Whether you’re competing at the Olympics or just a weekend sports player, good nutrition can improve your performance. A well-planned, nutritious diet should meet most vitamin and mineral requirements and provide enough protein to promote muscle growth and repair. Carbohydrates are especially important for sporting performance and should be mainly from unrefined sources like wholegrain breads and cereals, with the occasional addition of more refined carbohydrate foods such as lollies or jams.
General recommendations for carbohydrate intake during exercise vary according to the duration and intensity of exercise, but generally speaking consuming around 1.0 to 1.2 g/kg of body weight per day should be adequate for most people. Some sports people also require higher protein intakes to reduce the loss of protein (muscle) tissue during training and competition, this can be achieved with a high-protein diet including lean meat, fish, poultry, nuts/seeds and dairy products.
For optimum sports nutrition, it is recommended that a snack or liquid meal be consumed 1 h to 2 h before a training session or event, with an appropriate balance of carbohydrates and protein. Low-fat options are preferred, as they will digest more quickly and avoid any gastrointestinal upset during the exercise session (2,6).
Registered Dietitians (RD) with advanced training in sports nutrition are able to help athletes and fitness-minded individuals achieve their nutrition and performance goals by counseling them on their daily food choices, offering practical recommendations that are based on the latest scientific evidence and supporting them to track and document the outcome of these services. Lacy is a highly qualified, registered sports nutritionist (RDN) with 12-plus years of counseling experience and an MS in Exercise Physiology, as well as Sports Nutrition and Strength & Conditioning certifications. She is passionate about helping clients look and feel their best so they can Dominate Your Game. sports nutrition near me