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Nutritional balance in sports

Nutritional balance in sports

Proteins are essential Nutrtiional muscle repair Nutritional balance in sports growth. In the context of sports performance, nutrition plays several vital roles: 1. Pre-Event Meal Plan I, hours prior approximately calories. The other half can come from simpler starches such as white rice, white potatoes, pasta, and the occasional sweets and desserts.

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Eating a range of foods Herbal remedies for asthma different food ballance Nutritional balance in sports ensure an athlete gets all the essential nutrients, minerals sportd vitamins they need to maintain a good level of general health as well contributing to Nutritionak Energy-boosting tips and tricks effective performance.

Ideally, meals should contain a mixture of carbohydrates, fats, proteins bxlance fruits and vegetables, sporgs fruit and Energy-boosting tips and tricks and carbohydrates constituting the bulk Nutrotional the Nutritional balance in sports.

Most athletes eat a carbohydrate-rich diet as this helps to keep them fuelled; complex carbohydrates release energy slowly which enables the body to keep working for long periods of time.

Examples of foods with a high content of complex carbohydrates include pasta, rice, bread and cereals. Examples of protein-rich foods include meat, fish and eggs. Fats are an essential element of a balanced diet and are needed to transport and absorb vitamins and minerals.

The intake of fats should be moderated, especially saturated fats, which can build up in the arteries and contribute to serious health issues including heart disease.

Fruits and vegetables contain a huge range of vitamins, minerals and nutrients, which are essential for the successful completion of several daily activities as well as increasing the efficacy of the immune system which increases resistance to illness and infection. It is important to try and eat a range of fruits and vegetables as this will ensure all the necessary vitamins and minerals are consumed.

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: Nutritional balance in sports

Latest news Clinical Trials. Find information and research about fitness and health. Healthy carbohydrate food sources include fruits, vegetables, whole-grain cereals, breads and pastas. To avoid dehydration, an athlete should drink 5 to 7 mL per kilogram of body mass approximately four hours before an event. PROTEIN Protein is important for muscle growth and to repair body tissues. In addition, many companies make electrolyte tablets that can be combined with water to provide the necessary electrolytes to keep you hydrated.
Other Focus Areas Therefore, whilst among recreational gym-goers protein supplementation Green energy technology become increasingly popular Nutrotional muscle building, it Energy-boosting tips and tricks generally unnecessary. Get Balanve Cardio Sport Training Yoga Rest and Nutritiona, Nutritional balance in sports Fitness Exercise Library Balande News Your Fitness Toolkit. Staff Directory. When it comes to sports, injuries are an unfortunate part of the game. The body can store carbohydrates in the muscles and liver as glycogen and use these stores as a source of fuel for physical activity. 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.
Social Media How much micronutrients should people be consuming? Monitor Micronutrient Intake: Consume a variety of fruits and vegetables to ensure you get essential vitamins and minerals. 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. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. Protein Protein is important in sports performance as it can boost glycogen storage, reduce muscle soreness and promote muscle repair. Athletes can easily meet this increased need by eating more total calories eating more food. In your body, beta-alanine serves as a building block for carnosine, a compound responsible for helping to reduce the acidic environment within working muscles during high intensity exercise.
Fueling Victory: The Importance of Nutrition in Sports Performance

In Wisconsin clinic and hospital locations masks are required during all patient interactions. In Illinois clinic and hospital locations masks are required in some areas and strongly recommended in others. Learn more. Every athlete strives for an edge over the competition. Daily training and recovery require a comprehensive eating plan that matches these physical demands.

The keys to peak nutrition performance aimed to complement your training and competition are reviewed below. The energy needs of athletes exceed those of the average person. The amount of energy found within a given food is dependent on the macronutrient carbohydrate, protein and fat content of the item.

Carbohydrates serve as the primary source of energy during activities of higher intensity. Healthy carbohydrate food sources include fruits, vegetables, whole-grain cereals, breads and pastas. Dietary fat also plays a key role in helping individuals meet their energy needs as well as supporting healthy hormone levels.

Healthy sources of fat include nuts, nut butters, avocados, olive and coconut oils. Limit use of vegetable oils such as corn, cottonseed or soybean oil. Dietary protein plays a key role in muscle repair and growth. Preferred sources of protein include lean meats, eggs, dairy yogurt, milk, cottage cheese and legumes.

Make a plan to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables daily. The goal is to eat at least five servings per day, and include varieties of fruit and vegetable color. One serving is approximately the size of a baseball.

Fruits and vegetables are filled with the energy and nutrients necessary for training and recovery. Plus, these antioxidant-rich foods will help you combat illness like a cold or the flu. Choose whole grain carbohydrates sources such as whole-wheat bread or pasta, and fiber-rich cereals as power-packed energy sources.

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. To date, there is no clear evidence to suggest that vegetarian or vegan diets impact performance differently to a mixed diet, although it is important to recognise that whatever the dietary pattern chosen, it is important to follow a diet that is balanced to meet nutrient requirements.

More research is needed, to determine whether vegetarian or vegan diets can help athletic performance. More plant-based diets can provide a wide variety of nutrients and natural phytochemicals, plenty of fibre and tend to be low in saturated fat, salt and sugar.

Fat is essential for the body in small amounts, but it is also high in calories. The type of fat consumed is also important.

Studies have shown that replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fat in the diet can reduce blood cholesterol, which can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. Fat-rich foods usually contain a mixture of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids but choosing foods that contain higher amounts of unsaturated fat and less saturated fat, is preferable as most of us eat too much saturated fat.

Find more information on fat on our pages on this nutrient. If I am doing endurance training, should I be following low carbohydrate, high fat diets? Carbohydrate is important as an energy source during exercise.

Having very low intakes of carbohydrate when exercising can cause low energy levels, loss of concentration, dizziness or irritability. Because carbohydrate is important for providing energy during exercise, there is a benefit in ensuring enough is consumed.

This is especially for high-intensity exercise where some studies have shown that performance is reduced when carbohydrate intakes are low.

Some studies in specific exercise scenarios such as lower intensity training in endurance runners, have found beneficial effects of low carbohydrate diets on performance.

However, these results have not been consistent and so at the moment we do not have enough evidence to show that low-carbohydrate diets can benefit athletic performance.

Water is essential for life and hydration is important for health, especially in athletes and those who are physically active, who will likely have higher requirements. Drinking enough fluid is essential for maximising exercise performance and ensuring optimum recovery.

Exercising raises body temperature and so the body tries to cool down by sweating. This causes the loss of water and salts through the skin. Generally, the more a person sweats, the more they will need to drink. Muscle Recovery and Repair: Proteins are essential for muscle repair and growth.

Hydration: Maintaining proper fluid balance is critical for performance. Nutrient Timing: The timing of nutrient intake is vital. Immune Function: Intense training can weaken the immune system. Key Nutrients for Athletes To excel in sports, athletes must ensure they receive adequate amounts of key nutrients.

Here are some crucial nutrients and their roles: 1. Carbohydrates: Role: Provide energy for high-intensity exercise. Sources: Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes. Protein: Role: Supports muscle repair and growth.

Sources: Lean meats, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs, plant-based sources e. Fats: Role: Provide a long-lasting source of energy. Sources: Healthy fats from avocados, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish e. Vitamins and Minerals: Role: Support various bodily functions, including immune function and muscle contraction.

Sources: A well-balanced diet with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Hydration: Role: Maintains fluid balance and regulates body temperature.

Sources: Water, sports drinks in moderation , fruits, and vegetables. Practical Nutrition Strategies for Athletes Achieving the ideal balance of nutrients can be challenging but is essential for optimal sports performance.

Here are some practical nutrition strategies for athletes: 1. Develop a Balanced Diet: Prioritize whole, unprocessed foods. Ensure a mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats in each meal.

Customize your diet based on your specific sport, training intensity, and goals. Timing Matters: Consume a balanced meal or snack hours before exercise. Include carbohydrates and protein to fuel and prepare the muscles. Refuel within 30 minutes after exercise to optimize recovery.

Sports nutrition Sources: Water, sports drinks in Nutritional balance in sports Nutrtional, fruits, and vegetables. Foods Nutritionao empty Nutritipnal like candy, sweets sporst snack Energy-boosting tips and tricks Caffeine and weight loss it hard to get enough vitamins and minerals without eating too many calories. Explore Extension ». Electrolytes, tiny charged particles, are essential for maintaining a healthy sodium and potassium balance in our bodies. Similarly to simple sugars, there are some complex carbohydrates that are better than others. In: Madden CC, Putukian M, Eric C.
Maintaining a healthy weight is all about balancing the calories you eat Nutritjonal the calories your body Energy-boosting tips and tricks. Nutrirional most important ways to Energy-boosting tips and tricks keep the bbalance is Self-care eating Nutritional balance in sports variety of foods and exercising regularly. Nutritionla meals that include 3 Nitritional 5 of the USDA MyPlate food groups and snacks that include 2 to 3 of the food groups. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat or fat-free dairy all contribute to a healthy and balanced diet. Have fun with your meals and explore the wide variety of foods within each of these groups. The USDA ChooseMyPlate resources provide simple reminders to help people focus on eating balanced meals with a variety of foods. You can learn more about ChooseMyPlate and healthy eating tips on the website. Nutritional balance in sports

Nutritional balance in sports -

They help provide an appropriate balance of energy, nutrients, and other bioactive compounds in food that are not often found in supplement form.

That said, considering that athletes often have greater nutritional needs than the general population, supplementation can be used to fill in any gaps in the diet.

Protein powders are isolated forms of various proteins, such as whey, egg white, pea, brown rice, and soy. Protein powders typically contain 10—25 g of protein per scoop, making it easy and convenient to consume a solid dose of protein. Research suggests that consuming a protein supplement around training can help promote recovery and aid in increases in lean body mass.

For example, some people choose to add protein powder to their oats to boost their protein content a bit. Carb supplements may help sustain your energy levels, particularly if you engage in endurance sports lasting longer than 1 hour.

These concentrated forms of carbs usually provide about 25 g of simple carbs per serving, and some include add-ins such as caffeine or vitamins.

They come in gel or powder form. Many long-distance endurance athletes will aim to consume 1 carb energy gel containing 25 g of carbs every 30—45 minutes during an exercise session longer than 1 hour. Sports drinks also often contain enough carbs to maintain energy levels, but some athletes prefer gels to prevent excessive fluid intake during training or events, as this may result in digestive distress.

Many athletes choose to take a high quality multivitamin that contains all the basic vitamins and minerals to make up for any potential gaps in their diet.

This is likely a good idea for most people, as the potential benefits of supplementing with a multivitamin outweigh the risks. One vitamin in particular that athletes often supplement is vitamin D, especially during winter in areas with less sun exposure.

Low vitamin D levels have been shown to potentially affect sports performance, so supplementing is often recommended. Research shows that caffeine can improve strength and endurance in a wide range of sporting activities , such as running, jumping, throwing, and weightlifting.

Many athletes choose to drink a strong cup of coffee before training to get a boost, while others turn to supplements that contain synthetic forms of caffeine, such as pre-workouts. Whichever form you decide to use, be sure to start out with a small amount. You can gradually increase your dose as long as your body tolerates it.

Supplementing with omega-3 fats such as fish oil may improve sports performance and recovery from intense exercise. You can certainly get omega-3s from your diet by eating foods such as fatty fish, flax and chia seeds, nuts, and soybeans.

Plant-based omega-3 supplements are also available for those who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet. Creatine is a compound your body produces from amino acids.

It aids in energy production during short, high intensity activities. Supplementing daily with 5 g of creatine monohydrate — the most common form — has been shown to improve power and strength output during resistance training, which can carry over to sports performance.

Most sporting federations do not classify creatine as a banned substance, as its effects are modest compared with those of other compounds. Considering their low cost and wide availability and the extensive research behind them, creatine supplements may be worthwhile for some athletes.

Beta-alanine is another amino acid-based compound found in animal products such as beef and chicken. In your body, beta-alanine serves as a building block for carnosine, a compound responsible for helping to reduce the acidic environment within working muscles during high intensity exercise.

The most notable benefit of supplementing with beta-alanine is improvement in performance in high intensity exercises lasting 1—10 minutes. The commonly recommended research -based dosages range from 3. Some people prefer to stick to the lower end of the range to avoid a potential side effect called paraesthesia , a tingling sensation in the extremities.

Sports nutritionists are responsible for implementing science-based nutrition protocols for athletes and staying on top of the latest research. At the highest level, sports nutrition programs are traditionally overseen and administered by registered dietitians specializing in this area.

These professionals serve to educate athletes on all aspects of nutrition related to sports performance, including taking in the right amount of food, nutrients, hydration, and supplementation when needed.

Lastly, sports nutritionists often work with athletes to address food allergies , intolerances , nutrition-related medical concerns, and — in collaboration with psychotherapists — any eating disorders or disordered eating that athletes may be experiencing.

One of the roles of sports nutritionists is to help debunk these myths and provide athletes with accurate information. Here are three of the top sports nutrition myths — and what the facts really say.

While protein intake is an important factor in gaining muscle, simply supplementing with protein will not cause any significant muscle gains. To promote notable changes in muscle size, you need to regularly perform resistance training for an extended period of time while making sure your diet is on point.

Even then, depending on a number of factors, including genetics, sex, and body size, you will likely not look bulky. Another common myth in sports nutrition is that eating close to bedtime will cause additional fat gain. Many metabolic processes take place during sleep. For example, eating two slices of pizza before bed is much more likely to result in fat gain than eating a cup of cottage cheese or Greek yogurt.

Coffee gets a bad rap for being dehydrating. While sports nutrition is quite individualized, some general areas are important for most athletes. Choosing the right foods, zeroing in your macros, optimizing meal timing, ensuring good hydration, and selecting appropriate snacks can help you perform at your best.

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat or fat-free dairy all contribute to a healthy and balanced diet.

Have fun with your meals and explore the wide variety of foods within each of these groups. The USDA ChooseMyPlate resources provide simple reminders to help people focus on eating balanced meals with a variety of foods. You can learn more about ChooseMyPlate and healthy eating tips on the website.

Carbohydrates, protein and fat are all sources of energy and each has an important role in the body. Rather than trying to eat a very small or very large amount of any one nutrient, focus on eating a healthy balance of fat, protein and carbohydrate.

Regular physical activity is key to a healthy lifestyle when you balance what you eat and drink to maintain a healthy weight. Recommendations for adults are to get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity and 2 days of muscle-strengthening each week, but the benefits can be seen after just 60 minutes per week.

Every bit helps, even if it is just 10 minutes at a time! Check out the CDC guidelines for adult physical activity. Portion control is essential to balancing your calories with physical activity in order to maintain a healthy weight.

Try these tips to reduce your portion sizes. Overeating often comes with distracted or rushed eating. Use these tips to help make healthy choices and stop yourself from overeating.

Eating regular meals will help you to make healthy choices when it comes to food and portion size. However, vegetarian athletes should work with a dietitian to make sure their protein intake is sufficient. Excess protein can deprive the athlete of more efficient fuel sources and can lead to dehydration.

High-protein diets increase the water requirement necessary to eliminate the nitrogen through the urine. Also, an increase in metabolic rate can occur and, therefore, increased oxygen consumption.

Protein and amino acid supplements are unnecessary and not recommended. However, this is typically excessive, because proteins needs are easily met in an American diet.

Eating whole foods instead of supplements is generally the best practice. Any athlete consuming supplements in replacement of meals should consult with their doctor or a registered dietitian before continuing.

Water is an important nutrient for the athlete. Water loss during an athletic event varies between individuals.

Sweat loss can be tracked by measuring weight immediately before and after exercise. To avoid dehydration, an athlete should drink 5 to 7 mL per kilogram of body mass approximately four hours before an event.

Throughout the event, they should drink chilled water or electrolyte drinks, consuming enough to match sweat losses.

Chilled fluids are absorbed faster and help lower body temperature. After exercise, oz of water should be for every pound that was lost during the athletic event. By routinely tracking pre- and post- exercise weight changes, sweat rates can be estimated, allowing for more efficient hydration during athletic events.

An individual should never gain weight during exercise; this is a sign of excessive hydration, which can lead to electrolyte imbalances, and potentially hyponatremia. It is important to account for environmental concerns when considering water consumption.

Sweat rates may increase dramatically in hot and humid weather, and it is increasingly important for an athlete to stay hydrated in these conditions. Competing at high altitudes also increases water needs. Athletes consuming sport drinks or energy drinks should be aware of caffeine levels. Limited amounts of caffeine have been shown to enhance athletic performance.

However, insomnia, restlessness and ringing of the ears can occur with caffeine consumption. Furthermore, caffeine acts as a diuretic and may cause the need to urinate during competition.

Maintaining adequate levels of vitamins and minerals is important for bodily function, and therefore, athletic performance.

As the activity level of an athlete increases, the need for different vitamins and minerals may increase as well.

However, this need can be easily met by eating a balanced diet including a variety of foods. There is no evidence that taking more vitamins than is obtained by eating a variety of foods will improve performance.

B vitamins, including thiamin, riboflavin and niacin, are essential for producing energy from the fuel sources in the diet.

Carbohydrate and protein foods are excellent sources of these vitamins. B vitamins are water soluble vitamins , which means that are not stored in the body, so toxicity is not an issue.

Some female athletes may lack riboflavin, so it is important to ensure adequate consumption of riboflavin-rich foods, like milk. Milk products not only increase the riboflavin level but also provide protein and calcium. Vitamin D has many functions in the body, and is crucial for calcium absorption.

Athletes who train indoors for prolonged periods of time should insure that they consuming adequate amounts of vitamin D through diet. Exercise increases the oxidative stress on the body, increasing the need for vitamins C and E, which have an antioxidant effect.

Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin , found in fats in the diet such as nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils. When an individual consumes excess fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K , they are stored in fat throughout the body.

Because they are stored, excessive amounts of fat-soluble vitamins may have toxic effects. Minerals play an important role in athletic function. Sodium is lost through the course of an athletic event through sweat, so it may be necessary to replace sodium in addition to water during an event.

That is why sports drinks are beneficial, because they can replenish both sodium and water after strenuous exercise and sweating. Athletes may also choose to eat a salty snack after exercise to replace sodium lost, but this should be accompanied by adequate water.

Consuming salt tablets alone without any additional fluids is not advised as this can increase sodium concentration in the body and affect muscle function. Although sodium should be replenished after and sometimes during an athletic event, it is not recommended that athletes consume a high-sodium diet overall.

Potassium levels can decline during exercise, similar to sodium, though losses are not as significant. Eating potassium-rich foods such as oranges, bananas and potatoes throughout training and after competition supplies necessary potassium. Iron carries oxygen via blood to all cells in the body.

Needs for this mineral are especially high in endurance athletes. Female athletes and athletes between 13 and 19 years old may have inadequate supplies of iron due to menstruation and strenuous exercise. Female athletes who train heavily have a high incidence of amenorrhea, the absence of regular, monthly periods, and thus conserve iron stores.

Choosing foods high in iron such as red meat, lentils, dark leafy greens, and fortified cereals can help prevent iron deficiencies, but taking an iron supplement may be advised.

It is best to consult a physician before starting iron supplements. Calcium is important in bone health and muscle function. Athletes should have an adequate supply of calcium to prevent bone loss.

Inadequate calcium levels may lead to osteoporosis later in life. Female athletes are more likely to have inadequate calcium consumption. Low-fat dairy products are a good source of calcium.

Restricting calories during periods of high activity can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. This negatively impacts athletic performance, and has adverse repercussions for general health and wellbeing. Athletes who are wishing to lose weight should do so during the off-season.

Eating before competition can increase performance when compared to exercising in fasted state. A pre-game meal three to four hours before the event allows for optimal digestion and energy supply.

Most authorities recommend small pre-game meals that provide to 1, calories. This meal should be sufficient but not excessive, so as to prevent both hunger and undigested food.

The meal should be high in starch, which breaks down more easily than protein and fats. The starch should be in the form of complex carbohydrates breads, cold cereal, pasta, fruits and vegetables. They are digested at a rate that provides consistent energy to the body and are emptied from the stomach in two to three hours.

High-sugar foods lead to a rapid rise in blood sugar, followed by a decline in blood sugar and less energy. In addition, concentrated sweets can draw fluid into the gastrointestinal tract and contribute to dehydration, cramping, nausea and diarrhea.

This may lead to premature exhaustion of glycogen stores in endurance events. Pregame meals should be low in fat. Fat takes longer to digest, as does fiber- and lactose-containing meals. Take in adequate fluids during this pre-game time. Carefully consider caffeine consumption cola, coffee, tea , as it may lead to dehydration by increasing urine production.

It is important to eat familiar foods before an event, so it is known that they can be tolerated before exercise. Smaller meals should be consumed if less time remains before an event. If a competition is less than two hours away, athletes may benefit from consuming a liquid pre-game meal to avoid gastrointestinal distress.

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