Professional sports stars and elite athletes certainly know the importance of having a well-structured diet, health, and fitness regime. They need them to enhance their performance and accelerate recovery if they were to get injured.
As with the significant differences in the physical demands of various sports, the nutritional requirements will vary slightly with each and every athlete.
This article looks at how professional sports stars don’t just keep physically fit from exercise and training, but how they eat the right things at the right time. They also remain hydrated, look after their mental wellbeing and take natural supplements to boost their intake of proteins and vitamins.
The Diet
In the dictionary, the word diet is defined as “food and drink regularly provided or consumed.” In reality, particularly in the Western Hemisphere, the term “diet” is often associated with changing your nutritional intake in an effort to lose weight.
However, professional athletes and sports stars know that a diet can be their most worthy training partner.
The foods and drinks that make up a sports star’s diet are the sources of energy that ultimately fuel their performance. Much like the different grades of gasoline that fuel race cars and airplanes, sports stars and athletes utilize specific diets that help them excel in their chosen sports.
High carb diets are eaten by athletes such as swimmers, triathletes, and runners compared to the traditional diet that balances fats, proteins, and carbs. Carbs provide energy, and because of the high demands of these sorts of sports, their stars can afford the luxury of eating a diet rich in fats and carbs without worrying that they will gain weight.
Sports stars tend to eat high carb meals or nutrition bars directly before they start training or competing, ensuring their energy levels are at their highest, so they can perform to the best of their ability.
Non-professional sports stars and athletes will benefit more from a well-balanced diet of 50 percent carbs, 30 percent protein, and 20 percent fat. But they must consume whole foods and good fats and carbs as opposed to the “bad” ones such as sugar and candy (carbs) and cream, cheese, and lard (saturated fats).
The Hydration
Sports stars know only too well the importance of healthy hydration as part of their diet. Water replaces the fluids lost through sweat when they are involved in physical exercise. The suggested amount of water intake for people is 8 x 8-ounce glasses per day – however, professional sports stars need more than this to replace what they have lost whilst on the field, track, or the gym.
The Fitness Routine
Believe it or not, this is the fun part, maybe not for the average Joe, but when it comes to sports stars and athletes, they just love to move and play their chosen sports.
Athletes have a very structured fitness routine that is often a combination of cardio training, their own sport, and additional activities that help enhance their ability and help them to excel in their sport of choice.
Sports stars and athletes generally stick to the same two-factor routine that separates them from non-professional athletes regarding their fitness programs and training: intensity and volume.
Take a look at NFL Professional football players; they spend on average 11 hours lifting weights, rehabilitating injuries, training, and practicing. Professional swimmers can easily swim 10 miles per practice session three times a day and incorporate cardio training into the mix.
The Nutritional Supplements
Even sports stars need a little help with their nutrition, and many turn to natural nutritional supplements to boost their energy levels and endurance. They also ensure that they are getting enough vitamins, minerals, and proteins into their bodies.
There are many different natural supplements available, but sports stars and athletes tend to choose things like Garcinia Cambogia – a natural appetite suppressant that boosts metabolism, burns fat, and breaks down excess body sugar into energy.
Green Tea is another plus, as it’s naturally high in caffeine and L-theanine, both of which boost the metabolism and enhance the athlete’s attention, alertness and concentration.
Putting it All Together
From sports stars and Olympic athletes to anyone who needs a little boost to deal with all the hustle and bustle that life throws at us, keeping ourselves balanced mentally and physically is key.
A healthy diet and fitness program can benefit us all and keep our bodies and minds functioning at an optimal level. Perhaps most importantly, however, is a diet and fitness regime that is personalized to your specific needs and ultimately provides a simple blueprint for a long and healthy life.
