9 Popular Olympic Games – What do Athletes Eat?

Taking a balanced diet is essential for athletes to be able to perform and withstand the physical pressure of the game they participate in, but what do athletes eat?

This brief guide shows exactly how the athletes are expected to formulate their feeding habits and the calories demanded for the physical energy required by the sport.

1. Swimming

What do athletes eat when practicing swimming? Swimming is a very demanding sport in the sense that athletes consume a lot of energy in the attempt to get to the finish line. Endurance and stamina is an essential attribute of a good swimmer that is only achievable through the intake of food such as vegetables, fruits and nuts. These food supply high contents of calories and should be taken between four to five times during the competition period. A professional swimmer will generally include 6-8.000 calories in this daily diet.

2. Running

Running athletes are advised to avoid fat in their diet. This is because fat causes sluggishness, which is not a favorable aspect for the sport. Taking vegetables and carbohydrates is essential in providing short bursts of energy when required. Small amounts of protein may be taken to improve physical strength.

3. Football

What do athletes eat when playing professional football? Football is an interesting sport that is played for ninety minutes. This exerts a lot of physical pressure on athletes. Most are prone to fatigue and muscle injury. Footballers require large doses of carbohydrates in their diet to provide the short bursts of energy. Protein is also essential for muscle development. This helps make the legs strong and capable of withstanding the physical pressure. A calorie supplement of four thousand calories is required in a footballers diet.

4. Basketball

For basketball players, carbohydrates are an essential component of their diet. It helps in the creation of energy that is important in meeting the physical demands of the game and provide energy for those rapid direction changes athletes do. Potatoes and yams are rich in carbohydrates and are the best option. Protein is also crucial in getting players physically fit to face their opponents. Fish and beef products are the perfect remedy in providing this vital component. It is important for these athletes to keep hydrated before and during the game so that they withstand the physical exhaustion.

5. Tennis

Tennis nutrition is in most cases overlooked by players. This is due to the general perception that the game is not physically demanding. However, to be a good tennis player, one is required to take many vegetables and reduce the amounts of sugars and caffeine. Vegetables help in the conversion of starch and carbohydrates to food. Eating raw and cooked vegetables is appropriate as it helps boost energy levels. Hydration is also important before and during the game especially because tennis is a long game.

6. Judo

Judo is an exciting sport because it requires both physical and mental strength. Athletes are advised to take large quantities of carbohydrates and proteins in anticipation of the competition. This is important as these components serve crucial roles in the diet. For instance, carbohydrates sources such as bread, rice and whole grain meals provide energy. Protein sources such as fish and dairy products provide muscle tonnage. The sport demands a lot of physical energy.

7. High Jumper Athletes

For high jumpers, it is recommended that protein be strictly included in the diet. Protein plays a vital role in making body muscles stronger and more flexible. Feeding the muscles with nutrients from vegetables and fruits is paramount for a stronger body and gives athletes the edge over their rivals. It is also important to note that intake of water is essential in ensuring that the athlete is hydrated at all times.

8. Fencing

Fencing requires a lot of physical energy as well as brain alertness. It is therefore paramount that the athletes indulge food rich in proteins and carbohydrates. This is essential, as the proteins are responsible for giving the athlete muscle strength and tonnage. The carbohydrates help in giving physical energy, therefore enabling the competitors to withstand a vigorous fight.

9. Boxing

Boxing requires a lot of physical strength and stamina. The ideal diet for a boxer should be one with a lot of carbohydrates. These foods supply the required energy in large amounts. Yams, potatoes and whole grain meals are appropriate to get the right results. Boxing involves the use of muscles, so a protein rich diet is also recommended. This helps in repairing torn muscles. The diet should consist of almost five thousand calories a day. From the diet point of view boxing can be a very difficult sport. Professional boxers are required to gain weight while training and to dramatically lose weight in just a few days just before the match when they must have the right weight for their category.

You don’t have to be like athletes, training for at least 5-6 hours a day, to follow these basic principles, just consider that every sport requires a diet or mix of nutrients and all should be just fine. So when wondering what do athletes eat also consider their high level of burning calories.