I was thinking about this topic over the last few days, especially since the Olympics kicked off and since watching an episode of the Biggest Loser last week.
Let’s start with the latter.
Last week on the Biggest Loser, the contestants spent some time at the US Olympic training in Colorado. They worked out with some of the US Olympians and then spent some time in the cafeteria learning from nutritionists of the US Olympic team.
And that’s where things went south.
The first thing these “nutritionists” showed the contestants was a big plate of white pasta and a side of white bread. They said that this meal would provide the necessary energy via carbohydrates that their Olympians needed.
Cringe!
Then, they showed the contestants a big hamburger, a salad, and a side of fruit. Wow, talk about bad food combining.
Anyways, I was amazed at how poor the quality was of an Olympic athlete diet. I certainly hope that most of the athletes have been eating like this.
This isn’t helped by the fact that McDonald’s is the MAJOR sponsor and OFFICIAL RESTAURANT of the Vancouver olympic winter games. How does that even happen???
So the few examples above tell us what some athletes are eating. But is that how athletes should really be eating for optimal performances?
I personally don’t think so.
Instead of eating white pasta and white bread (not great from a blood sugar and digestion perspective) why not choose a hypo-allergenic rice pasta or even a raw zucchini pasta?
Remember, wheat is a big issue for a lot of people. And they don’t even realize it.
Another important nutrition concept for olympic athletes to remember is the importance of eating lots of fruits and vegetables. Here are 3 reasons why they need to get their 5-10 servings per day:
Reason #1 – Fruits and vegetables provide more alkalinity
Athletes produce a lot of acid when training and competing. As a result, a more alkaline diet can be helpful in buffering some of that acid and providing an oxygen-rich environment that is needed for optimal repair and regeneration.
Furthermore, when the blood is acidic (for instance, due to an acidic diet and heavy training load) oxygen transport to the cells can become compromised because when the blood is acidic it becomes more viscous and doesn’t flow as freely. Blood needs to be at a pH of between 7.35-7.45 for ideal health and oxygen and nutrient transport.
Fruits and veggies are the fastest and easiest way to ensure this can happen.
Reason #2 – Fruits and veggies are rich in antioxidants
Physical exertion (oxygen consumption in general) produces a lot of free radicals in the body. These free radicals wreak havoc and need to be neutralized by antioxidants.
Berries and other dark pigmented fruits and vegetables are the greatest sources of antioxidants. Some research has even shown that an antioxidant-rich diet may be able to prevent exercise-induced muscle soreness.
Makes sense to me.
Reason #3 – Fruits and vegetables are water-rich
It’s no secret that athletes lose a lot of water through sweat. Aside from drinking liters of good quality water, fruits and vegetables can provide a lot of water along with phenomenal nutrients needed for optimal performance and recovery.
If you want more insight into how athletes should eat, then grab a copy of EATING FOR ENERGY – an entire chapter is dedicated to this subject.
