THIS IS HOW ATHLETES SHOULD EAT
Eat protein before your workout or after? Is nutrition important or a load of bunk? Paul Silvestri, the head athletic trainer for the University of Utah football, has some answers.
After a workout, when your body is depleted of some nutrients, it becomes super ready to absorb new ones. "Taking a protein carb blend (shake or drink) post-workout would be good. Take it within half an hour of your workout," Silvestri says.
In terms of his game, which is one of the more active extreme sports, he says, "Football takes a lot out of an athlete's body. Nutrition is key for recovery from training and to prepare for training. Most non-elite athletes neglect nutrition, and the most neglected aspect of athletic nutrition is a well balanced diet. Supplements are the easy way out."
Silvestri acknowledges that for an athlete, planning a proper diet takes work and discipline, and it's hard. "That's why people rely on supplements, because that's so easy," he says.
But like most athletic trainers, Silvestri is not a big fan of nutrition in a small plastic jar. He is aware of the many documented cases where athletes taking supplements unknowingly and unintentionally ingested a banned substance, and were branded as cheaters. "That happens all the time. I don't feel that commercial supplements are regulated properly," he says.
He recommends that athletes in a training or competition mode eat their biggest meal of the day after their workout, adding that he thinks quality protein is the biggest factor.
"Lean meats, fish, things of that nature. You need to come in nutritionally prepared. I believe the results of a proper diet show up in competition," Silvestri says.
But his advice is not to try to create your diet on your own. He says, "I would absolutely suggest that a serious athlete go to a professional nutritionist. You can try to learn it yourself, but when someone dedicates their life to nutrition, they are more qualified to tell you what your body needs."
The wrong foods will have a definite effect on performance, especially the "easy foods," the fast burgers and fries. Even the pre-packaged salads at some fast food chains are not healthy. The sliced up lettuce and other vegetables begin to lose nutrients as soon as they are cut. They are kept fresh-looking with water and refrigeration, but may have little or no nutritional value by the time you actually purchase the item.
Silvestri explains that a properly balanced diet has components of protein and carbohydrates from fruit and vegetables. He says, "Your body needs each component." He is very firm when advising against crash diets that eliminate carbs or other food elements.
A serious athlete takes time to plan how to train the body for the sport. But the results of those hard hours in the gym or on the road will be greatly diminished if that well-trained body is not given the right fuel it needs to perform at its best.