Maximizing performance with dietary considerations -
This can help with weight control or if you are not looking to lose weight, you may find you need more food to replace the extra energy used. It is also important to keep well hydrated. However, the dietary patterns that will best suit an individual will depend on the amount and intensity of activity.
This can range from those who are just starting to get more active, those meeting the activity guidelines of minutes moderate activity per week , those who are active at higher levels such as those training for an endurance event such as a marathon or doing organised team sports or professional athletes.
For professional athletes, getting personalised nutrition advice from a qualified sports nutritionist or dietitian is likely to be an important part of their training support. Doing physical activity will increase your energy expenditure the calories you use , as energy is required during exercise to fuel the contracting muscles, increased breathing and heart rate and metabolism.
It is difficult to lose weight just by getting more active and it is still important to control your calorie intake for weight control. The most effective weight loss programmes include both a controlled diet and increased physical activity.
It is also important to be active to keep weight off after weight loss. A study of people in the US who have successfully maintained their weight loss shows that they tend to be active for about an hour a day usually walking and spend less time in sedentary activities like watching TV in their free time.
The benefits of physical activity go beyond just burning off calories and can help preserve muscle as you lose weight and increase the proportion of muscle in the body. We also know that physical activity, and spending less time sitting, can reduce your risk of developing several chronic diseases, such as heart disease.
The main role of carbohydrates in physical activity is to provide energy. For athletes, if their diet does not contain enough carbohydrate, it is likely that their performance and recovery will be impaired, as carbohydrate is the key fuel for the brain and for muscles during exercise.
The body can store carbohydrates in the muscles and liver as glycogen and use these stores as a source of fuel for physical activity. These glycogen stores are limited, so for those training at a high level, it is important to be fully fuelled at the start of any exercise.
Glycogen is the main source of energy at the start of exercise and during short bursts of exercise. If you are doing high intensity training for long periods and your glycogen stores are not sufficient you may feel tired, lack energy and not be able to perform at your best. So, regular intake of carbohydrate-rich foods can be important in this case to keep stores topped up.
The correct food choices can help ensure the body has enough energy for activity, as well as help aid recovery. Starchy foods are an important source of carbohydrates in our diet.
Wholegrain varieties also provide fibre, and a range of vitamins and minerals including B vitamins, iron, calcium and folate.
Find out more about this topic on our pages on starchy foods, sugar and fibre. The amount of carbohydrate you need will depend on the frequency, type, duration and intensity of physical activity you do. Competitive sports people and athletes will likely require more carbohydrates than an average gym user to match the intensity of their activity level.
If you are active at around the current recommended levels minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of high intensity activity plus two sessions of muscle strengthening activities per week , then you can follow general healthy eating guidance to base meals on starchy carbohydrates, choosing wholegrain and higher fibre options where possible.
For information about portion sizes of starchy foods you can use our Get portion wise! portion size guide. At this level of activity, it is unlikely you will need to consume extra carbohydrates by eating more or by using products like sports drinks or other carbohydrate supplements, and these can be counterproductive if you are trying to control your weight as they will contribute extra calories.
Sports drinks also contain sugars, which can damage teeth. Regardless of your level of activity, you should try not to meet your requirements by packing your entire carbohydrate intake into one meal.
Spread out your intake over breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks that fit around planned exercise. For athletes and individuals who are recreationally active to a higher level such as training for a marathon , consuming additional carbohydrate may be beneficial for performance.
Athletes can benefit from having some carbohydrate both before and after exercise to ensure adequate carbohydrate at the start of training and to replenish glycogen stores post exercise. In longer duration, high intensity exercise minutes or more , such as a football match or a marathon, consuming some carbohydrate during exercise can also improve performance, for example in the form of a sports drink.
Estimated carbohydrate needs are outlined below and depend on the intensity and duration of the exercise sessions International Olympics Committee :.
For example, from this guidance, someone who weighs 70kg doing light activity would need g carbohydrate per day whereas if they were training at moderate to high intensity for 2 hours a day, they would need g carbohydrate per day.
Protein is important in sports performance as it can boost glycogen storage, reduce muscle soreness and promote muscle repair. For those who are active regularly, there may be benefit from consuming a portion of protein at each mealtime and spreading protein intake out throughout the day.
As some high protein foods can also be high in saturated fat, for example fatty meats or higher fat dairy products, it is important to choose lower fat options, such as lean meats. Most vegans get enough protein from their diets, but it is important to consume a variety of plant proteins to ensure enough essential amino acids are included.
This is known as the complementary action of proteins. More information on vegetarian and vegan diets is available on our page on this topic. Whilst there may be a benefit in increasing protein intakes for athletes and those recreationally active to a high level, the importance of high protein diets is often overstated for the general population.
It is a common misconception that high protein intakes alone increase muscle mass and focussing too much on eating lots of protein can mean not getting enough carbohydrate, which is a more efficient source of energy for exercise.
It is important to note that high protein intakes can increase your energy calorie intake, which can lead to excess weight gain. The current protein recommendations for the general population are 0.
If you are participating in regular sport and exercise like training for a running or cycling event or lifting weights regularly, then your protein requirements may be slightly higher than the general sedentary population, to promote muscle tissue growth and repair.
For strength and endurance athletes, protein requirements are increased to around 1. The most recent recommendations for athletes from the American College of Sports Medicine ACSM also focus on protein timing, not just total intake, ensuring high quality protein is consumed throughout the day after key exercise sessions and around every 3—5 hours over multiple meals, depending on requirements.
In athletes that are in energy deficit, such as team sport players trying to lose weight gained in the off season, there may be a benefit in consuming protein amounts at the high end, or slightly higher, than the recommendations, to reduce the loss of muscle mass during weight loss.
Timing of protein consumption is important in the recovery period after training for athletes. Between 30 minutes and 2 hours after training, it is recommended to consume g of protein alongside some carbohydrate. A whey protein shake contains around 20g of protein, which you can get from half a chicken breast or a small can of tuna.
For more information on protein supplements, see the supplements section. The service also caters to several diet patterns. It offers paleo, keto , vegan, and vegetarian plans with flexible subscription options. For a simple way to squeeze more protein into your diet during training, you can order individual items à la carte, including protein packs that contain prepared meat, fish, or poultry.
Get started with Trifecta here. Green Chef is a great option for athletes hoping to improve both their cooking skills and physical performance by enjoying more healthy, homemade meals.
Each meal includes a list of ingredients and detailed nutrition information, which may be useful for athletes who are keeping tabs on their macronutrient intake. You can also select your meals each week to create your menu, allowing you to choose options higher in protein, carbs, or healthy fats, depending on your fitness goals.
Get started with Green Chef here. With so many different diet plans and programs out there, finding an option that works for you can be challenging.
For example, endurance athletes may benefit from consuming more carbohydrates, whereas eating more protein may help build muscle mass when coupled with resistance training Finally, be sure to avoid any overly restrictive programs.
In addition to making it more challenging to meet your nutritional needs, they can also be more difficult to follow and unsustainable in the long run. When selecting a plan that works for you, be sure to consider your goals, preferences, and dietary restrictions.
Try to steer clear of diets that are overly restrictive or unsustainable. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. When it comes to eating foods to fuel your exercise performance, it's not as simple as choosing vegetables over doughnuts.
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How you fuel your body can impact your performance in sports and athletic activities. Eating enough is crucial for athletes. Food provides the energy your body needs to perform well in sports and physical activities, in addition to keeping your body functioning properly.
You also need to make sure you have enough fuel left after exercise to use for building strong bones and skin, fighting off illness and recovering from activity.
Eating enough food to match your activity level can be challenging. This can cause what is called low energy availability LEA. LEA is a sign that your body does not have enough energy left over after exercise to protect and grow your body.
LEA may even cause a female athlete to lose their monthly menstrual cycle. This is called amenorrhea. Female athletes without a menstrual cycle have about 6 times as many stress fractures in their career than those who do have a menstrual cycle. Athletes typically need at least 3 meals and snacks daily to prevent LEA.
Choosing whole foods is like picking the best tools for your athletic journey. They provide your body with the energy and nutrients it needs to perform at its peak. Eating whole foods gives your muscles fuel to help you run faster, jump higher and get stronger. Here are some examples of whole-food choices.
Carbohydrates are important for physical activity and can seriously boost your performance. They give you more energy for the effort you put in during your activity, compared to fats and proteins. They are also important for keeping your hormone levels, like estrogen and progesterone, in check.
Carbohydrate foods should make up the biggest part of what you eat as an athlete. Even a short period of carbohydrate restriction can affect your bone health. This happens by lowering the number of bone-building substances while increasing the amount of elements that break down your bones.
Overall, this can lead to weaker bones. Aim to fill your plate half full of carbohydrate foods such as pasta, bread, rice, potatoes, quinoa, couscous and others.
This guide is designed to be used for meals only. You will most likely also need to eat snacks between meals to keep your energy levels up. Snacks play a crucial role in fueling an athlete.
PHONE: FAX: Consideratiojs Goldberg. Lindsay distel. Tricia Stoddard. Genevieve Traversa. How you fuel your wiyh can impact your performance Perfoemance sports and athletic performmance. Maximizing performance with dietary considerations enough is crucial perdormance athletes. Food provides the energy your perfogmance needs to perform well in Metabolic health assessment tools and perfornance activities, in addition to keeping your body functioning properly. You also need to make sure you have enough fuel left after exercise to use for building strong bones and skin, fighting off illness and recovering from activity. Eating enough food to match your activity level can be challenging. This can cause what is called low energy availability LEA. LEA is a sign that your body does not have enough energy left over after exercise to protect and grow your body.
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