6 Foods Athletes Should Eat For Their Best Performance

Food is fuel for the body and thus needed to supply energy, boost performance and help replenish body cells. Athletes need good food to recover from all the physical activity they do. It is important that the food they eat is rich in all the micro and macronutrients.

A balance is important for maintaining a good and healthy body. A balance of a nutritious diet and exercise boosts the endurance of athletes. The diet must include all of the nutrients- carbohydrates, proteins, fats.

Here Are Some Foods Athletes Should Eat For Their Best Performance:

• Milk- milk is an excellent source of protein and calcium. It is said to be a complete food which promotes muscle and bone health. It is good for athletes to meet their protein requirements. If you are facing any gastrointestinal problems or digestive issues, you can try lactose-free, or low-fat milk.
• Egg- it is well known for the protein content but can be mistakenly avoided by the amount of fat in it. But we should know that it is high in protein and contains essential nutrients that are necessary for growth and repair of the cells. Egg is such an easy food to prepare and have at any time of the day, it can be the most favorite food of an athlete.
• Flaxseeds- they have a high amount of Omega-3 fatty acids which provide the body with loads of antioxidants. They help in reducing inflammation in the body, oxygen consumption by the body and improves cardiac functioning. You can have them in your oatmeal or porridge for breakfast.
• Banana- it is rich in potassium and useful for muscle recovery and cramp reduction. The electrolytes in bananas will help you recover the water loss after an event. Apart from the nutritional content, it is a low-calorie fruit which can be taken anywhere and enjoyed anytime, especially good for recovery after an event.
• Whole Foods- whole foods like legumes, beans are packed with all the nutrients, vitamins, minerals and most importantly fiber! Fruits and vegetables will give you the necessary phytochemicals and supply of antioxidants.
• Sweet Potato- it is known for removing free radicals from the body as it is rich in vitamin A and C. It will give you all the antioxidants, potassium, iron and magnesium for improving muscle recovery. Sweet potato also lowers blood pressure which is important for an athlete’s heart health.

All these good foods are mandatory to include in an athlete’s diet to boost the performance but it is also important to avoid certain foods. Foods such as sugary or processed foods that increase inflammation in the body, fried or fatty foods that increase the fat content and chances of diabetes and obesity- all these foods must be checked.

Footnote:
Food plays an equal and important role in an athlete’s endurance. Include these foods to perform your best!