The science of athletics has improved a great deal in recent times and one of the areas that has been most illuminated has been the importance of proper nutrition. When you're participating in baseball pitching, you'll need to monitor every aspect of your dietary program, including what and when you eat and drink. Keep in mind these guidelines to help take your pitching to the next level.

One of the most important components of proper nutrition when you're taking the mound is adequate hydration. If you don't drink enough water each and every day, and particularly on the days when you're pitching, you could end up with a serious energy deficit or potential concentration and focus issues. Your body needs water in order to handle many of its continual processes and will need to replenish the lost fluids when you work up a heavy sweat.

Therefore you have to ensure that you drink enough water before, during and after a game or a practice session. The standard eight cups of water per day guideline still holds true, however athletes, particularly those working in the heat, will typically need even more. While you can substitute nutrient rich beverages for water such as Gatorade, drinking soda can actually dehydrate you more while causing an energy crash due to the sugars in the beverage.

Of course it will also be of huge importance to evaluate the foods you are eating. As an athlete you need to ensure two different things. First of all, you need to ensure that your muscles are fueled to repair themselves and grow larger. This is accomplished by eating a substantial amount of protein in your diet. Recommendations in the range of .5 to .75 grams of protein per pound of body weight are common for athletes. Try to work in a serving of protein with every meal that you have.

Secondly, you need to ensure that your body is energetic and ready to go when you need it most. The way this is accomplished is by eating complex carbohydrates – as opposed to simple, refined carbs from processed foods and junk foods – before your workout or before the big game. These carbohydrates are slowly burned off over a long period of time, producing a steady flow of energy to your body with no crash or drop off. Eat your meal about 90 minutes prior to your performance to allow time for digestion and absorption of nutrients.

As much as it may pain some of you, you'll have to cut back on your intake of junk food and processed foods such as chips and candy. These foods not only contain a lot of empty calories that could potentially lead to weight gain, but they are filled to the brim with either saturated fat, simple carbohydrates (sugar) or both. This kind of dietary composition is going to provide short term energy and then a big crash, and your body won't have the proper fuel it needs for maximum performance, and for recovery between performances.

Unfortunately the world of baseball and even baseball pitching has become associated with the use of steroids over the last decade. Many people are enamored with the quick hitting results of the drugs and believe that it can give them an edge. However, these chemicals are not only illegal, but are also very harmful. The short term damage isn't worth the consequences over the long haul.

Additionally, proper nutrition and dedication can produce the same results with no ill side effects. It's especially important as a young and developing athlete that you keep your body clean and allow yourself to grow and build up naturally. Besides, an overly bulked up pitcher will quickly lose some of his range of motion and torque, reducing the effectiveness and power of his delivery and motion.

Mastering nutrition for baseball pitching doesn't have to be very difficult. First, make sure that you keep your body hydrated, especially when you will be exerting yourself. Secondly, fill your diet with protein and complex carbohydrates to provide muscle building fuel and long lasting energy. Finally, avoid the use of illegal and harmful drugs such as steroids, and allow your body to produce natural and effective results. If you can follow these simple steps you'll be that much closer to maximizing your potential on the mound.