Healthy nutrition is vital while exercising to feel energetic, perform high and build the body during sports. Athletes can increase their performance by adding nutrients to their daily diet or consuming them before training.
Top 10 Superfoods
Ensuring energy intake from suitable sources with consumed foods increases endurance during exercise. In this way, performance increases, and the athlete shows more development. While a healthy and balanced diet forms the basis of a healthy life, certain foods are essential for athletes. Sports nutrition can be supported with the 10 foods listed below.
Oat
Oats are a source of carbohydrates rich in fiber and protein. Consuming it directly or adding it to meals increases the meal’s protein. An athlete needs to meet the amount of protein that should be taken daily. Thanks to their nutritional value, oats also serve as a protein source for an athlete’s diet rather than a standard carbohydrate source. With its high fiber content, it also supports intestinal health.
You may interest to read: Famous Vegan Athletes
Banana
The amount of potassium that should be taken daily for an athlete is significant. Potassium is essential in supporting muscle movements and maintaining healthy blood circulation. While it is possible to get potassium from many sources, banana is fruit rich in potassium content. It is a perfect snack food for athletes.
Milk
Milk is a fundamental calcium source. Calcium is an essential mineral for healthy bone structure and muscle development. At this point, milk is one of the foods that should be in sports nutrition thanks to the calcium it contains. It also supports the muscle development of athletes as an essential protein source.
Egg
While each individual needs a certain amount of protein, the daily protein intake of athletes should be more than usual. Eggs are an important food to get healthy protein and balance hunger during the day. Egg, a nutritious protein source thanks to the vitamins and minerals it contains, is a food that should be in every athlete’s diet.
Blueberries
Blueberry, which is rich in antioxidant content, is one of the most valuable fruits that can be recommended for sports nutrition. For athletes, there are continuous reactions of disintegration and regeneration of muscle tissue. Therefore, oxidative stress in the body may increase in specific periods. By consuming antioxidant sources such as blueberries, healthy cells are protected from this stress. A handful of blueberries each day will contribute to their nutrition.
Broccoli
Fresh vegetables should be included in the athlete’s diet. Intestinal health can be supported with vegetables, protein-based foods, and some antioxidants. Broccoli supports many body systems as it is a strong source of antioxidants, contains vitamin C and is a fibrous vegetable.
Salmon
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for cardiovascular health and brain function development. It is also thought to have effects on increasing athlete performance. Omega-3 is a type of fatty acid that can be taken through food and is found in oily fish. One of the fish rich in omega-3 is salmon. Salmon is one of the essential foods in an athlete’s diet due to the Omega-3 fatty acids it contains.
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Dry Beans
Many legumes such as chickpeas, lentils, beans and kidney beans are a source of vegetable protein. At the same time, they support intestinal health thanks to the high amount of fiber in them. Legumes are an important source of carbohydrates that can meet a certain part of the daily protein need and should be included in the daily athlete’s diet. Legumes are valuable foods because they keep you full. They are natural source of protein that does not contain cholesterol. Legumes also include many different vitamins and minerals.
You may interest to read: Top 10 vegan protein sources.
Hazelnut
A healthy muscle system needs magnesium. Magnesium is a mineral that can be obtained from foods and must be consumed in a certain amount every day. Hazelnut is an essential source of magnesium and is among the oil seeds that should be included in sports nutrition.
Cocoa
Cocoa is a source of both caffeine and antioxidants. An athlete must have a certain amount of caffeine in his body in order to perform well during exercise. Adding cocoa to smoothies or prepared porridge supports the athlete’s intake of a certain amount of caffeine. At the same time, it supports the release of endorphins in the body, making people feel more energetic and happy.
