Eating healthily and ensuring that your body is given all of the nutrients that it needs is important for any active person. This is because food is the fuel that our bodies need to perform. There have been a great deal of food types that have been hailed as superfoods to this regard. This is either because they are packed with exactly what you need to push harder or they have such a low calorie-count that they actually encourage fat-burning. Regardless, if you are an athlete then you should be paying careful attention to what you eat. So why not try out these foods that enhance gym performance?
Athletes should include these foods in their diet
Beetroot
Beetroot is great for encouraging oxygen and blood circulation in athletes. By reducing the amount of oxygen they require when working out, this essentially pushes back the time when athletes start to feel exhaustion. This is because beetroot is rich in nitrates. The consumption of beetroot has a positive effect on the flow of oxygen in the body. Beetroot should therefore become a part of any athlete’s regular diet. Alternatively, it can even be loaded up on starting around a week before competitive events.
Salmon
Salmon and other fish dishes that are high in omega-3 fatty acids are essential for athletes and good gym performance. This is because of their anti-inflammatory properties which can help reduce stiffness and aching after workouts. Omega-3s also help the body with protein synthesis. This means better muscle strength and tone for athletes. Foods such as salmon that are high in omega-3s should therefore be eaten regularly by athletes, at least 3 times a week.
Turmeric
Any athlete that suffers from arthritis (as is often the case with boxers, golfers and tennis-players) will benefit greatly from the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric. Turmeric also helps prevent any oxidative damage to joints during exercise routines. This makes it an essential food for athletes, especially those who don’t have the flexibility of age on their side.
Kris Gunnars who holds a Bsc agrees:
“Turmeric may be the most effective nutritional supplement in existence. Many high quality studies show that it has major benefits for your body and brain.”
Spirulina
Spirulina is an excellent addition to the diet of athletes looking to better their recovery times and overall gym performance. By decreasing oxidative stress, spirulina ensures that athletes recover from stringent workout sessions in better time and with chance of injuries. Spirulina is also hailed as an excellent source of energy while being the perfect food for burning fat. This makes it seem almost too good to be true… but when it is a part of an athlete’s regular diet, it really does work.
Joe Leech talks about another great benefit of Spirulina:
“Heart disease is currently the world’s biggest killer. It is known that many measurable factors, termed risk factors, are linked to an increased risk of heart disease. As it turns out, spirulina has been shown to have beneficial effects on many of them. For example, it can lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, while raising HDL (the “good”) cholesterol. In a study of 25 people with type 2 diabetes, 2 grams per day of spirulina significantly improved these markers. Another study in people with high cholesterol found that 1 gram of spirulina per day lowered triglycerides by 16.3% and LDL by 10.1%. Several other studies have shown favorable effects, but with higher doses of 4.5-8 grams of spirulina per day .”
Full-Fat Yoghurt
Full-fat yoghurt replenishes your body’s supply of probiotics. It enables you to stay strong and healthy when you are under stress. Besides this, probiotics in yoghurt also help reduce recovery times after gym performance, while promoting a healthy digestive system. This allows your body to process nutrients more effectively.
Call Trifocus Fitness Academy for Details
If you would like to find out more about enrolling in athletic nutrition courses that will help you improve your gym performance or help others to do the same, feel free to visit the Trifocus Fitness Academy website for news, information and blogs. Alternatively contact one of our consultants today.
