Competitive sports and nutrition

If you want to put in the best performance in competition, eating properly is just as important as training and restful sleep. The trick is to plan things carefully to get the right quality and quantity of food at the right times.

Apart from the fact that each person reacts differently to different foods, there are a few basic dietary rules you should follow if you do competitive sports.

 

Before the competition: fill up your reserves

You should go into a competition or race with full reserves of energy and fluids. That way you won't have to contend with digestive problems in the heat of the fray. This is also why your diet should get lighter and more easily digestible as the big moment approaches.

Your last main meal should be three to five hours before the competition. Pasta, corn, potatoes, white rice and refined bread are all good because they contain easily digestible carbohydrates.

In the last hour before the start it's best to limit yourself to small snacks – or even better, fluids (for example small sandwiches with white bread, sport bars or sports drinks), and go very easy on fatty, protein- and fibre-rich foods, which all take too long to digest.

If the temperature's high and you can expect to lose a lot of water, in the last quarter hour before the competition you can drink up to a half litre of fluids. Under normal circumstances you shouldn't start the competition or race thirsty.

 

During competition: water and carbohydrates

According to the Swiss Sports Nutrition Society it's only worth eating or drinking during the competition itself if it lasts more than 45 minutes. Depending on the temperature, the intensity of effort and your weight, the rule of thumb is to drink 0.4 to 0.8 litres an hour.

During a protracted race or competition it's best to take on carbohydrates in liquid form. This will prevent you from tiring too quickly, and will keep you highly concentrated and alert. Given that the amount of carbohydrates you require varies significantly depending on the sport, it's hard to give a general recommendation. You'll find examples of what to eat during competition on the Swiss Forum for Sport Nutrition website.

 

After competition:

At this point you'll have used up most of your carbohydrate reserves and your fluids will be running at a deficit. Added to this, your body has to start repairing and, depending on the circumstances, building muscle. In other words you have to consume fluids, carbohydrates and protein as quickly as possible.

The body replenishes its carbohydrate reserves quickest in the first two hours after exertion; after that carbohydrates are stored more slowly. The same applies to fluids. The less dehydrated you are and the more quickly you can rehydrate, the sooner you'll be ready for more exertion. In cases of serious dehydration, salt can help (1.5 g of table salt per litre).

Slightly chilled chocolate milk (3/4 litre) delivers a good mix of protein, carbohydrate and fluid, making it the ideal drink for regeneration.


28.02.2018
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