Doctors, coaches, and other sports medicine professionals will surely tell you that eating healthy is part of being a successful athlete. What isn’t always mentioned is the need and requirement that you put in the time and effort to create a very balanced diet. This includes using fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, three components usually considered deficient nutrients.
The thought that is required of athletes in training and nutritional situations is to consider food as a form of energy. Eating the right foods can benefit the body in extended energy and better muscle mass, while omitting vital components can lead to muscle fatigue, weakened muscles, deteriorating muscles, and even exhaustion, to name just a few issues. This leaves athletes responsible for working closely with their doctors and coaches to develop an appropriate diet based on their athletic abilities.
To be successful, especially when playing endurance or strength sports, it is essential to have the muscular strength to perform the workout if your nutrition intake is inadequate or imbalance that is more harmful to your body than the average person.
Protein is a requirement to help build and maintain muscle mass. Athletes who remove protein from their diet lose muscle strength and mass, ultimately impairing their performance, strength, and long-term health. Due to the benefits of consuming protein for athletes, enough protein must be consumed to keep muscles in proper shape and strength.
A rough guide is to consume 0.08 grams of protein for every 2.2 pounds of body weight every day. For athletes participating in endurance sports, the number increases to 1.2 to 1.4 grams per day, and for those athletes participating in strength training activities, the number rises to 1.4 to 1.8 grams for every 2.2 pounds of body weight per day.
In addition to the general guidelines laid out, there are also times when it may be beneficial to increase your protein intake to aid in healing a muscle injury. After a workout, muscle injury increases the protein need of the body. It would be best if you discussed with your doctor how much protein you should consume to maintain an overall healthy outlook and fitness routine.
You must always carefully discuss your exact protein requirements with your doctor and trainer whenever you start a new sporting activity, especially if you are enduring rigorous training.
If you’re even considering trying a low-protein diet, it’s vital that you first discuss the risks with your doctor and check to see if any other dietary changes could help you achieve the results you want to accomplish from skipping protein. Remember, protein is necessary to help ensure you’re building and maintaining muscle mass, a requirement for all athletic activities. The muscles you use and how strong they need to be can vary. However, it is essential to have the required muscle mass.
Never leave the protein out of your diet without talking to your doctor first. If your doctor agrees it’s wise to reduce or skip your protein intake, follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. Not following your doctor’s recommendations regarding your nutritional health can also harm your overall health.