Special Nutrition Requirements for Athletes
It’s the day when all your hard work is ready to pay off. Like from before the event, get it right by following the right nutrition even during the event. To avoid ‘hitting the wall’, it is important to follow a structured nutrition regimen that fuels you up before the run and keeps you going strong during the run.1,2
Getting the right nutrition before, during and after the race helps in1
How much nutrition do you need?
As an athlete, you are much more active than others. Your body is using up more nutrients than the usual quantity; hence, you need to make sure you replenish the stores regularly. You can clearly see in the figure below that your dietary requirements are more precise and customised to support your performance.1-3
Figure: For athletes exercising more than 5 hours per week
Eat regular meals3
It is important to begin your day with a nutrient-rich breakfast. It helps you get a great kick-start, fuelling your body with the right amount of energy you need for your workout and lets you perform consistently.3
Eat the right quantity and quality of nutrients3
Limit your salt, sugar and fat intake, and blend your diet with proteins, carbohydrates and micronutrients. They all work together to provide a stream of constant energy and support your muscular strength. Watch out on those candies, sodas and fried foods; they are your enemies!3
Carbohydrates and proteins: The numbers3
It is important to understand that your nutritional needs are based on the duration of your activity. The logic is, the more you work out, the more you need. The details are mentioned in the table below.3
Because running events are categorised under long-duration events, it is important for you to consume almost 60% to 70% of carbohydrates, 20% to 30% of fats and 10% to 15% of protein as part of your daily diet prior to the event.3
Starting right away
Although dietary regimens sound complicated, they are actually pretty simple. Don’t try to do all the things at one time, start off by making 1 or 2 changes a week. Your aim should be to retain the existing habits while continuing to make new ones.3
Ensure to choose the right foods in the right quantities every day to get the required nourishment. This will not only pep you up for the race but also keep you fit for life.
References
Maughan R, Burke L. Nutrition for athletes [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2016 Apr 27]. Available from: http://www.olympic.org/documents/reports/en/en_report_833.pdf
Forumsportnutrition. Food pyramid for athletes [Internet]. [cited 2016 Apr 29]. Available from:
http://www.forumsportnutrition.ch/wp-content/uploads/pdf/Lebensmittelpyramide_Sport_E1.2.pdf
Weatherwax-Fall D. Different nutritional plans for different athletes. NSCA’s Performance Training J [Internet]. 2016;5(6):12-4. Available from:
https://www.necc.mass.edu/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/ath-plans-for-athletes.pdf