throughout the game. Often times, mental focus and concentration declines throughout a game, particularly when playing in a hot and humid environment. This can lead to poor decisions on the field. The Raptor bar contains branched chain amino acids (BCAA), taurine, and choline that can help maintain mental focus and concentration throughout the match.

The fifth goal of optimizing performance of lacrosse players is to minimize the catabolic and immune-suppressive effects of intense exercise. The Raptor bar contains the right amount and type of protein and amino acids that can help minimize catabolism during exercise and promote protein synthesis after exercise. The Raptor bar also contains a rich source of antioxidants (Vitamin E, Vitamin C, selenium, Coenzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid, and taurine) that have been reported to minimize the effects of intense and prolonged exercise on muscle damage. In addition, the Raptor bar contains high levels of nutrients that support the immune system (i.e., L-glutamine, Vitamin C, zinc). For lacrosse players, ingesting a Raptor bar 30-minutes prior to warm-ups and at half-time can help minimize the catabolic effects of intense training and play, promote recovery from practice and games, and support the immune system.

The final nutritional goal for lacrosse players is to provide nutrients after practices and games to promote recovery. Ingesting carbohydrate, protein/amino acids, electrolytes, anti-oxidants, and nutrients that support the immune system can help lacrosse players recover from intense prolonged exercise and tolerate training to a better degree. This can also help lacrosse players recover from match to match when playing in tournaments.

Exercise

• 4-6 hours per week of running, resistance-training, conditioning drills, and practice during off-season to increase aerobic capacity, muscle endurance, flexibility, speed, agility, and fitness
  
  
• 2-2.5 hours of running and jogging with intermittent sprints during practices
  
  
• 3-4 hours of running and jogging with intermittent sprints for warm-ups and games
  
  
• 1-2 hours per week of resistance-training, stretching, and conditioning drills in-season to help maintain strength, muscle endurance, and flexibility

Nutrition

• Fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration and muscle cramping
  
  
• Carbohydrate to sustain blood glucose levels and exercise capacity throughout the match
  
  
• Nutrients that support aerobic capacity, muscle endurance, and recovery from intermittent sprints
  
  
• Nutrients to help maintain mental focus during games
  
  
• Protein/amino acids and antioxidants to reduce muscle breakdown, oxidative stress, and muscle damage from exercise
  
  
• Nutrients to promote recovery and support the immune system following exercise

Refueling

• Consume a high carbohydrate/low fat meal 3-4 hours prior to practice, training sessions, and/or games
  
  
• Ingest one Raptor bar 30-60 minutes prior to practice, training sessions, and/or games
  
  
• Consume 1-2 cups of water and/or sports drinks during each timeout with a goal of not losing more that 2% of body weight (e.g., 3-4 lbs for a 150-200 lbs athlete) as a result of dehydration during exercise. Consume more fluids as needed in hot and humid environments.
  
  
• Ingest one Raptor bar at half-time with 1-2 cups of water and/or sports drink
  
  
• Ingest one Raptor bar within 30 minutes following practice, training sessions, and/or games
  
  
• Consume a high carbohydrate/low fat meal within 2 hours following practice, training sessions, and games
  
  
• Consume enough fluids to regain weight lost from exercise (3 cups per pound lost)
  
  
• Consume Raptor bars as a nutrient dense snack between meals